Should your garden have a natural or artificial lawn? That’s the turf war dividing opinion among British home-owners.

For Gareth Davies, it’s a no-brainer. He lives in a semi-detached Victorian house in London and spent a fortune over the years trying to maintain the natural lawn and the trees and plants that surround it.

‘The lawn was like a mud bath in winter,’ says Gareth, 50, who runs presenter-coaching business The Presenter Studio. ‘I kept getting new turf to try and patch up the problems, but it didn’t work.’

And when he got Logan the dog, it was the final straw. ‘With urine stains and Logan constantly running around in the mud, the grass ended up getting wrecked every year. So, I decided to go for artificial grass.’

Gareth says he hasn’t looked back since: ‘It is absolutely fabulous. The artificial lawn looks green and fresh all year round and blends in with all the planting – I couldn’t be happier.

‘It’s quite an expensive process as it is literally like laying carpet in a garden, but I’m going to save money in the long run as I no longer have to reseed or lay new turf.’

Gareth is among a growing number of home-owners replacing their natural lawns with artificial alternatives.

About 0.15 per cent of domestic gardens in Britain – or 7.5million sq metres – now comprise artificial lawns, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) claims.

But property experts warn the feature can knock thousands off the value of some homes.

Marc von Grundherr, a director at Benham and Reeves, says: ‘Artificial lawns tend to divide opinion, but when it comes to property value, they generally do more harm than good.’

He adds that a home with artificial grass was likely to sell for around 5.3 per cent less than comparable houses with a natural lawn.

Based on ONS figures, this equates to a reduction of £14,500 off the £269,000 asking price for the average British home – or close to £30,000 in London, where the typical fee is £566,000.

‘A well-installed fake lawn might appeal to time-poor owners or landlords who want to minimise maintenance, but for most buyers – particularly those with an eco-conscious mindset – the preference remains firmly for natural grass,’ von Grundherr adds.

The impact on a property’s value will depend on the types of interested buyers, however.

‘In higher-value markets, authenticity is key and buyers in affluent areas will often see artificial grass as a downgrade rather than a luxury feature, and that perception can translate directly into price. And among young professionals and eco-conscious buyers, artificial lawns are generally viewed as synthetic and unsustainable, which can ultimately be a deterrent.

‘That said, landlords often like the low maintenance, and some families appreciate the clean, safe play surface it provides for children.’ 

The quality of an artificial lawn really matters

Jason Harris-Cohen, managing director of Open Property Group, says the quality of an artificial lawn can affect a property’s value by as much as 5 per cent.

‘A poorly fitted or obviously synthetic lawn can detract from value, as buyers may factor in the cost of replacement,’ he says.

Harris-Cohen adds that what buyers are drawn to depends on location and demographics.

‘City buyers often prefer low-maintenance, structured outdoor spaces, whereas rural or family buyers tend to value greenery and space,’ he says.

There are different artificial lawns available to suit all price points and the cost depends on factors such as the size of the lawn and where you are located.

Quality is also key, with different plastics, stitch rates, backing materials and manufacturing origin all playing a part.

Higher-quality artificial grass is made with more resilient materials and has a denser stitch rate, resulting in better durability and a more realistic look.

The average cost of premium artificial grass ranges from £45 to £80 per sq metre, according to Checkatrade. Typical labour costs for installation also total between £300 to £600 per day, and larger gardens can take three days or more to complete.

Experts recommend home-owners keen to replace natural grass with artificial lawn should go for the best budget option if planning to sell the property.

Liam Gretton, owner of Liam Gretton Bespoke Estate Wirral, says: ‘If it looks obviously fake, lacks proper drainage or feels harsh underfoot, it can drag down kerb appeal. If you’re going to install artificial grass, invest in quality and keep it looking as natural as possible. Blend it with real planting or borders so the space still feels alive.’

Pet owners will also need to rinse the lawn thoroughly to prevent odours from becoming a problem. Experts say you should spot-clean daily, rinse weekly and deep-clean monthly. 

The environmental cost of fake grass 

Dr Mark Gush, head of environmental horticulture at the RHS, says home-owners should consider how their decision will affect wildlife in their garden.

‘That 0.15 per cent of all of Britain’s cultivated garden space being artificial grass means millions of square metres of soil, lawn and flower beds being replaced by plastic composites that contribute to carbon emissions and exacerbate flooding.’

Paving over gardens is urged against by the RHS, too, due to concerns it reduces space for wildlife and exacerbates flooding problems. ‘There are water-wise alternatives to swathes of impermeable concrete, bricks and paving slabs that ensure rain is still captured in the soil and lower flood risk,’ says Gush.

However, for some home-owners, an artificial lawn helps them get more use and enjoyment out of their garden.

London-based Kathryn Lord, 38, a self-employed nanny and the owner of declutttering business More to Organising, thinks artificial lawns are excellent for children.

She says: ‘Having an artificial lawn means the garden can be enjoyed all year round. I can play football or netball with the children late into the evening. They are able to use the garden as an extra playroom and we make dens outside or do gymnastics.’

Kathryn takes the children she looks after out into the natural landscape for picnics and nature hunts, but believes that when the weather gets all too British, ‘artificial grass works best’, she points out.

We paved our front garden after a car hit the wall 

Megan Lomax, 56, lives in London with her husband, Guy Eaton, 59, and their two children. The couple purchased their Victorian terraced house in 1998 and run a business called Rubbastuff together. 

In 2021, a car drove into the couple's wall, pillar and railings in their front garden. 

Megan said: 'After all the damage, we started thinking about how we wanted to use the front garden. We decided to replace the whole thing with paving, aside from a couple of flower beds around the edge. We also fitted some bike hoops.

'With a bike each and teenagers often visiting by bike, we decided paving would be a sensible option.'

Megan used reclaimed Ham stone which, though not the cheapest option, was in-keeping with the house. The paving cost around £6,000, while getting the wall, pillar and railings fixed cost £12,000. 

'I used to be so proud of my front garden. It was full of flowers, but a lot of work. Now a car can be parked in the space', Megan told the Daily Mail. 

She added: 'A parking permit costs between £61 and 214 a month where we live and then there's a diesel surcharge of £57 a year. Insurance is also expensive without off-street parking.' 

Having paved over her front garden, Megan is contemplating what to do with the garden at the back of her house. 

She said: 'I would prefer not to pave the back garden, but we have persevered with grass for many years and it’s just not working. If we did pave over the back garden, we would make sure we included some flower beds.'

We don't have to worry about cutting the grass 

Sharan Sammi, 44, and Gursh Sammi, 47, live near Wolverhampton with their two children. 

The couple purchased their semi-detached house in 2017 and used to have a 'beautiful' landscaped show home garden. 

After living in the property for a while, the couple decided they wanted something more low maintenance. 

The couple told the Daily Mail: 'We love it because it's low maintenance, the kids can go out all year round, there's no cleaning up and our hay fever is better. Yes, natural grass can be nice, but having an artificial lawn saves us so much time and is hassle-free. We don't have to worry about the kids getting messy from any soil when they are playing.' 

What's happening to Britain's gardens?

The State of Gardening report published by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) last month unveiled a host of facts and figures about Britain's gardens. 

Working with Gentian, RHS became the first to use artificial intelligence to map Britain's growing spaces 

It revealed that 0.15 per cent of domestic gardens in Britain comprise artificial lawn, equating to around 7.5million square metres.   

Researchers at the RHS also discovered that 42 per cent of domestic garden space is paved over, equating to 55 per cent of front gardens and 36 per cent of back gardens. 

The RHS's Dr Mark Gush told the Daily Mail and This is Money: 'The paving over of the UK’s gardens and use of plastic artificial grass not only has an immediate negative impact on people, ecology and wildlife but stands to exacerbate the impact of climate change over the coming years.'

He added: 'Where a traditional lawn might not be desired drought tolerant low-spreading perennials such as clover, or meadow plantings for reduced mowing green cover are a great alternatives.'

In terms of using paving for patios and front gardens, the RHS advises people consider the impact on water, drainage and soil. 

Gush said: 'We understand that paving can often serve a practical purpose – after all who doesn’t want somewhere to sit and enjoy the fruits of their labour in the garden, or have a place to park a vehicle. 

'Porous hard surfacing such as gravel, and interlocking pre-cast permeable paving allow for water’s to percolate into the soil. 

'Using it only where absolutely necessary such as where car tyres might be parked means more room for the plants that wildlife and us so depend on and all the benefits they provide.

'While we’re likely to see more front gardens given over to parking spaces for the practicality of electric car charging there are some also other ingenious solutions to ensure your gardens these spaces aren’t devoid of life. 

'The planting of small trees and climbers tied to small pagodas ensure these spaces remain a destination for wildlife and serve the added benefit of keeping your car the space cool during hotter months and frost-free during winter.' 

• What garden or household features have you used to add value to your home? Email [email protected]