5 Ways Artificial Turf Can Add A Unique Touch To Your Garden

 

It’s a given that artificial turf can provide a practical classic lawn. However, if your heart is set on more modern landscape design, have no fear artificial turf can make those cutting-edge dreams come true!

1.  Creating Unique Designs

 For instance, you might want to create an interesting path or design with stone but don’t want the hassle of maintaining a certain grass length to achieve the design.

Artificial turf can be the perfect solution! The feasibility of how it can be cut and shaped allows for someone with a strong creative side to go wild! 

2. Who Says Grass Can’t Be Inside?

The great thing about using artificial turf there’s literally no limit on where and how it can be used.  For instance, whose to say synthetic grass can only be used outdoors?

Artificial Turf Man Cave.jpg

Look how this room was transformed to the ultimate man cave with the use of artificial turf. Not only will it make you feel you're on the playing field but its a quick clean up when someone inevitably spills the chips and salsa.

3.   Artificial Turf Meets Modern Art

Do you find yourself wishing your home could be as aesthetically pleasing as the art hanging on your walls?

Using such versatile material such as artificial turf can make that dream into a reality. Not only can artificial turf be cut into any shape or length, you don’t have to patiently wait for your material to grow. So the next time you’re at your favorite museum don’t be surprised if inspiration strikes for your next garden project!

4.  Artificial Turf Pool Side

Are you tired of having to run out of the pool because of the burning concrete? Artificial turf has the perfect solution that will have your feet thanking you and your neighbor envious of your modern approach.

Artificial turf can brighten up any area in your home especially your pool deck. It's durable nature makes it perfect for heavy foot traffic and won't get ruined by excess water.

5.  City Life Craving the Country

Have you moved into the city but are yearning for the greenery of the country? Don’t fret artificial turf can easily transform any dull and dreary space in your provincial oasis. 

This will not only bring a pop of color to your home but a boost to your lifestyle. Forget the frustration of maintaining and creating a natural garden. Now you will be able to provide an outdoor space perfect for entertaining without the hassle. 

 

WRITTEN BY

Erika Simmonds

 

The Underground Secret to a Better Garden

Mycorrhizal Fungi: 

Let's talk basics. What exactly is Mycorrhizal Fungi? 

 

The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungi in the plants' rhizosphere, its root system. (Illustration by Michael Rothman)

 

A Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular host plant. It's major function being the ability to exchange nutrients between their surroundings and their host plant. A white fungal network called hyphae (resembles roots) is the principal structure for the uptake of many important nutrients in the plant kingdom. The hyphae are only a single cell wide and facilitate nutrient exchanges between the root tip and fungi. While you may see them spread like a web surfacing a decomposing log, they usually remain hidden underground and invisible to us. 

In the Garden

As a gardener, you want to take advantage of this symbiotic relationship that fungi and plants have been developing for millions of years. The key lies in maintaining a healthy community of fungi. One trick is to use caution when dealing with fertilizers and stray away from the use of chemical fertilizers specifically those consisting of phosphorus. Since phosphorus can reach levels that actually discourage the formation of mycorrhizae, avoiding fertilizers with high percentages of the chemical will prevent beneficial microbes from weakening or breaking apart. You can also maintain your soil in prime condition by minimizing disturbances apart from occasional light tilling, weeding and mulching. 

Increasing Beneficial Fungi

One of your main challenges perhaps will be ensuring that this nutrient-infused goodness survives all year round. The fungi that support garden crops are not capable of living or reproducing independently so it is up to us gardeners to ensure we are maintaining and increasing the population of beneficial fungi.

We can start by preventing a decline with simple tricks such as rotating crops within your beds and avoiding empty beds by keeping plants growing at all times. Additionally, you want to take it a step further and consider growing plant rye, oats or hairy vetch. These plants have extensive root systems and readily harbor mycorrhizae. Orchards will serve you well for overwintering fungi because they don't require as much attention and buffer strips of a grass-and-legume blend will help retain fungi.  

The Benefits

    • Improved plant establishment and growth.
    • Dramatically expand access to moisture and nutrients from the soil. 
    • Increased nutrient and water uptake. 
    • Increases efficiency of water use.
    • Drought tolerance. 
    • Improved disease resistance.
    • Assists in weed suppression.
    • Improves soil structure and stability.
    • Improves root growth.
    • More blossoms and enhances nutritional value. 

    Mycorrhizae are the principal structures for the most nutrient uptake in the plant kingdom.

    Are you familiar with Mycorrhizal Fungi? Tricks of your own? What has been your experience? We want to hear all about it! Shoot us your comments below!