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Information Sheet 05 – V1.0 www.Diamond-Developers.ae
INFORMATION SHEET
REAL GRASS VERSUS FAKE GRASS
Information Sheet 05
Version 1.0
June 16, 2016
Information Sheet 05 – V1.0 www.Diamond-Developers.ae
The purpose of this information sheet is to explain the pros and cons of having real grass
versus fake grass in your garden in TSC.
Deciding between real grass and fake turf is a personal decision, based you your individual goal.
Let’s talk about fake grass
If maximizing water saving is your goal then fake grass is the most suitable choice. Here are some of
the benefits of fake grass:
No watering
No weeding
No fertilizing
No mowing and edge cutting
Lower water consumption means lower water bills
Additionally, some people believe that fake grass looks as good as real grass. Fake grass however
also has some drawbacks, in particular:
It’s synthetic and can’t be recycled
It’s not completely maintenance-free
It can’t absorb and break down pet urine
It heats up in direct sun
In Dubai, perhaps the greatest drawback to fake grass is heat
retention. Because fake grass is made of nylon, polyethylene, or
polypropylene it will radiate a lot of heat when exposed to extreme
temperatures. This may reduce the time spent outdoors, on the
deck or on the grass.
An alternative option to fake grass is to look into xerophytic gravel options.
Let’s talk about real grass
If however creating a patch of natural green is your goal, grass is a good option. The benefits of
natural grass include:
It is natural!
It is cooler
It sustains an ecosystem attracting birds, butterflies, and other insects
Stated differently, natural grass has social value for many that cannot be duplicated. But natural
grass requires significant maintenance including watering, fertilizing, and mowing. It is important to
remember that gardening is beneficial because it can improve health and reduce stress.
Temperature readings of
natural and fake grass in
TSC under similar
conditions show that fake
grass is about 2.5 times
warmer than natural grass
(Figure 1).
Information Sheet 05 – V1.0 www.Diamond-Developers.ae
Figure 1 Surface temperature of natural and fake grass under similar conditions
According to Dubai Municipality guidelines, natural grass requires 11 L/m2 daily in winter and 15
L/m2 daily in summer. Putting these numbers into perspective, the below table approximates total
water consumption and water expenditure in winter and summer:
Table 1 Approximate water consumption and associated cost for watering real grass in Dubai
Real Grass Summer Winter
m2 L/day L/month AED/month L/day L/month AED/month
10 150 4500 41 110 3300 30
20 300 9000 82 220 6600 59
30 450 13500 123 330 9900 89
40 600 18000 164 440 13200 119
50 750 22500 205 550 16500 149 Assumptions: data are based on DEWA’s lowest water tariff for residential (expatriates) at 4.1 fils per Imperial
Gallon (=4.55 liters) including fuel surcharge.
To grass or not to grass is a personal choice
There are many levels in between grass or no grass, but they all have maintenance and cleaning
demands. TSC chose to use real grass based on both social and environmental factors. When looking
at all the pros and cons listed above, real grass is as a starting point for residents to customize their
spaces and build on.
Information Sheet 05 – V1.0 www.Diamond-Developers.ae
The decisions residents make moving forward is a personal one, and should be based on how you
wish to use your space, your interest in gardening, your personal aesthetic, and your budget. If fake
grass becomes your preferred choice (Figure 2), then consider planting shade trees to prevent the
grass from getting too hot. Please seek homeowner consent to replacing natural grass with fake
grass (request a standard No Objection Certificate).
Figure 2 Fake grass installation in TSC villa
In case you decide to maintain and/or downsize your lawn area and eventually replace brown
patches with new real grass, please note that the price of grass carpet roll is about AED15-20/m2
plus installation costs. In Dubai, new grass does not anchor well during summer no matter how
much you water it, so it is advisable to install grass carpet rolls during the cooler months, from
September through April.
This Information Sheet was prepared by Diamond Innovation Center.
DISCLAIMER: Diamond Developers and its affiliates assume no liability resulting from information contained in this information sheet which is intended for general public use. Residents assume full
responsibility for any costs associated with the use of the information contained herein.
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