Artificial vs. Natural Grass: Which Suits Alicante's Climate Best?

It is one of the questions our clients in Benidorm, Torrevieja or Santa Pola ask us most: natural or artificial grass? The answer depends on how you use the garden, your budget and how much time you have for maintenance. Here is an honest comparison.

Water use

A natural lawn on the Costa Blanca can need between 15 and 20 litres per square metre per week in summer. Artificial grass, on the other hand, needs no watering except for occasional cleaning, which means savings of up to 90% on the water bill during the hot months.

Maintenance

Natural grass needs weekly mowing in high season, seasonal feeding, aeration, overseeding and treatments against pests and fungi —tasks we cover in our lawn maintenance service—. Quality artificial grass only needs regular brushing to keep the fibres upright and occasional cleaning if there are pets.

Long-term cost

Installing artificial grass has a higher initial cost, but by eliminating watering, feeding and regular mowing it usually pays for itself in 2–4 years depending on the area, especially in residential communities where the savings multiply with the size of the green areas.

Look and feel

Natural grass still wins on feel underfoot and its ability to regulate ground temperature. However, the latest-generation fibres for artificial grass that we install look and feel very hard to tell apart from the real thing, even up close.

When to choose each one?

• Artificial grass: high-traffic areas, gardens with little sun, holiday homes where maintenance cannot be guaranteed, play areas for children or pets.
• Natural grass: gardens used intensively by the family, large plots where the cost per m² of artificial grass is very high, or when feel and the cooling effect are the priority.

In many projects on the Costa Blanca we opt for a mixed solution: artificial grass in walkways and around the pool, and natural or low-maintenance green areas in the rest of the garden. If you are unsure what suits your case best, we can assess it with no obligation.