Whether you own your own home, are currently renting or looking into ways to buy your own property, if you’ve got some outside space, you’ve probably spent some time pondering what to do with it. Do you go for a lawn bordered with shrubs and flowers or something lower maintenance such as a patio with pots?
Whatever you decide, you’ve probably got some kind of zen refuge in mind for your garden.
Although size will have some bearing on your landscaping choices, other factors will have to be considered such as budget, children or pets.
So, what’ll it be, a lawn or a patio? In this article, we’re going to take a look at a couple of pros and cons of both.
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Disadvantages of a lawn:
A lawn needs to be cut regularly to keep it looking nice
Do you dream of a beautifully stripey, manicured lawn? They are indeed beautiful but are you willing to put in the time and effort to keep your lawn pristine?
Think about it: You mow your lawn one sunny afternoon, then sit back in your sun lounger with a cold drink to admire your handiwork, then the next day you wake up to find it’s once again covered in dandelions.
This is a familiar scenario to households with lawns all over the country.
Therefore, if you haven’t got the budget for a gardener or the inclination to look after a lawn yourself, a lawn may not be the best option for you.
Local cats will use it as a litter tray
The one thing cats love more than a lawn to use as a litter tray is someone else’s lawn to use as a litter tray. You may love cats and not mind this. On the other hand, you might not be so keen on the little ‘gifts’ your visitors leave you.
There are products you can use to deter cats from coming into your garden and trampling over your flowers and digging up the raised beds while they go about their business, but these products don’t always work as well as they claim to.
Advantages of a lawn:
It’s good for the environment
Greenery is good for the environment. Just as trees and plants provide oxygen, the same goes for lawns. Grass also traps and filters dust from the air, removes air pollution and absorbs CO2. It’s just all-round healthy stuff really, in the way that concrete isn’t.
It’s softer
If you’ve got children, safety will be a big concern for you. A garden covered in a nice, soft lawn is a lot safer for children running around and playing on.
Disadvantages of a patio:
They can be expensive
There’s more to a patio than buying some paving slabs and laying them on the ground. Unless you have skills in this area, you’d be best off paying a professional to make your patio area, which can be costly.
They can be dangerous
Concrete is hard. If you’ve got children running around or family members who are a little unsteady on their feet, a patio may not be the most suitable of ground coverings. They can also be slippery in inclement weather.
Advantages of a patio:
They’re low-maintenance
Although patios aren’t completely maintenance-free – they will need cleaning now and again to keep them looking nice, they don’t need constant upkeep in the way lawns do.
It’s like having an extra room
Having a patio is like having an extra room in your house – just one that’s outside. You can leave it open or set up a gazebo, string lights or whatever other furnishings you like such as furniture and rugs.
Conclusion
These are just a couple of the pros and cons of patios and lawns. Which you’ll choose will depend on your personal taste and circumstances.