A wheelchair-friendly lawn allows wheelchair users to enjoy outdoor activities with their loved ones. Thus, it's important to choose the best turf that will allow your loved one to spend time outdoors without requiring help to navigate through the lawn. When it comes to natural and artificial grass, the latter trumps the former in wheelchair friendliness. Below are a few reasons artificial turf is a better option for wheelchair users compared to natural grass.

Easy accessibility

Natural grass is tough on manual wheelchairs. The friction between the grass and the wheelchair requires a lot of energy to overcome. If the person in the wheelchair is a child or senior, they may have a hard time navigating the lawn. Lawns with bumpy surfaces, pebbles and rocks can also be extremely difficult to access. 

Artificial turf has a smooth surface. You can install the turf on level ground and clean it regularly to get rid of small rocks. This leaves a smooth surface that allows easy accessibility of the lawn. Also, synthetic grass is made of a plastic material; thus, the wheelchair glides smoothly over the surface with no leaves lodging in the wheels.

Safe in wet weather

Using a wheelchair on wet natural grass can be a risky affair. Wet grass is slippery, which can cause the chair to topple over. The mud also makes it difficult to navigate the lawn. If your loved one has a manual wheelchair, operating it means getting their hands dirty. These challenges can discourage them from enjoying the outdoors during the rainy season.

Synthetic turf has a perforated backing that allows rainwater to drain into the sub-base, leaving the surface dry during the wet season. This leaves a safe surface for individuals to drive through with their wheelchair. Even when the grass is wet, it does not get muddy or slippery, as does natural turf.

Low maintenance requirements

Wheelchairs can be brutal to natural grass lawns. The weight exerted on the grass can cause wear, forcing you to repair, aerate and mow the grass regularly. If you don't have a hardy turf variety, your lawn may suffer bald spots and require regular re-seeding. This can adversely affect the visual appeal of your lawn.

Artificial grass is perfect for wheelchair users due to its low maintenance requirements. Synthetic turf does not suffer wear from heavy traffic. It does not suffer bald spots or require mowing and aeration. All you need to do is regularly hose down the lawn to keep it clean.

Wheelchair users should be able to spend time out on the lawn with their loved ones. To make this happen, invest in an artificial lawn for your home. Contact a landscaping contractor for professional installation.