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PU (polyurethane) backing is a plastic layer under the grass that dog wee runs straight off, so smells rinse away.
Latex backing is a rubbery layer that soaks wee up — it's what cheap grass has, and it's why some plastic lawns start to smell.
Artificial grass is sold on a roll, like carpet. The "pile" means the plastic blades of grass, and pile height is how long they are.
What to look for in pet-friendly grass
- Polyurethane (PU) backing. The single biggest thing for dogs. Standard latex backing soaks up wee; PU pushes it away, so smells rinse off instead of building up.
- Good drainage. The backing should let wee and rain drain straight through. Most good grass drains well — check the listing says so.
- A dense, hard-wearing pile. Dogs run the same routes and dig at the edges. Don't judge by length alone — check the spec sheet (the maker's list of details) for the stitch rate (how many blades are sewn in) and how thick the blades are.
- Medium pile height (30–38mm). Long, soft "luxury" grass flattens under paws and traps mess; very short grass feels harsh under bare feet.
- Non-toxic, lead-free. Good UK grass is tested safe for children and pets — look for this on the listing.
What we'd buy
Prices checked July 2026
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Pet Luxury 38mm — Artificial Grass Direct
£20.69/m² (down from £22.99), 2m/4m/5m widths, free sample first.
A dense 38mm pile on a 100% polyurethane backing that pushes wee away instead of soaking it up — exactly what keeps a dog lawn smelling fine into year two and beyond. Specialist sellers like AGD (Artificial Grass Direct) publish the full details of their grass and post free samples; sellers on big marketplace sites do neither. Order the sample, check it in your own garden, then buy.
See Pet Luxury 38mm at AGD →
Well-reviewed 30mm on Amazon
From ~£6.49/m² flat across sizes, 2m/4m/5m widths.
If money is tight, a well-reviewed 30mm roll really is cheaper than the specialists — a third of the price of pet-specific grass. The honest trade-offs: you can't get a sample first, and the listings don't say what the backing is made of, so you can't always check it's the right kind. Fine for a lawn that gets light use from one easy-going dog. For heavy use, or more than one dog, the backing on our top pick is worth the extra money.
Check 30mm prices on Amazon →
Three small things that keep it fresh
A monthly spray in summer keeps the lawn smelling fresh.
Pet cleaners on Amazon →
Infill is sand you brush down into the grass; kiln-dried means it has been oven-dried so it pours easily. It weighs the grass down and helps water drain — cheaper at builders' merchants (about £8 a bag) than online.
Kiln-dried sand on Amazon →
A quick brush stands the blades back up wherever the dog walks most.
Stiff brushes on Amazon →Keeping it clean
Pick up solids as you would on a real lawn. Hose the spot down now and then. Use a pet cleaner once a month in summer. With PU-backed grass that drains well, that really is all it takes — the horror stories about smelly plastic lawns are almost always cheap latex-backed grass with no drainage.
How much will you need?
Artificial grass comes on rolls of fixed widths (2m, 4m, 5m), so the right buy depends on the shape of your garden, not just its size. Pick the wrong width and you can waste £100+ on offcuts (the spare strips you pay for but never use). Our calculator takes your exact measurements and ranks the real roll options by cost and by the number of joins.
All-in, expect £45–£70/m² fitted or £20–£35/m² DIY — roughly £1,350–£2,100 for a typical 30m² lawn. The full breakdown is in our artificial grass cost guide.
How much grass do I need? Pop in your garden size for the rolls to buy, the spare you'd pay for, and honest costs.
grass calculator
Get my answer — free →
Rather not do it yourself?
The groundwork is 80% of the job — digging out the old lawn, packing down the stone base underneath, and carting away the waste. Post the job free and local landscapers reply with quotes, so you can compare real prices against our estimate.
Find a tradesperson for this project →Read next
Does dog wee damage artificial grass?
No — with grass that drains well, it washes straight through. A rinse now and then and a pet-safe cleaner keep smells away.
What stops a dog lawn smelling?
Polyurethane (PU) backing — it pushes wee away instead of soaking it up — plus decent drainage, kiln-dried sand brushed in, and a clean now and then. The backing is the one thing you can't fix later, so get it right when you buy.
What pile height is best for dogs?
A dense pile of 30–38mm is the sweet spot — it looks natural and is hard-wearing, without flattening or trapping mess.
Is artificial grass safe for dogs?
Yes — quality UK grass is lead-free and non-toxic (it contains nothing poisonous). It also gets rid of the mud, holes and brown patches a real lawn ends up with when dogs use it.
Not sure plastic is the answer?
A patchy dog lawn can often be rescued for about £50 — our free new lawn planner prices a patch repair, a replacement or a full rebuild from one measurement. And before you commit either way, read 5 things nobody tells you about artificial grass.