Consider hiring a gardener to maintain the garden a couple times per week
Admit it, you do want the grass to be greener on your side. There’s nothing more soothing and pleasing to the eye than the sight of a lush, green lawn, and nothing helps you show off your fabulous new villa more than a well-maintained garden. However, since we do practically live in the desert, greenery can be quite a luxury.
This is all you need to know about lawns and the costs of having it in your own home in Dubai.
Real grass
There are three types of grasses planted in the UAE:
1 Grass carpet: Rolls of grass are spread and planted over a mixture of compost and soil. It is definitely an option pricier than others but it will develop quicker.
2 Plug-in: Small patches of grass are plugged into a large, thick layer of compost. The patches spread across and fill the area over a period of 50-60 days.
3 Seeds: This method is the least expensive one. However, it requires a lot of patience and special maintenance.
The following warm weather grasses are suitable for the UAE:
1 Bermuda Grass:
Deep green, dense and tight in appearance and feels soft underfoot. Bermuda grass can grow in partial shade but will not do well in fully shaded areas. It should be irrigated with potable municipal water or water with a low level of salinity.
2 Durban:
Coarse leaves that take a longer time to tighten and become dense when not planted from turf. The colour is lighter than the one of Bermuda grass. It grows well in full sun or shade and can tolerate high levels of salinity in the irrigation water.
3 Sea Isle:
A combination of the good features of Bermuda and Durban variety; its leaves are dark green and glistening and growth is more aggressive than on the Durban kind. It is drought tolerant and can cope with infrequent irrigation by developing deep roots.
The cost:
Installment: The average price for a square meter of the above-mentioned varieties of grass would be 10-15AED; this price does not include the labor costs (which would be around 1500AED in total just to lay down the grass).
Watering: During almost 7 months of the year, the lawn should be watered twice a day, with an average of 12 liters of water per square foot. So make sure you get into a seating position before checking your DEWA bill, in case you decide to go ahead with creating a beautiful garden for yourself.
Gardening: If you have a large garden, you might want to consider hiring a gardener to maintain the garden a couple times per week. Since labour hours are a lot cheaper in Dubai than in other parts of the world, a gardener won’t break your budget. However, keep in mind that most “gardeners” in Dubai are just handymen who will clean your yard and splash some water around, hence hiring a specialised, a bit more pricey gardener, might be necessary.
Artificial grass
Don’t be fooled by the sound of it, the artificial grass looks as good (if not better, during the summer months) as real grass, and is used in many places around Dubai. From football fields to playgrounds, artificial grass is a cheaper, more sustainable solution.
Even though the price per square meter is higher than real grass (around 70AED per square meter), artificial grass lasts longer, doesn’t require maintenance costs and can be relocated if you decided to move.
The cost:
– The price for artificial grass ranges between 70AED per square metre and can go up to 120AED, depending on supplier.
Check out villas for rent with gardens in Dubai starting from 85,000AED.
