Artificial Grass (my Back Garden)

A couple of years ago, I would never have believed that I am considering this option, but having seen some good realistic looking results, I'm seriously considering it due to the advantages, but I'm not convinced as there are some disadvantages, including a "moral" objection. Our current lawn is now looking very tired and can't be bothered to nurture it back to acceptability.

Forgetting the moral objections, has anybody got any experience, providing strong views as to whether it could be a good option, or one to avoid? We are looking at about 6m by 9m, so we would need a join presumably, and I don't mind taking on the laying myself if it isn't too technically difficult.

It needs to be suitable for kids playing, garden furniture and a trampoline, etc. No pets, and do not want to pay for a top end grade, but the least I have to for a reasonably looking result to last about 15 years or so.

It seems you can also go to town on the base, with sand and/or underlay, etc. Is it all necessary.

I don't particularly want to pay more than a £1k to £1.5k all in (less if possible), but understand that it might need more?

Any thoughts would be appreciated and suppliers, make, grades, depths, etc?

 

Another helping hand for wildlife on its way to oblivion.

 

Are you L*ton in disguise?

 

Our neighbours have it, looks good but the dirt has nowhere to go, so everything on it gets filthy. Way more dirt to pick up than a lawn.

 

Should be banned

 

Thanks, that's a consideration.

 

I guess you can Hoover it ?

 

What happens when neighbours cats decide to pee on it ? How about a 180 degree turn - kills the remaining grass and sprinkle wild meadow flower seeds, have a path through the middle and have a garden full of insect, butterflies etc throughout the summer ? Low maintenance, just mow twice a year.

 

Yes, artificial grass is just one of a number of options.

We will still have a natural area at the bottom of the garden.

Cats are a problem though. They pee everywhere and since several cats havc appeared in our neighbourhood our little haven for birds in one corner of our garden is now deserted. I've tried all sorts of more natural options for keeping the cats away, without success. Anyone got a .22 air rifle for sale?

 

Have you actually checked the price of getting it nicely returfed vs reasonable quality artificial? There may not be so much in it in either cost or how long it lasts. But I really doubt artificial will give you 15 years.

 

Yes, we've considered that. For a decent quality lawn, we are probably looking at £500. But we wouldn't want to leave it looking less than really good so then we have the mowing and maintenance in general to consider and, quite honestly, I'm becoming less enthusiastic about gardening.

 

£500 seems quite cheap, but if you can get it done for that buy a robot lawn mower for £500 and you are within budget.

Just bring out a garden chair, set the lawn mower to ‘scare cats’ mode and relax with a G+T.

 

I think a lot depends on the house as well really. I don’t have a big garden, but my house is Victorian and the garden is fairly mature. I wouldn’t even consider it as it would look horrifically out of place. A few friends have done it with more modern houses and it works well enough. It would always be a last resort for me though, I take great satisfaction from mowing the lawn.... I’ll caveat that with the fact I recently got a female dog who is systematically ruining it with her piss

 

buy a dog

 

It looks ****, it's **** for the environment and its expensive.

Regular simple but quick maintenance of a decently laid lawn is so much better all round. I enjoy the 15mins twice a week it take me to put stripes on my patch.

If it's too much for you reduce the size, increase your borders, get a robo mower consider gravel and stone chipping areas but avoid astroturf imho.

 

Can’t smoke it....so I’m out!

 

Have you had a quote for that? I have a similar sized lawn I'd like re-turfing and the prices I've had so far are closer to £2k!

 

Depends what you’ve asked for. If you want a bowling green then £2k (strip the old turf, take it away, weed kill, remove stones, top soil, grass) sounds reasonable. If you just want some grass without bare patches you can happily cut a lot of corners and do it yourself in a weekend for a few hundred.

 

Couldn't think of anything worse than replacing real grass with artificial unless there was a completely impractical space for grass.

As said above, animal excretions are difficult to clean off, dirt and rubbish on it are a pain, and doesn't it get really hot to walk on when it's warm out?

In the place we just bought the previous owners covered the whole area at the back with plum flint stones which I immediately took up and replaced with a real lawn. Took a bit of work but it looks brilliant and feels lovely under foot.

 

Real grass is cheap too if you prepare properly, grow from seed and give it a little regular attention.

I recently invested in an electric scarrifier which has cut down on the backbreaking work. I still use a manual cylinder push mower as the patch is small and it's done in the time it take to faff about with cables.
Top dressing every year with cheap topsoil has meant that roots are deep and it's pretty drought tolerant. I've only watered once in the last month so there's a bit of dormant stuff in the pic attached. Invested in a roller and a plastic golf cup so it's flat enough when I cut it extra short to practice my putting.

 

That's a decent looking sod you've got there.

Clorophyltastic.

 

Why don't you hire someone to cut it if you are too lazy yourself? Don't give the job to a robot!

Give one of us poor folk a chance. Much cheaper than a robot and you don't have to put us back in the shed afterwards. Also we can water the ground with our sweat while you have your g&t's. Show me the robot what can do that!

And you will have the satisfaction of not only "creating jobs", but also being charitable towards us underclass.

 

Too much thatch for my liking, unfortunately the Autumn scarification was late last year and the overseeing didn't take which left a few patches. This year the early dry spell has hampered the repair. hoping for some rain at some point as I've run out of stored water and chucking used washing up water over it is not ideal.

 

My lawn is a disgrace as my children like to play football on it, there are fir tress along the back of my garden which I think are taking a lot of the moisture away. I reseeded the worst two patches last year but I wish I hadn't bothered because what did grow has now gone again. Any advice would be grateful.

 

Get rid of the kids

 

Exactly. Plus, if you bury them in the bit under the fir trees you'll find the grass grows extra well there next year.

 

Can you get artificial Box Trees? Ours have been eaten by BoxTree Moths/caterpillars and I spent most of last week digging them out and burning them

 

Fair enough, say 3 hours work, the jobs yours for, shall we say, £15. Refreshments in the form of a cup of tea and a gingernut, included.

 

Ho yes. Any broken biscuits or victuals, worn out clothing, boots with holes in them, scrap metal etc is gratefully received as charity.

£15 for 3 hours does seem a very generous offer, but no doubt the hire fee for use of your lawnmower, the key fee to get into the shed, the contract fee for your trouble in hiring me in the first place and of course the tea and biscuit charge plus service and gratuity will all need to be deducted from that before pay day?

 

Oh yes, I didn't think about those costs.

The jobs yours, and you owe me £3.60p.

 

Someome I know was considering artifical turf on a 100ft garden. Would have looked ridiculous. (IMO).

Our lawn is scattered with holes, from foxes digging and rotten away wooden steps. Anyone know the best way to level off? Someone said just stick soil on top of the turf. I have a roller for maintenance when its level.

 

Go for it. Best decision we ever made.

 

There's also the 16 hour e-learning package you have to complete in your own time before you're allowed to set foot in Top Towers.

 

Get rid of the fir trees of stop trying to grow crass near them I'm afriad. If it's a shady part of the garden, embrace a needle based mulch with drought / dry loving plants. Ferns for example?

 

You can get 5G masts disguised to look like trees, get them installed and get paid for the privilege. As a side bonus, all your food will be cooked as soon as it's out of the fridge.