Artificial grass - experiences?
Discussion
desolate said:
Our garden was f
ked when I was a kid.
My parents loved the garden be it the walled veg and fruit trees or the lawns flower beds. Which in turn meant I was doing lots of it too. ked when I was a kid.I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter s
t but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year. I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a s
t garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants. The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
Welshbeef said:
My parents loved the garden be it the walled veg and fruit trees or the lawns flower beds. Which in turn meant I was doing lots of it too.
I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter st but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year.
I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a st garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants.
The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
I lived in a house with a garden that was just about big enough for a penalty shoot out, and even then it was a bit tight.I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter s
t but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year. I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a s
t garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants. The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
So good for you and your happy clappy middle class life.
I now live on a little farm and have zero lawn.
desolate said:
I lived in a house with a garden that was just about big enough for a penalty shoot out, and even then it was a bit tight.
So good for you and your happy clappy middle class life.
I now live on a little farm and have zero lawn.
Would you Class fake lawn working class and stripped/rolled lawn (same size) middle + class?So good for you and your happy clappy middle class life.
I now live on a little farm and have zero lawn.
Anyway you get my previous long post though - to me such memories which given we try to do similar things as I did as a child (garden wise) should have the same
Welshbeef said:
Would you Class fake lawn working class and stripped/rolled lawn (same size) middle + class?
Anyway you get my previous long post though - to me such memories which given we try to do similar things as I did as a child (garden wise) should have the same
Here's what I would say - you could have had the queens's lawn sniffer looking after our garden and it wouldn't have survived. It wasn't big enough to handle the traffic.Anyway you get my previous long post though - to me such memories which given we try to do similar things as I did as a child (garden wise) should have the same
We couldn't have afforded this stuff but it would have looked smarter and been much better to play on 95% of the time.
There is a world outside your narrow view and post after post proves you just don't get it.
Welshbeef said:
Lots of anecdotal guff/waffle.
Give it a rest, the OP wanted peoples experiences of artificial grass, not a lecture about nature. 
As per one of my original posts, the obviously bright green part of my garden is plastic, the back of the garden has real grass and I've had to put barriers across it this winter because it resembles Glastonbury on a wet weekend and the kids/dogs were bringing mud into the house and on the sofa's etc.
Welshbeef said:
My parents loved the garden be it the walled veg and fruit trees or the lawns flower beds. Which in turn meant I was doing lots of it too.
I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter st but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year.
I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a st garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants.
The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
me, me, me, me.I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter s
t but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year. I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a s
t garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants. The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
I, I, I, I...
Ollerton57 said:
Welshbeef said:
My parents loved the garden be it the walled veg and fruit trees or the lawns flower beds. Which in turn meant I was doing lots of it too.
I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter st but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year.
I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a st garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants.
The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
me, me, me, me.I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter s
t but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year. I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a s
t garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants. The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
I, I, I, I...
Far better than the horrific incident in NZ.
Just to echo many on this thread, I don't regret having artificial grass installed about 18 months ago. I'll run the leaf blower over it occasionally and have sprayed it with weed killer once. Nothing will ever grow from underneath but I noticed little plants take root on top (seeds in bird droppings?)
Get the best you can afford as some of the cheaper ones don't look great but otherwise I've got nothing but good things to say.
Get the best you can afford as some of the cheaper ones don't look great but otherwise I've got nothing but good things to say.
Welshbeef said:
Ollerton57 said:
Welshbeef said:
My parents loved the garden be it the walled veg and fruit trees or the lawns flower beds. Which in turn meant I was doing lots of it too.
I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter st but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year.
I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a st garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants.
The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
me, me, me, me.I find cutting the lawn airing it seeding scarafing really therapeutic.
I find after cutting the lawns sitting back with a cider (admiring the lines) watchibg robins or whatever hop down hop hop hop and come away with a worm and they go back and forth. It’s such a simple thing but so utterly satisfying.
I find running a petrol lawn mower the noise the smell of cut grass simply part and parcel of the outdoors.
I love he fact when we have the commercial grade bouncy castle in the garden and we use pegs (1/4 inch if not thicker) to hold it down thumping it in with a mallet (I guess that would ruin fake grass).
I love the fact of you’ve been in the garden no shoes on (and yes some times I do that cutting the lawn- but not the first few. It’s of the year) the grass can give your feet a bit of a green stain.
I like the fact that if I let it grow longer daiseys appear.
I like the fact you can get clovers and spend ages playing with the kids searching for that elusive 4 leaf clover.
I like the fact you can chew the fat with a neighbour or mates round a BBQ talking utter s
t but including how they cut their lawns tactics for this year. I like the fact of going away I’ll offer to cut a neighbours lawn and ditto in return.
I don’t like the fact when the fake lawn is tired and worn out it will have to go to landfill vs my grass cuttings which I either mulch (rarely) or into our composter. We don’t really buy that much compost each year as we’ve a decent amount of our own. Lovely tomatoes home grown on your own compost ditto potatoes ditto runner beans.
The pride and satisfaction - also the pride I had as a kid when my dad let me take the helm and cut the lawns such a small thing but means so much.
I could go on and on and on.
There is no such thing as a s
t garden (unless it’s all concrete but even then you can work wonders with Potted plants. The amounts adults and kids can learn from nature is huge.
Nos da.
I, I, I, I...
Far better than the horrific incident in NZ.
You don't have any.
This is not the thread for you.
Interesting thread, and interesting, if polar opposite views from both sides.
It seems to me that there are people strongly opposed to it, yet the consensus from those that have gone ahead with it (usually with good reasons to do so for them), are happy with it and do not regret the change. I don't think that there was anyone posting that said they'd put artificial grass down and since regretted it?
We're seriously considering putting down artificial grass on part of the garden nearest the house.
The premise for this is that it would cover the existing patio (which needs re-laying anyway), and a small section beyond the patio where we were considering extending the patio. Looking to use this area more, with outdoor pool table/table tennis table etc.. As it'll be nice and flat, we'll probably also put a couple of golf holes in it to practice putting, and even short chipping from further down the garden. If we put the table tennis table up on the existing grass, it gets worn out in a pretty short time, and is also not viable when the ground is a bit damp as it quickly turns to mud.
The reason for considering artificial grass to replace the patio is to improve the feel underfoot from hard slabs, reduce the chances of smashing dropped glasses/plates etc.. and to give an improved look/reduced glare to the area when in full sun. Also looking to cover part of the patio with a glass roof to make it more usable in more inclement weather.
It's been helpful to hear positive comments from those that have gone ahead with artificial grass - particularly regarding the longevity and ease of "maintenance".
For those against the use of artificial grass due to the impact on nature, although a small part of the existing grass will be replaced with artificial, we have no plans of replacing the rest of the grass in the garden - happy to mow that from time to time, so the green woodpeckers will still have plenty of grass to dig up. We'll also be leaving the far end pretty wild as it's already providing a decent natural habitat (well, ok for a north West London suburb anyway).
[quote=C&C]
The premise for this is that it would cover the existing patio (which needs re-laying anyway), and a small section beyond the patio where we were considering extending the patio. Looking to use this area more, with outdoor pool table/table tennis table etc..
[/quote]
Have a chat with your installer for advice on spreading the weight being placed by these tables onto the artificial grass, particularly if they are reasonably heavy or have sharper points to the table legs. Sometimes castors or other accessories can help to avoid an unexpected tear in the fabric.
The premise for this is that it would cover the existing patio (which needs re-laying anyway), and a small section beyond the patio where we were considering extending the patio. Looking to use this area more, with outdoor pool table/table tennis table etc..
[/quote]
Have a chat with your installer for advice on spreading the weight being placed by these tables onto the artificial grass, particularly if they are reasonably heavy or have sharper points to the table legs. Sometimes castors or other accessories can help to avoid an unexpected tear in the fabric.
Se7enheaven said:
Replacing something so natural with something so artificial, purely for convenience it appears.
No wonder the world is doomed . We should plastic over everything and be done with it I guess ?
I have not seen any residential installs with really large areas of it...its expensive for starters and if you have a large area of nice grass you wouldnt rip it up...No wonder the world is doomed . We should plastic over everything and be done with it I guess ?
Most of the installs I see are for smaller areas, where grass isnt growing well, or just as a feature to break up otherwise hard surfaces.
If you have a strip of manky grass like muddy stuff at the side of the house in the shade, or a small bit at the front thats not worth getting a mower out for, these are the ideal use cases for artificial.
My landscaper explained to me that you have to stop thinking about it as "fake grass" and look at it as an alternative to hard paving. The preparation required is the same, its just the surface finish is not hard.
.
Ive had it down 6 years now, its wearing well, has weathered in quite nicely. Just needs a sweep in a few weeks after all the leaves are off my trees and thats it for the year ...maintenance free ....I wouldn't swap it for more paving slabs ..I like the green look
Welshbeef said:
Taking aside what people on this thread do or don’t think it’s clearly very marmite - given that could having it installed narrow your resale market ? Whereas not having fake lawn has no impact on its value.
If someone is looking for 1/4 acre of manicured lawn then yes they are not going to look at houses with hard paved gardens.It is less permanent than paving. Its not like you have flooded your garden with concrete. You could roll the grass up in 15 mins and then you just have an area thats ready for paving if thats what you want. Its just sand underneath for a couple of inches then hardcore.
With more work, take some of the hardcore out, a few ton of topsoil and turf. .. in my case say 25sqm of turf , 2 ton of top soil etc is about £250 ...plus labour. ...no big deal really if you wanted to go "natural"
bogie said:
If someone is looking for 1/4 acre of manicured lawn then yes they are not going to look at houses with hard paved gardens.
It is less permanent than paving. Its not like you have flooded your garden with concrete. You could roll the grass up in 15 mins and then you just have an area thats ready for paving if thats what you want. Its just sand underneath for a couple of inches then hardcore.
With more work, take some of the hardcore out, a few ton of topsoil and turf. .. in my case say 25sqm of turf , 2 ton of top soil etc is about £250 ...plus labour. ...no big deal really if you wanted to go "natural"
But when you have plot sizes 1/3-1/5th of an acre removing fake lawn with digging out the hardcore then new top soil then the turn then the work then not using it for a good period of time while it settles in. It is less permanent than paving. Its not like you have flooded your garden with concrete. You could roll the grass up in 15 mins and then you just have an area thats ready for paving if thats what you want. Its just sand underneath for a couple of inches then hardcore.
With more work, take some of the hardcore out, a few ton of topsoil and turf. .. in my case say 25sqm of turf , 2 ton of top soil etc is about £250 ...plus labour. ...no big deal really if you wanted to go "natural"
Sounds expensive and a huge effort.
Or is it only people with tiny lawns who do this—— not from the pics so far it would appear.
It’s a fair challenge does it devalue the house.
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