Artificial grass, any regrets?
Discussion
I m considering putting it down over about 52 m² in my back garden. On paper, I really dislike the idea - fake, plasticky, and a bit soulless - but it does seem like the quality has improved a lot in recent years.
That said, I spend way too much of every summer messing around trying to keep the existing lawn looking half-decent, only for it to turn to crap again once the weather changes. Starting to wonder if the time and effort just aren t worth it anymore.
Would be interested to hear from people who ve actually lived with artificial grass - especially anyone who s installed it and later regretted it (or didn't).
Picture for context
That said, I spend way too much of every summer messing around trying to keep the existing lawn looking half-decent, only for it to turn to crap again once the weather changes. Starting to wonder if the time and effort just aren t worth it anymore.
Would be interested to hear from people who ve actually lived with artificial grass - especially anyone who s installed it and later regretted it (or didn't).
Picture for context
We had ours done a few years ago as part of landscaping the whole garden. We had young kids who were always churning up the grass, especially a large soggy/mossy area which got little direct sunlight.
Overall it has been great - but don’t expect it to be completely zero maintenance. We’ve found we’ve had to sort out the odd weed which can still come through and stuff which lands on it (e.g dead leaves) tends to hang around longer rather than rotting away as you might get on a grass lawn) so we end up doing quite a bit of leaf blowing/sweeping and the occasional power-washing. Less of an issue if you don’t have loads of overhanging trees I guess.
Overall it has been great - but don’t expect it to be completely zero maintenance. We’ve found we’ve had to sort out the odd weed which can still come through and stuff which lands on it (e.g dead leaves) tends to hang around longer rather than rotting away as you might get on a grass lawn) so we end up doing quite a bit of leaf blowing/sweeping and the occasional power-washing. Less of an issue if you don’t have loads of overhanging trees I guess.
Magooagain said:
What are you using to maintain 52 square metres that takes so long?
It needs cutting once a week to look sharp. But it gets patchy in places. Whole left handside is in the shade, so is constantly mossy. The part perpendicular to the patio doesnt drain so is constantly boggy (though I appreciate thats a drainage issue). Squirrels like to dig holes in it too. Weeds come out of nowhere. All in all, it just does my head in.
Just accept grass is a real living product and looks different in different seasons, would you chop down all the trees for plastic so it looked better in winter
Utterly hateful stuff, if you don t like grass, at least bark or chipping with plants in would absorb rain and heat and not contribute to surface flooding and a heated planet and still offer some biodiversity.
It s not even as bad as when boomers just slabbed back gardens in the 90s
That garden is almost devoid of life, why not get rid of the shaded grass and replace with nice shade loving plants, some hedges or something not found in butchers windows
Humanity deserves everything bad it has coming to it
Utterly hateful stuff, if you don t like grass, at least bark or chipping with plants in would absorb rain and heat and not contribute to surface flooding and a heated planet and still offer some biodiversity.
It s not even as bad as when boomers just slabbed back gardens in the 90s
That garden is almost devoid of life, why not get rid of the shaded grass and replace with nice shade loving plants, some hedges or something not found in butchers windows
Humanity deserves everything bad it has coming to it
Edited by Quattr04. on Monday 15th December 21:54
3xAAA said:
Magooagain said:
What are you using to maintain 52 square metres that takes so long?
It needs cutting once a week to look sharp. But it gets patchy in places. Whole left handside is in the shade, so is constantly mossy. The part perpendicular to the patio doesnt drain so is constantly boggy (though I appreciate thats a drainage issue). Squirrels like to dig holes in it too. Weeds come out of nowhere. All in all, it just does my head in.
Astro and porcelain is going to be looking a tad sterile but if it’s going to save you time like.
Quattr04. said:
Just accept grass is a real living product and looks different in different seasons, would you chop down all the trees for plastic so it looked better in winter
Utterly hateful stuff, if you don t like grass, at least bark or chipping with plants in would absorb rain and heat and not contribute to surface flooding and a heated planet and still offer some biodiversity.
It s not even as bad as when boomers just slabbed back gardens in the 90s
I feel something like this. Why does the OP want fake grass? Why not something permeable like bark or gravel? I'm a big fan of gravel. You can even put permeable landscaping fabric down and then have bark or gravel. Utterly hateful stuff, if you don t like grass, at least bark or chipping with plants in would absorb rain and heat and not contribute to surface flooding and a heated planet and still offer some biodiversity.
It s not even as bad as when boomers just slabbed back gardens in the 90s
Put mine down over two years ago, great stuff, have two kids under 4 and it’s perfect for they two to play on.
I would say get the best quality you can afford because the difference between cheap and expensive is huge. Mine was 40mm and the highest range in the shop and it hasn’t flattened or discoloured in the sunlight. A quick clean in the spring time and it looks as new as the day I bought it.
I would say get the best quality you can afford because the difference between cheap and expensive is huge. Mine was 40mm and the highest range in the shop and it hasn’t flattened or discoloured in the sunlight. A quick clean in the spring time and it looks as new as the day I bought it.
3xAAA said:
Magooagain said:
What are you using to maintain 52 square metres that takes so long?
It needs cutting once a week to look sharp. But it gets patchy in places. Whole left handside is in the shade, so is constantly mossy. The part perpendicular to the patio doesnt drain so is constantly boggy (though I appreciate thats a drainage issue). Squirrels like to dig holes in it too. Weeds come out of nowhere. All in all, it just does my head in.
ked, remove something thats natural and bio supporting and replace with plastic just because “Starting to wonder if the time and effort just aren t worth it”Forums | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff