Artificial lawn. Yes or no

[rex]

Just returned from the Grand Designs show and came across a couple of companies with artificial lawn. I have to say I was impressed with the appearance and feel. I can see the advantages with 3 young lads who can wreck parts of a lawn with ease, but I just feel weird about having plastic grass.

Also no watering or irrigation system or cutting.

Does anyone have any experience of artificial lawn that can relate their experience over the long term.

[Johnnytheboy]

I'd be interested to know how one keeps them clean.

[m4ckg]

I've had mine down for two years due to kids footballing and a large Chestnut tree . All I do now is sweep it, its the best £1500 I've ever spent ( on the house ) ;-)

[otherman]

Johnnytheboy said:

I'd be interested to know how one keeps them clean.

They free drain and get rained on.

We had one for the same reasons and its been fine. Can cost a pretty penny though and takes a lot of work to install properly.

[stolt]

i fitted some to ours last year (had a small garden on the previous house) and best money i spent, had one type one,and then sharp sand and then this kind of bumper sheet laid down that made the grass feel soft underfoot. its the type with some brown threads in it so looks pretty real. kids can be on it all year round and it doesnt turn yellow in the summer! go for it you wont regret it, if your doing it yourself the prep of the base is where you will spend your time.

[CO2000]

If you are a golfer

http://www.huxleygolf.co.uk/golf-at-home/greens/in...

[rex]

Thanks for the responses. I was 70% there on choosing artificial after today. Your responses have reinforced that. I will save a wedge on not having to install the irrigation system and topsoil. I have about 180sqm to cover so will get some quotes in. Also I will save a load of water from the rainwater harvesting tank.

Seems like a no brained if the costs are OK.

[7 Sevens]

Could you let us know what companies you were considering? Having similar thoughts about a section at the front of ours that is simply too dry and appears to need watering daily from April-October.

[Turbodiesel1690]

Don't you think you'll miss the smell of freshly mown grass? Or the satisfaction of sitting in the garden on a Summer's evening with a beer admiring your handiwork? I know I would.

[burwoodman]

My brother created this lawn himself. Started with rubble-took a year to nurcher.

[CO2000]

burwoodman said:

My brother created this lawn himself. Started with rubble-took a year to nurcher.

Nice

[KenBlocksPants]

Im seriously considering this too as I have a dog whos wee has pretty much destroyed the lawn.

Anyone have any photos of theirs? I'd be interested in seeing a full size lawn in a real environment (not the glossy sales photos on the websites!)

[Minel]

KenBlocksPants said:

Im seriously considering this too as I have a dog whos wee has pretty much destroyed the lawn.

Anyone have any photos of theirs? I'd be interested in seeing a full size lawn in a real environment (not the glossy sales photos on the websites!)

cheaper option is to add apple vinegar in his water bowl, only a little bit. No more burnt grass

[im]

KenBlocksPants said:

Anyone have any photos of theirs? I'd be interested in seeing a full size lawn in a real environment (not the glossy sales photos on the websites!)

Ditto this.

[londonagent]

We laid ours about 5 years ago, used easigrass, needs very little maintenance, you do need to keep on top of it though to keep it looking good. As previously said it's great if you have kids as it dries very quickly and there is zero mud. The only draw back is it can get very hot in the summer in full sun, not burning but warmer than you would think.

Picture of our garden, sorry it'd not bigger but only one I can find to hand.

[Beardy10]

We have artificial grass...it's brilliant. Would echo all the comments about practicality and maintenance...you can also put it where grass wont grow and obviously places where it wont survive due to high traffic.


I'll dig some photo's out.

[deckster]

londonagent said:

We laid ours about 5 years ago, used easigrass, needs very little maintenance, you do need to keep on top of it though to keep it looking good. As previously said it's great if you have kids as it dries very quickly and there is zero mud. The only draw back is it can get very hot in the summer in full sun, not burning but warmer than you would think.

Picture of our garden, sorry it'd not bigger but only one I can find to hand.

Y'see, that just looks like a green carpet to me. Yes my lawn's a bit of a state what with footballing kids, fox turds, mushrooms and the like but there's something just not right about an artificial lawn.

Forgive the analogy, but isn't it a bit like comparing a blow-up sheep to actually having a wife? Sure it's easily maintained and cleans up nicely, but it's not quite the same.

[burwoodman]

Deckster-what looks artificial about the pic I posted above. Looks real. What give aways are there?

[Guffy]

Minel said:

cheaper option is to add apple vinegar in his water bowl, only a little bit. No more burnt grass

That doesn't work in reality, my hound gets most of her water from rivers/streams/ponds when we're out walking!

[rex]

7 Sevens said:

Could you let us know what companies you were considering? Having similar thoughts about a section at the front of ours that is simply too dry and appears to need watering daily from April-October.

Companies at Grand Design show were easigrass and artificial lawn company.

Sorry for the delay in response but have been gardening all weekend with a 3/4 ton digger. The only time I have enjoyed gardening