To ask lawn or AstroTurf?

[PirateFairy45]

I'm not sure which to put down... Or even how to lay it. I'll attach a pic but want it from the fence up to the little pink house.

Could someone advise me please on what I'll need to do? And which you recommend?

Have posted in gardening but no answers

[JagerPlease]

I would recommend fake grass from somewhere like grass-direct - it's really straightforward to lay, they have a whole range to suit any budget and no maintenance required! We recently did our whole garden for under £300 and you can't tell it's fake

[PirateFairy45]

See I was hoping to spend 30-60 max, as its only a small area. About 11ft X 13ft.

[AlcoChocs]

The concrete would have to be broken up and probably new soil brought in if you wanted a proper lawn. Gardening service people/landscapers would give you an estimate of cost.
Artificial grass would be simpler, lots of companies offer installation service
not recommending just the first one that came up on google. If you measure the space you could get a quote to give you some idea of cost.

[Hulababy]

We had our garden this spring and had false grass (not astroturf) laid instead of real grass. Our builder arranged it all - was roughly the same cost per square foot to have that laid as it cost us for the decking to be laid. Our builder had never laid it before, so he got advice. We said it was pretty easy to lay, though a little time consuming in terms of prep.

Have to say that we are happy with it. We went for a mid range lawn, it has a more 'natural' type look and feels lovely on your feet. I like that after rain it feels dry pretty quick.

[Chapsy]

£30-60 max?? No chance!

Turning concrete into lawn is a big hard work kind of job.

[ForalltheSaints]

Lawn. Allows drainage and so helps prevent flooding.

[Hulababy]

Im afraid it won't be as cheap as £30-60 for either.
Just getting rid of the concrete will probably cost more than that tbh.

False grass does have drainage when put down properly. Hence why our grass doesn't feel wet quickly after it has rained - it is designed to drain away through the grass and everything underneath.

[dailymaillazyjournos]

Maybe if it's a small area you could buy an offcut from a larger order. If you google astroturf offcuts there are loads of places that sell it. Might be worth looking into.

I got an offcut for my v small balcony. I think it was about £60ish but can't remember exactly. It wasn't much though. I think i got it from Amazon.

[Dizzydodo]

I don't think you will be able to fake or real grass for £30-£60.

[Lucyccfc]

Friend has just had artificial grass put down (similar size to yours). It cost them £750 (mid-range price). They had a contractor do it. The concrete had to be removed first, then the ground prepared with stone and sand for drainage and then the grass laid. They also had to hire a skip.

[whywonthedgehogssharethehedge]

There's no way to do it on that budget sorry. Even doing it yourself you would have to break down the concrete and dispose of it then lay soil and turf or seed. It is a huge job despite being a small area. It's the concrete base that's the issue.

Artificial grass would probably go over it with less prep (although it would all need levelling out) but even laying it yourself it's not cheap.

[Justwanttoweeinpeace]

For a kids play area, AstroTurf. We just had some put down for DS and it's the only bit of the garden that looks half decent at the moment

[MatildaTheCat]

It looks quite a dark area, a sideway rather than a garden? I don't think grass would thrive even if you did go to all that effort.

I would rather pave the whole area nicely and add pots etc. But since you want green Astro Turf would be less maintenance but you are out on budget, sadly.

[Laiste]

Question for those with fake grass (sorry OP) ...

Do you hoover it? I mean doesn't it get clogged up with little bits of earth and leaves and stuff, blown or walked on to it? In a real lawn that just rots down and adds to the earth but you wouldn't want that happening on fake grass making it all manky. How does it work?

[PirateFairy45]

Yeah it's a driveway. The closest to a garden I have.

We are not moving for a few years so figured that I might as well make use of the space I have. Sick of going out there and worried what DD could step in! So want to make it child friendly.

First pic is Wednesday AM and second was yesterday PM (tho second is closer to the new fence)

[RiverTam]

A friend has fake grass (I don't think it's AstroTurf) and whilst it looks great I noticed that the children's feet were absolutely black after running around on it for a while. Not just dirty, like being in the garden barefoot - black. Which would put me off it tbh.

[toots111]

I have ugly concrete in my yard and couldn't afford to do a proper patio so I bought a couple of outdoor rugs that are made out of recycled straws. Bright colours, softer underfoot for the kids than the concrete and cheaper than fake grass, lawn etc. like this
www.wayfair.co.uk/Riley-Ave.-Yellow-Outdoor-Area-Rug-RILY1067-L167-K~RILY1067.html?refid=GX103100623692-RILY1067_15848470&device=t&ptid=228681063623&targetid=aud-181846219030:pla-228681063623&PiID%5B%5D=15848470&targetid=aud-181846219030:pla-228681063623&gclid=CL_e2dKj884CFa8W0wodkU4K7w

And then get some nice pots with flowers/shrubs and a small table and chairs

[Hulababy]

Last - No. I have brushed it with a firm bristled brush. I think the 'blades of grass' would be too long for a hoover tbh and probably jam it.

[Dizzydodo]

laiste I just brush mine with a stiff brush the same as the patio, gets jet washed once in a while too. Don't fancy filling my Hoover with leaves/bugs!

[QueenCuntyFlippers]

I work in the industry and its usually £60ish per m2 for installation and the artificial grass.

It's great for yards :)

[PirateFairy45]

I'll be fitting it myself :)

[JsOtherHalf]

1m by 4m artificial grass is £30 here:
www.homebargains.co.uk/products/6557-cc-grass-artificial-turf-grass-1m-x-4m.aspx

[dailymaillazyjournos]

Laiste I took the vacuum cleaner to mine. Came up beautifully but trashed the vac :( Moral here is DON'T VAC IT.

[Laiste]

Thank you for the answers about how to clean it. I've got a Henry and i have form for hoovering ''beyond the threshold'' (I hoover the bit of patio outside the back door and I hoover our 'open air' porch most days. Henry takes the leaves in his stride.)

I can see me hoovering the lawn if it was fake for sure

[dailymaillazyjournos]

Laiste sounds like Henry is more able to tackle the job than my wimpy (ex) Morphy Richards :)