Replacing plastic grass

[LividLaughLovely]

Looking at a house that has fake grass in the back.

Does anyone know how easy it is to returf and what sort of price for a small lawn?

[Ariela]

The ground would be very level underneath, but usually (if laid properly) has a layer of compacted sand or sharp sand beneath to give an even firm surface. You'd have to remove most of that, but I imagine unless a vast area you could put it in builders bags and offer it locally - people will use it to lay patios and paths etc. .
Personally I'd re-seed and rake in as this will mix in the remaining sand/sharp sand, given we're having a wet summer seed will grow pretty fast, rather than buy turf. However if you want instant grass then I'd turf it. You need to ensure the area is level and then to lay it firmly up against the next piece, so as to have no gaps. See You Tube for videos.
Above all whether seeding or turf remember to keep it well watered if dry weather. Might be worth investing in a sprinkler.
I'd say pretty easy to DIY if only a small area.

[LividLaughLovely]

Thank you! You’re overestimating my practical skills; I’d not have the know how, I can barely water plants myself. Good to know it’s not a hard fix!

[Zhampagne]

Check what’s underneath it. It is mostly likely sharp sand as @Ariela has said but it could equally be sitting on concrete or paving which is obviously a bit more of a palaver to take up.

[WoolyMammoth55]

We did something similar at the start of lockdown - last year we bought a house with "low maintenance" gravel front garden. It was laid over a plastic membrane to suppress weeds. So we bagged up the gravel and it got taken by neighbours; pulled up the plastic membrane and kind neighbour said we could use their skip for that.
Rented a rotavator from a local hire firm - about £45 for the day. DH's gym had just closed so he was happy to work up a sweat breaking up the soil! Then we levelled by shuffling and back and forth over it in gardening clogs until it felt smooth (high-tech!) and took delivery of enough turf from a local company. Turf came in at under £100, most of which was delivery costs - if we'd have been able to collect as in normal times it'd have been under £40, so I'd say turf every time TBH. I actually laid it myself as DH was knackered by this point :) and it was heavy to lift but not hard - used some old shelves we'd just taken down as planks to walk on, to distribute weight and prevent footprints damaging it. Cut it at the edges with a kitchen knife. Not a hard job at all.
Once laid it came in very quickly, looks lush and thick and is very level so crazy easy to mow and take care of. Very affordable and satisfying to get the instant results! You can't walk on it for the first 3 weeks or so but obviously that's true of seed too so not a downside :)

[Elieza]

Why do you want to lift it OP?
Have you had grass you’ve been responsible for before?
Grass is a lot of work in the summer. It needs cut once a week.
You say you’re not that good at plants and things so is this a realistic idea?

[LST]

I love our artifical grass. We had it already laid on the house we purchased and it's been a blessing

[shittingthreeeyedraven]

Good grief grass doesn’t need to be cut once a week! Unless perhaps you are living in Stepford. Longer grass is soft and also is a haven for all sorts of wildlife and insects. I’m not suggesting you leave it to meadow proportions but it doesn’t have to be a regulation 5cm all over!
Lawns are not hard work at all and a million times better than hideous fake grass which is a scourge on nature in all possible ways.

[milienhaus]

We had a small (4mx4m maybe) patch of AstroTurf in the garden - we just pulled it up, added a layer of compost/topsoil, and out down seed. Not the most professional job but the seed grew well and it looks really good now!

[milienhaus]

Forgot to say there was sand underneath then gravel but we just left it (under the soil layer) and doesn’t seem to have cause problems yet.

[hedgehogger1]

Ha my lawn hasn't been cut for months. Once a week if you live on a golf course maybe, or in one of those houses with immaculate stripey lawns

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

God I hate fake grass, an awful trend that has aged horribly already. Good on you for fixing it.

[Eng123]

Artificial grass is the work of the devil! Good luck with replacing it, hopefully as others have said it's not too much of an effort to replace depending on what it is laid over

[frazzledasarock]

We laid our own lawn in our back garden at the beginning of lockdown. So glad we did it’s cooler in the heatwave we’ve just had.

Laying down turf was very easy, taking up the decking and the gravel and the plastic membrane underneath it was harder. But we didn’t have to pay to get any of it disposed we advertised it on freecycle and people were very glad to take it for their own projects.

We rotavated the soil underneath and added loads of top soil then laid down the turf. It took very well.
Also we’ve bot needed to mow our lawn weekly I think even once a month would be fine.

I prefer real grass. Astro turf really put me off houses when we were house hunting.

[LividLaughLovely]

Thanks all. I’m sure there are plenty of benefits to plastic grass but it’s not for me, so good to hear I can relawn it relatively easily.

I’m not beyond mowing, and I’d rather mow than have burnt feet on a hot day.