We've just had a plastic lawn put in. AMA

[Imdunfer]

As title.

If you're going to raise climate issues please make sure you have your facts right before you post. There is a lot of incorrect PR and social media comment about plastic turf going around at the moment.

I don't believe that and I don't think anyone else does.

Do you think this from Plymouth University is fake PR/social media?
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/discover/why-are-artificial-lawns-bad-for-the-environment

I'm pleased for her if that's what matters to her.

Or what - do you know what passive aggressive means?

How do you feel about preventing the birds and hedgehogs etc. in your garden from being able to forage for worms and insects on your now plastic lawn?

What is your opinion on the plastic pollution you will cause in the years to come as your lawn degrades leaching microplastics into your surrounding soil, harming the creature that live in the soil and consequently the local birds and other animals that feed on them?

How nice for your kids and dog OP www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/synthetic-turf

i think people who get so butt hurt over it are a "bit thick"...only flap your trap if youre eco perfect..

Do you boke in your mouth every time you utter the phrase 'plastic lawn'?

It might look perfectly fine and lovely to you and lots of other people, but it's still possible to tell it's artificial grass. Partly because it looks almost too perfect even.

I actually went to view a house recently, from the photo of the garden I didn't notice the grass was artificial but I noticed it immediately when I got there. And yes it put me off, I would have considered it if I'd loved the house enough but it certainly made me less likely to buy it.

The reality is that some will love it, some will hate it, whether it affects how quickly your house sells might depend on the area, the market, the type of house etc. I just think it's worth bearing in mind that some viewers will be put off by it, not everyone though!

The stuff about water runoff is bollocks for a properly installed lawn. It actually holds more water because it sinks through into the earth and doesn't evaporate off the surface as it does with grass when the rain stops.

So is the stuff they've written about the maintenance required being as much as the effort of mowing and grass maintenance.

How sad do the bees and butterflies look as they float past?

I agree, the powers that be absolutely need to do their part and it is the government that have contributed to most of the damage. Like I said, we all make poor choices in regards to the environment for our convenience and enjoyment, I just don't think we should be encouraging other people to be environmentally unfriendly.

No but I do boke in my mouth every time someone who flies away on holiday or drives a big car unnecessarily tells me I'm ruining the planet.

What do you mean by not wanting to use it? Do you mean you won't be walking on it or sitting on it or playing on it?

Did you give any thought at all to the hedgehogs that need slugs and worms in the soil to survive?

Did you consider where the next pair of blackbirds are going to get the invertebrates they need to feed their next set of chicks?

Did you consider rainwater runoff and how it will now run into the street rather than soak into the ground?

Did you consider the microplatics that will now shed from your perfect plastic lawn, due to sunlight degradation over the years?

Did you look into creating a living dry garden with plants in it instead of trying to replicate a perfect lawn?

Did you ever consider that the sole purpose of human beings is not 'to have a perfect lawn'?

so wheres all the excess water going to drain with all the paving ?...my beautiful astro turf drains freely...into the ground

Apart from the obvious ecological impact, they just look seriously tacky and ugly. I'd honestly be embarrassed to own one.

😂

You haven’t had this installed for long have you.

In the long run it is higher maintenance than lawn. Let it go and it’s a hell of a job to get it back nice, but the more you maintain the quicker it degrades. So not a great combo. But you will learn all this as you do.

What other things are you planning on telling people not to write about? Holidays, carbon fuel cars, synthentic floorboards, acrylic carpets, polyester clothes?

I find it pretty laughable that you are accusing me of encouraging people to put in a plastic lawn by doing an AMA. Did you think I would be unaware how strong the opposition would be?

My DB and DS both have plastic grass - because they live in flats with balconies/roof terraces and for weight/drainage reasons can't have proper grass. It looks ok and better than the concrete pavers underneath it but it is not low maintenance.

Birdshit has to be rinsed off in dry weather and if they don't regularly clear leaves, blossom and sycamore keys they rot down to slime.

I bloody hate gardening but pushing a mower round our fairly small patches of grass is easier than constant sweeping and rinsing.

So do you think you know more than professors/researchers?

You write as if it hasn't been used for sports pitches for decades and there aren't plenty of people confirming its low maintenance.

I don't know what degradation you are imagining could happen, but that's all you are doing, imagining.

They clearly have not researched properly installed lawns. I think I know exactly how much run off there is from our lawn in a massive downpour.

None.

Are you aware of the concept of the cumulative impact of lots of people doing the same small, but negative, thing? I.e. If everyone thought 'it's only my 10ftx 15ft patch' and did this then the ecological and environmental impacts would be likely to be very significant?

@Imdunfer so do you not think sports pitches have to be replaced?