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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get artificial grass?

51 replies

ILoveEurovision · 18/05/2019 19:35

We have a small garden. There's an approx 9ft/3m square patch which currently has sharp and pointy gravel that I hate. We have a 7 month old who is crawling. We have big planter flowerbeds around the edge with lots of fruit trees, bushes, flowers (I don't know what type they are but we have something the bees are absolutely mad for) and a pergola with bird feeders which are mainly visited by goldfinches.

I want to replace the gravel with something DS can sit and crawl on. AIBU to get fake grass to replace the gravel? I always was against it as it just seems so sad for the environment as I know birds eat worms etc. It's only a small patch but if everyone does it then I guess it adds up. DH seems so keen and is dead against real grass - he thinks our neighbour's grass looks shabby, neither of us are green-fingered or have heaps of time for gardening, we'd have to get a lawn mower and find somewhere to store it. DH thinks if we don't get the fake grass we should get decking or paving which are not much better for the environment I guess.

Should I stick to my guns and try and encourage him to get real grass? Or WIBU to go for the fake stuff?

OP posts:
Marilynmansonsthermos · 18/05/2019 19:45

On Mumsnet everyone will pile in and tell you how AstroTurf/fake grass is disgusting common and bad for the environment. I have a small strip in my garden with loads of beds/shrubs either side and it's fine. It was there when I moved in and I've just got used to it now. Real lawns take masses of water and chemicals to maintain anyway.

whiskeysourpuss · 18/05/2019 19:55

If you do go ahead & get the fake stuff OP get professionals in to lay it... my neighbour has just got some & it looks like a badly laid carpet with lumps & bumps all over the place

minisoksmakehardwork · 18/05/2019 19:56

You'd still have to weed it. The artificial grass at our children's centre had loads of weeds popping through, cos they couldn't use chemical weed killers with babies crawling on it.

At least with real grass you can mow over the weeds and not worry about them.

Dancingbea · 18/05/2019 19:57

I love mine. I have stopped wasting water and fertiliser on desperately trying to get a lawn to grow, and in addition the beds in either side of it are now full of flowers that the beas love, now the grass isn’t sapping the life out of everything. Garden full of birds too. Best garden addition I have made.

TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 18/05/2019 19:59

After 10 years of trying to grow grass (expensive turf - shade loving seed etc) under a load of tress with tree preservation orders,, we caved and had artificial grass fitted. It is fantastic for what we need - I would prefer real grass and it still needs a fair bit if maintenance to remove mossy patches, but it give a bit of green and was well worth the £7K we spent on it.

Digestive28 · 18/05/2019 20:00

I love ours. I think it is about getting high quality and it done properly. We got loads of samples and left them outside for a few days to choose so could see at different times of day and compare to neighbours actual grass so didn’t look too mismatched

TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 18/05/2019 20:00

I agree with getting professionals in to do a good job.

44PumpLane · 18/05/2019 20:04

I hate fake grass and was coming on to plead with you not to do it... However having read your post I actually think it would be appropriate in your situation!

You aren't removing grass to put in plastic, it seems you are cultivating bee and insect friendly areas of your garden, and your other realistic option seems to be other non grass solutions.

So given all of the above I think artificial grass sounds appropriate (and I am honestly so against the stuff so that says something)!

BigRedLondonBus · 18/05/2019 20:10

I’m getting some.

Original poster
ILoveEurovision · 18/05/2019 20:10

You'd still have to weed it. The artificial grass at our children's centre had loads of weeds popping through, cos they couldn't use chemical weed killers with babies crawling on it.

The gardener who would be doing it has said he'd lay a membrane underneath to keep the weeds at bay, so I assume they shouldn't be too much of a problem. We have a membrane under the gravel at the moment and just have to pull a few weeds around the edge of it.

OP posts:
Mumminmum · 18/05/2019 20:12

Fake grass? Please don't! It spreads microplastic in the environment and it looks soooo trashy. Please don't. Oh God. What the hell is the point of me trying to be more environmentally friendly when so many other people in Britain just want to see the planet burn? So it is easier for you to have fake grass? Maybe you could also get some nice heat from burning tyres. Yes. Fuck this planet. To hell with the fact that the other planets in this solar systems are fixer uppers.

Please read HC Andersen's "The Nightingale". See the error of your ways.

Whatevermission · 18/05/2019 20:13

I just got some for shading area where grass was patchy/mossy. I love it. It easy to install, I few lumps and bumps don't matter x

memorial · 18/05/2019 20:13

Have it in our small garden. Overlooked and clay soil so never grew anything. I love it and it looks really real. Even with membrane and weed killer it does have he odd weed round the end and even through it.

To get artificial grass?
Original poster
ILoveEurovision · 18/05/2019 20:13

We got loads of samples and left them outside for a few days to choose so could see at different times of day and compare to neighbours actual grass so didn’t look too mismatched

Thanks that's a really good tip.

OP posts:
Mumminmum · 18/05/2019 20:15

Also seriously: You think all that plastic is good for your child? My son got carpet burn from crawling on our carpets. You think that astroturf is nice to crawl on? You poor child will have no skin on the knees.

GnomeDePlume · 18/05/2019 20:17

We have it. Before it we had a lawn which was more bare earth than anything else. Now we have a space which we can use immediately the rain stops, doesnt get chewed up when the dog runs around on it.

There are different quality levels from something which looks like the matting used on a fruit & veg stall to a lawn which looks very realistic.

It is possible to lay it yourself and get a good effect. It's not rocket science.

Whatevermission · 18/05/2019 20:18

He'll have more skin, than he would crawling on gravel 😅

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 18/05/2019 20:18

Have you thought about alternatives like clover or creeping thyme or chamomile?

PristineCondition · 18/05/2019 20:20

I've had it for years, my sons still have normal knees .

My garden gets little sun, nothing grew. Like others have said it's worth spending lots in the long run

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 18/05/2019 20:20

Or if it's shady... Moss. Fluffy and pillow like. Apparently perfect for young children as it's so cushiony

flashbac · 18/05/2019 20:21

Great. More plastic to add to the environment. Fucking fabulous.

Felicia4 · 18/05/2019 20:24

We have artificial grass. No one realises it isn't real unless we tell them so I'm not sure why people are so negative about it. Buy good quality and have it laid properly. We have 3 dogs and had real grass which didn't last very long at all, garden looked atrocious and stunk. Now garden looks lovely, dogs are happy and it doesn't smell. Do what works for you.

PristineCondition · 18/05/2019 20:26

I feel the need to prove his knees are normal. He's 8 now but was a crawler when I got it out down

also he's now very confusedGrin

To get artificial grass?
Montsti · 18/05/2019 20:26

We have it on our smallish lawn and love it! We live abroad where we had severe water restrictions in place when we renovated and we were strongly advised to install it and haven’t looked back. We have various indigenous plants around our garden and plenty of bees etc..The only downside is that it gets extremely hot in summer here. We do also need to use a turf spray every few months to eradicate the smell of dog wee!,