Artifical Grass

[youvegottobekidding]

Just been pondering about this for a while now. We've been in our 'new' home for about 3 and half years now and haven't done much to the back garden. The grassed area isn't really brilliant to be honest. There's bald patches, its just not great. At a really rough guess its squared shaped about 14ft by 14ft. I'd really like to have artifical grass laid - just because it would look so much better and just be so much more practical i think. Im not after anything top notch. DH doesn't seem too keen, mainly because he thinks it'll cost a lot. I don't think so and i think it'll be so much better for DS to play football on!!!

Are we talking hundreds or thousands? how is it done? anyone had it and found it was the best decision?

My sisters had this done in 2 houses she’s lived in, it looks fantastic
She had it done because she’s had enough of gardening, and is 63.

It wasn’t cheap though! Nearly 3 thousand and it’s not big by any means.
It’s not just a case of laying it down(although some do) the underneath needs preparation, drainage needs to be done also so when it rains it drains away and not just lays on the top in puddles.
She loves it, and it stays green all the time.

It was already laid in the house we bought but we're trying to get rid of it. Its not maintenance free, anything that lands on it doesn't wash or rot away, like leaves, mud bird poo. It needs sweeping or some sort of hoovering (I can't work out how to clean it properly) When the kids fall over on it they get something akin to a carpet burn. No birds come into the garden as there aren't any worms and if I chuck food out for them I have to clean it up again after a couple of days.

Give me a fresh smelling grassy patch any day

Ditto what CakeandCustard says .They aren't maintainance free.DD has got rid of the artificial lawn she acquired and turfed her garden.She has a dog and a toddler, but like me hated the idea of something so synthetic, non biodegradable and environmentally unfriendly.It makes me sad,especially with all the worry about plastics, that so many real lawns are disappearing. Watching the blackbirds pulling up worms, looking at the lawn in winter wondering how it will recover in spring and then seeing it bright green in spring.Spreading a rug on it and snoozing in the sun and the lovely earthy,grassy smell.Even mowing and raking it gives me pleasure.But then I love gardening.

It's not cheap, but I find it so much better than real grass.

It's definitely low maintenance. All you need to do is remove any leaves once a fortnight and in the summer months give it the once over every fortnight with a hose. Never, ever hoover it, as this can suck up the sand and eventually it will sag in places and look uneven.

If you go for a mid-price (and upwards) grass, you won't have issues with 'carpet burns'. My DS plays football on it regularly, doing slide tackles and has never had any problems. I also don't have to scrub mud and grass stains out of clothes anymore.

The local cats hate it too and we have no more issues with cat pooh in the garden now.

It makes my garden look fresh and modern and a great improvement on the moss and weed covered grass I had before.

It's not cheap, but I love it.