artificial grass

[Linz2]

I am at my wits end with the lack of grass in my garden. The soil has a lot of clay in it and tends to hold water despite spiking it, the grass just rots away. I have had it returfed twice and have recently tried seeding it but still no joy. Having looked at several websites I am now seriously considering artifical grass which will give all year round enjoyment. Would like to hear from anyone who has experience of artificial grass and a recommended retailer.

We had similar problems to yours regarding grass & as it wasn't a huge area we went for artificial grass when we had our back garden landscaped last year. I've got 2 small boys so it just seemed like the logical thing to do. I haven't regretted it at all. It always looks great, even in a drought, & there are all sorts of lengths & 'styles'. We went for quite a short one as we thought we'd be dying to mow a lusher length.

It's quite expensive (it cost us about 2.5k to get 50-odd msq fitted) but we figured we'd save on maintenance & replacing dead turf.

I would LOVE to recommend the company we used, but although they did do a good job, the young guy in charge of the job on-site had a crap attitude, which became apparent when they drilled through my water supply pipe late on a Friday evening & they left me, alone in the house with 2 children under 5, with a shrug & "it's your problem Love". I was FURIOUS!!

Just google 'artificial grass' & you'll get some leads. (The company I used are 'As Good as Grass').
HTH

My friend has this and it looks fab. We all laughed when she said was getting it, jokes abounded about tellytubby land and 5 aside football, but we're all eating our words. Will ask her tomorrow who did hers.
She also has heavy clay soil.

Thanks scampadoodle, i have a problem with drainage of water when it rains, do you find that the artificial grass drains okay? I would be looking to try and keep the cost to a minimum and am considering fitting it ourselves as a few of the companies I have contacted seem to say that it is easy to fit with instructions given. Having seen yours being fitted, do you think it would be easy enough to fit yourself? Is yours the type of grass that is heavy enough that they just lay it over existing grass area or is it nailed down around the edges? From information gathered the grass comes in 2m or 4m widths therefore several joins sealed with tape, have you had any problems with the joins coming apart with wear and tear? Sorry a lot of questions I know!

thanks

Linz

Yes, I believe it is quite easy to fit yourself (as long as you're handy): you excavate the surface, put wooden battens round the edges, then sand under where the grass will go, & then stretch the grass from batten to batten - as though you're fitting a carpet.
As to drainage, we haven't had any problems as yet; I expect the sand helps. So far, no problems with the joins - although weeds do still sprout up at the edges.

Babyramone: everyone laughed at us too, & some gardening purists were very sniffy. However because of the shape & size of our garden it's just proved to be the best thing...

One drawback is that soil, twigs, leaves etc that fall on the grass don't rot down into the earth as they would on a natural lawn, so you have to sweep it a lot in Summer! Or you could use one of those blower things.

I also used the company As Good As Grass and would recommend them although they I had my own landscapers do the fitting.

I absolutely love it as have a small shadey garden. I have just bought a blower as brushing it is a real pain. It cost me about £400 but the area is only about 20m sq.

Go for it I say!

Thanks hillbilly, do you mind me asking how much your landscaper charged for fitting?