Anyone has artificial lawn installed?

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

We've got a v small garden where grass won't grow due to shade. Lawn area 25sqm.

Just been quoted £3000 for artificial grass, installed professionally, material taken away etc. We're a bit taken aback - is this expensive or were we being unrealistic?

Trying to get other quotes but not many people willing to come out.

OP I started a thread a while back and you do get people coming on to have a go.

Everyone does something that people could argue isn't good for the environment. Having children is terrible for a start.

I don't put anything on mine to clean it. It gets a brush to remove dead leaves and occasionally water to make sure any dogs pee is washed off although he tends to pee elsewhere. Don't try and diy it because it really is the base that matters. Crushed limestone is part of our base and that allows correct drainage. A base of sand is bad and that's where lots of smells can start as it doesn't drain as well.

It's also like buying carpet where you will pay more for a better quality grass but actually the base is probably the most of the total cost.

I agree that we all do something that's bad for the environment but you're not telling me that you don't do ANYTHING else that harms it are you?

No of course not, choosing plastic grass is IMO the definition of ignorant,

Good luck with the reseeding. I think I'd be tempted to spend a fraction of the cost of artificial on someone who knows what will grow in that area, and pay them to prepare the ground and reseed or place turf. Take their advice. If grass is a no go, then do as others have suggested with the bark or paved area. There are even such things as moss lawns. So many other options out there.

ppeatfruit well I don't have children so that's saved a lot of damage so I think my artificial grass pales into insignificance overall.

It's very easy to throw stones at other people whilst ignoring your own choices.

Bitey If you had read my thread I did say that WE all do things that negatively affects the environment. Plastic grass is never necessary IMO. As gairytoes says.

It is absolutely true that nobody is completely blameless when it comes to the environment, it is impossible to be completely eco friendly because so many things out there that we depend on are currently manufactured and/or sourced in a harmful way.

But, considering the catastrophic implications of planet damage continuing at the current rate - the ultimate end of humanity, it is reasonable to try and mitigate any damage the best you can.

One way to help mitigate damage is to say no to unnecessary plastic.
Plastic grass is not a necessity.
It just isn’t.
It can be useful in terms of mud, no brown dying areas, allergies, easy care but it is not a necessity.

The reasonable thing to do would be to think to yourself this area does not support grass so what are the alternatives?

There are a number of shade tolerant ground cover plants that could be used instead of grass, moss for example as mentioned up thread.

You could opt for bark chips as I said which I think are attractive and are nice and soft.

Gravel is another option.

Or good old paving.

I want to see this banned.

And what on Earth does it have to do with gardening?

It’s more plastic, it destroys wildlife habitat and it looks horrible anyway.

And yes, we use plastic anyway.

Sometimes it’s necessary, as in some hospital equipment, sometimes it’s not, as in plastic grass.

We are currently looking laying some fake grass ourselves, it looks easy enough to do and is going to total about £400 altogether, my other half is in similar trades so isn't a problem for us, we are looking at grassdirect.co.uk might be worth a look?

We had ours done a few years ago. It was expensive but money really well spent. Ours is a north facing garden and in the winter the lawn was just a muddy mess that never really recovered itself in the summer months.
Now the garden is transformed. It looks so much bettter and we use it so much more. It doesn’t smell.
As for the impact on wildlife etc they still have the neglected shithole of a garden neighbouring us.

If you know the planet has a plastic and environmental problem, it's very telling that you would still destroy the section of the planet that you actually own. Your land. Your corner of the world.

If you deliberately destroy the natural grass in favour of plastic - which doesn't support birds, worms, insects or bees - you're just sticking two fingers up to the problem, aren't you? It's so hypocritical. You can't be worrying about walruses falling off cliffs, shaking your fists at plastic bag pollution and stressing about global warming and then go home every night to your plastic-covered garden.

You're publicly declaring that you really don't give a toss.

This is such a contentious issue it really is. Surprisingly so.

Firstly you have the environmental impact of choosing plastic grass over a natural lawn, and secondly you have the huge cringe factor associated with it.

There is no doubt it serves a purpose, as do many other options, but the negatives associated with it really far outweigh any positives.

In terms of selling your house, the responses on here should give a representation of how potential buyers will view it. A large percentage will see it as a huge negative, that needs to be ripped up and turf laid. And it raises the question of why plastic grass had to be installed in the first place.

I'd like to see it banned too.

Nothing wrong with children playing on paving stones. Courtyard gardens are lovely.

Environmentally it's a disaster. Why not just buy turf for shade areas. We have permanent shade in some parts and the grass is fine now we have the right kind

I've just been reading that turf lawns themselves aren't environmentally friendly.

permaculturenews.org/2016/06/03/why-our-lawns-are-bad-for-the-environment-and-how-to-change-them-for-the-better/

"In most cases of the suburban lawn, it’s a completely artificially constructed environment that has been introduced in order to replace the natural flora that had been and would return left to its own devices...

It would be bad, but no as bad, if our lawns weren’t so demanding. They go against nature. We fight weeds and trees from invading the landscape, which is desperately trying to repair itself with these pioneering species. We work sparingly with animals, leaving perches few and far between for the birds, vast expanses of land with no rockeries nor rotting wood for the lizards and frogs. The whole thing keeps growing, and we keep insisting that it stay short and green, its edges crisp and clear against the driveway, the sidewalk. We spend a lot of cash and a lot of time on the lawn."

I had artificial grass installed 7 years ago- it has been excellent. My back garden is in the shade during the winter months and each year the grass would die off- I used to spend hours reseeding it (with shady lawn seed) but by November each year it was a mud pit. I couldn't hang the washing out in the winter as I was unable to stand on it without slipping (and dropping the washing in the mud!) No real up keep- just a vacuum every now and then. It is definitely worth paying a bit extra for the decent stuff- I used a local company and they were brilliant.

I've just been reading that turf lawns themselves aren't environmentally friendly

Still more eco friendly than plastic though!

Ideally, people would have lawns made of plants like thrift, pearlwort, chamomile, thyme, Corsican mint etc instead of grass or wildflower meadows or ‘natural’ grass lawns that are not subject to any feeding, weed killers etc.

It's very interesting how deep the concept of a TIDY clean etc. etc. garden is, it's as if humans must duplicate their houses into their gardens. I live beween Fr, and London and most of the Fr people are frighteningly tidy and obsessed with straight lines NO weeds etc etc etc. I have to have a long discussion with our gardener to leave the edges of our' organic garden for the hedgehogs and insects etc. He has finally got the message. I never use insecticide etc. but you should see the faces of my neighbours if I tell them !!!!

I can only assume that no one on this thread has plastic toys for their children, they buy all their groceries without plastic packaging and never let a bottle of water touch their lips. Some of the comments are utterly unnecessarily rude and is frankly be interested to see if you live what you preach or if plastic grass is an easy thing to have a strop about.

Anyway, the garden has been reseeded yet again, and I'm sick to death of the bashing on this thread which wasn't addressing the thing I asked in the first place. Thanks to anyone who has responded politely even if you don't agree with plastic grass.

And this is in the gardening section because I'm talking about my garden.

Ppeatfruit are you saying you live between two different areas? I assume you commute via bike or walk?

I really don't think there's much hope for the world. I hate to say it but it's what I feel, After the stone age etc. ours will be called (if there's anyone left to name it anything) the Plastic Age. End of.

Ppeatfruit I hope your taking all the necessary steps to eradicate any form of plastic from your life as you feel so strongly about it

To itsniceitsdifferent I know we are on the same team but this view is one of the problems with promoting wildlife friendly gardening.
People think a wildlife garden has to be ‘messy’ and it puts them off.
My garden is structured and regimented and formal in design but every single plant in there with the exception of a few roses is pollinator friendly.
I have more than 40 different wildlife friendly plants.

To OP, please Stop reseeding with GRASS!

Your garden has proved to you time again it cannot sustain grass.
You said so yourself that grass seed for shady gardens dies on you.
Stop wasting your money on seed so you can then justify your plastic lawn and use an alternative plant for your lawn instead if you don’t want to go down the paving/gravel/bark route.

I genuinely don’t think anyone on here has been rude to you, I think you are instead getting defensive because you want your plastic lawn at any cost and are taking offence at the truth of the plastic lawn being voiced.
There is a big difference between people voicing their opinion and being actively aggressive/rude/personally insulting.

I will re read the thread in case I’ve missed someone but I really don’t think there have been any rude posts towards you.

Also, it is wise to try your best to try reduce the damage.
I personally mostly buy wooden toys or second hand for my children, it’s rare I get a new plastic one, I don’t buy plastic drinks bottles and if there is a product packaged in say glass and plastic, I always get the glass option.
Sometimes bad environmental choices are unavoidable but we should all be trying our best.
The plastic lawn is totally unnecessary.
I see the appeal definately.
But no one ‘needs’ one, there are alternatives.

And I agree fully with ppeatfruit.
There is no hope for humanity.
The species is just too self absorbed.
And that isn’t necessarily a dig at OP, humans are selfish and uncaring generally.
Me, myself and I.
The recent petition going round to bring back mcDonalds plastic straws is proof of that.

Easigrass are installing our new lawn in 3 weeks, I think the price is quite reasonable as they are doing all the groundwork as well. This will be replacing some cheap fake grass that we installed ourselves a few years ago. I can't wait!