Artificial grass what's the deal?

[BG2015]

Last year we had our garden done. Really pleased with it. Decided to have the lawn re-turfed as artificial grass was so expensive.

However, although our garden/patio is south westerly the bottom half is sheltered by a massive willow tree so gets little sun. We also had a visiting mole x2 which created havoc and turned it into a mud bath.

We've decided to go with artificial grass, I'm not a great fan but it's the only way to go with our garden now.

So what's the deal with the grades etc as I know nothing about it. We've got someone coming to give us a quote next week so would like to have some idea first.

It’s easy to rake off a nicely cut, level lawn, but much less easy off a clumpy, muddy mess that just won’t grow.

For what it’s worth, raking the leaves was not why we got the grass, I was just making the point that it’s super easy to maintain. If I could have had a normal lawn, I would have.

We had ours fitted last year after after living with a mud pit for years. I'm not dead inside, I rather enjoy being out there now!

OP mum's neighbours did this

They spent a lot of money and it flooded in recent heavy rain. I don't know if that means there are questions to be asked about drainage and perhaps they didn't think of it.

They were assuming that other gardens had flooded and seemed surprised when the answer was no 🤦🏽‍♀️

I can't lie, this thread makes me sad. I would be so excited to have a garden and one with moles in would be even better!

@Franklyfrost

Artificial lawns = dead inside = you have no concern for the environment, you find no joy in everyday nature, your only aesthetic principle is tidiness.

On the plus side I’d give an artificial lawn owner the benefit of the doubt and assume not all the decisions they make in life are selfish and unimaginative.

Hahahahaha you're such a pillock

Awful stuff but each to their own

I think councils should require planning permission for someone to replace natural materials with a layer of plastic, choking the ecosystem underneath and making the air we breathe even further from what we evolved to breathe.

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

@LunaHeather

OP mum's neighbours did this

They spent a lot of money and it flooded in recent heavy rain. I don't know if that means there are questions to be asked about drainage and perhaps they didn't think of it.

They were assuming that other gardens had flooded and seemed surprised when the answer was no 🤦🏽‍♀️

I can't lie, this thread makes me sad. I would be so excited to have a garden and one with moles in would be even better!

Ah, you have clearly never had a mole infested lawn. Our small back lawn was decimated by the wee critter (a male looking for a mate).

We didn't live at home for a few months (DH seconded to another job and me working on another project 2 hours away). We could only visit at weekends and could never stop him for several weeks. The holes were everywhere but even worse, the long tunnels meant that the grass sank into the ground. Aaargh!

@ImpossibleDecisions

I think councils should require planning permission for someone to replace natural materials with a layer of plastic, choking the ecosystem underneath and making the air we breathe even further from what we evolved to breathe.

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

Now, that's an idea!

Luckily the flood only affected the people who have the fake lawn but if either side had been affected, that would have been a hassle and an insurance claim.

I don't like banning stuff but I can see that this could easily damage neighbouring homes.

The government love to claim their green agenda but I don't know if they have ever addressed this issue.

@ImpossibleDecisions

I think councils should require planning permission for someone to replace natural materials with a layer of plastic, choking the ecosystem underneath and making the air we breathe even further from what we evolved to breathe.

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

Counselling is always an option.

keto we had moles in the garden at my parents. I thought it was lovely. We didn't do anything about them, I don't think.

Mum occasionally says "i hope they don't come back" but she's not really bothered. It's a garden. It's nice to have nature there, especially when the overpopulated hellhole world is gradually being covered in concrete.

@ImpossibleDecisions

I think councils should require planning permission for someone to replace natural materials with a layer of plastic, choking the ecosystem underneath and making the air we breathe even further from what we evolved to breathe.

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

I find animal slaughter deeply distressing and upsetting and that has far worse environmental implications than having artifical grass in my garden. But hey ho

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

That is not a normal reaction to someone choosing to use fake grass.

@TheJerkStore

I personally find this trend deeply distressing and upsetting.

That is not a normal reaction to someone choosing to use fake grass.

There's so much hyperbole on MN, I just took it as that.

There's so much hyperbole on MN, I just took it as that

True. It is a strange place at times

Please, please don't do artificial grass. Our wildlife needs our gardens.

You can get grass seed that is for shadey areas.

Or how about doing away with the grass completely and filling the space with shrubs, borders and bark chippings. There's lots of low maintenance options.

@LST

Franklyfrost
Artificial lawns = dead inside = you have no concern for the environment, you find no joy in everyday nature, your only aesthetic principle is tidiness.

On the plus side I’d give an artificial lawn owner the benefit of the doubt and assume not all the decisions they make in life are selfish and unimaginative.

Hahahahaha you're such a pillock*

Ouch. Although I am such a pillock and the word sounds kinda nice and cheerful. A jolly willy frolicking through the real grass fields.

I have more garden prejudice which makes me a double pillock, extra cheerful. Would you like to hear my theory on the correlation between having concreted your front garden and thinking Nigel Farage had some interesting points? It includes a statistical survey of UKIP placards verses garden type and concludes with the words ‘rotten inside’.

Gosh this is a depressing read.

It's heartening to see on the other thread about the tree being cut down that lots of us do actually care about the environment.

@NeilBuchananisBanksy

Gosh this is a depressing read.

It's heartening to see on the other thread about the tree being cut down that lots of us do actually care about the environment.

Yes this is a depressing thread. It reminds me that there are lots of very judgmental people on MN.

I have a really tiny garden which has a small square of fake grass. It really was the best option for us for many reasons. It doesn't mean we don't care about nature or the environment- we happen to do lots of positive things in that respect.

Just knowing that small bit of information about someone doesn't mean you can cast judgement over someone's entire life or lifestyle.

That is not a normal reaction to someone choosing to use fake grass

I think a few of us have a similar reaction. Everyone knows the planet is being filled with plastic at an unbelievable rate. It’s floating in the sea, it’s killing wildlife... We’re being urged to buy less plastic, reuse carrier bags, recycle everything... We all think we’re doing our bit. Yes?

And then you walk past someone’s garden - their actual part of the planet, the one piece if it that they own and can control 100% - and they’ve ignored EVERYTHING and just covered it in plastic. Nasty, tacky, green plastic, cut into strands that pretend to be natural and organic and real. Giving their money to teams who are laying similar plastic sheets over thousands of acres of gardens. Slowly and systemically covering this country in plastic. Every day. Everywhere. Plastic.

That person has to be thick, right? Selfish, ignorant, hypocritical and thick.

That person has to be thick, right? Selfish, ignorant, hypocritical and thick.

Nope. Try again.

"Just knowing that small bit of information about someone doesn't mean you can cast judgement over someone's entire life or lifestyle."

I'm not judging anyone's life or lifestyle. I'm commenting on a thread about plastic grass. It is awful for the environment. Doesn't matter how much other 'good stuff' you do.

It's an inconvenient truth.

It really was the best option for us for many reasons. It doesn't mean we don't care about nature or the environment- we happen to do lots of positive things in that respect.

Ah, the old “...But for ME” defence.

In some ways it’s good that plastic grass is so tacky, vivid and noticeable. It means you can spot the selfish, wilfully ignorant people immediately. There’s no hiding plastic grass. It screams, “Hello, we’re the Twat family! We don’t care about the planet or the future of the environment at all. Look! This is where we live.”

@MacbookHo

It really was the best option for us for many reasons. It doesn't mean we don't care about nature or the environment- we happen to do lots of positive things in that respect.

Ah, the old “...But for ME” defence.

In some ways it’s good that plastic grass is so tacky, vivid and noticeable. It means you can spot the selfish, wilfully ignorant people immediately. There’s no hiding plastic grass. It screams, “Hello, we’re the Twat family! We don’t care about the planet or the future of the environment at all. Look! This is where we live.”

You okay hun?

Nope. Try again.

Oh wow, that was brilliant. So clever. So succinct. “Nope.” Of course! How could I have been so wrong. Everyone - stand down. They said “Nope!” That changes everything.

Why is a "lawn" so important? Unless you're a cricketer? It is a green carpet, plastic or not, both are bad for the environment. Be creative , think out of the 'green square" box. Look it up on google there are lots of alternatives.

Get the children to grow some flowers and veg. on raised beds there why not? They might grow up to respect nature. And or put a safe pond in the damp area.

I love moss which occurs without any help from me. We left our bit of cut grass to grow for 6 months last year and had lots of daisies, violets. grape hyacinths clover etc etc. The insects loved it!