How essential is a lawn?

Thisnamewasnttaken123 · 29/04/2021 11:37

I wouldn't get rid of a lawn personally.
I like some grass in the garden.

Triffid1 · 29/04/2021 11:38

I don't think there's any significant devaluation in a small bit of lawn vs no small bit of lawn.

If you're going to live there for more than a year or two, you do what works for you and the new owners in the future can sort.

If you DO remove the lawn, think carefully about what you replace it with. You say that you'll have lots of planters etc, so that's lovely, but if it's a very sunny spot, paving/concrete can make it feel very hot and sticky so that's worth factoring into your decision making. Friends have lovely big paving stones, with sections that are pebbled, and some raised beds round the outside as well as lovely wicker furniture and big umbrellas and it works. DH and I, on the other hand, lived in a rented place with basically concrete and all the pots in the world couldn't make it feel less hot/industrial.

Original poster

FolornLawn · 29/04/2021 11:47

You're speedy with your replies!

That's interesting, about the heat aspect. I think we'd do mixed flooring, some paving and maybe some composite deck. It definitely wouldn't be wall to wall paving, there would be planting 'in the ground' as well as some pots.

I kind of feel like that, Thisname, I'm struggling to imagine the space without a green (tiny!) rectangle in the middle.

OP posts:

Triffid1 · 29/04/2021 11:57

@FolornLawn

You're speedy with your replies!

That's interesting, about the heat aspect. I think we'd do mixed flooring, some paving and maybe some composite deck. It definitely wouldn't be wall to wall paving, there would be planting 'in the ground' as well as some pots.

I kind of feel like that, Thisname, I'm struggling to imagine the space without a green (tiny!) rectangle in the middle.

I think that sounds nice. Done well, it can be a lovely soothing space. Look online for some ideas and pictures - I vaguely remember seeing a tv show or something where people were doing lovely clever things with roof terraces.

Caspianberg · 29/04/2021 12:06

As someone with a baby, I would like a small patch of grass. I think grass is just nicer for 0-5 year olds to picnic on, set up mini paddling pool on soft surface, stand little baby slide. I would be fine with it being a small bit then patio elsewhere

Original poster

FolornLawn · 29/04/2021 12:10

Oh, there are a bazillion lovely examples online, I’ve lost days of my life to Pinterest.

I just have The Fear about there suddenly being nowhere to lie down on a blanket with a book.

OP posts:

Triffid1 · 29/04/2021 12:11

@FolornLawn

Oh, there are a bazillion lovely examples online, I’ve lost days of my life to Pinterest.

I just have The Fear about there suddenly being nowhere to lie down on a blanket with a book.

Which is why you need a really good sun lounger!?

Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree · 29/04/2021 17:09

I don’t have a lawn.

I have a courtyard garden that leads up to the main garden. It is about 6m x 6m square with a gravel octagon in the middle surrounded by flower beds. The beds have trees, shrubs and perennials.

My kids are older so no grass needed. I sunbathe and nap a lot in the garden and we have roll out cushions/mattresses.

It is easy to maintain and looks great. I don’t miss grass. Loads of pictures on Pinterest of gardens without lawns. Unless I had a massive garden I don’t think I would consider grass again.

saraclara · 29/04/2021 17:13

I wouldn't buy a four bed without a lawn. Well, I wouldn't buy any house without a bit of lawn, but I think selling a family sized house without a bit of grass for a toddler to play safely on, for instance, might be an issue.

Heyha · 29/04/2021 17:14

I've been looking at houses and have discounted any that didn't have a bit of grass (and am looking at how you get rid of that artificial stuff and put the turf back) not just because of DD liking to play on it but also for the dog. So I would discount a family-sized house without a lawn even if it wasn't a big part of the garden, personally. If it was a retirement style house or a two bed, say, it would be different as it saves the owner a job but for a family house I think lawn is ideal.

GertiMJN · 29/04/2021 17:19

What you are proposing makes absolute sense (logically) but I think I would really miss the feeling of the grass beneath my bare feet....

Stickytreacle · 29/04/2021 17:21

My son rented a cottage that had a terraced garden with no lawn, just shrubs, plants and a gravel path that led to a small seating area of gravel at the top. I loved it, it was packed with plants and interesting features and was private and secluded. Loads easier to maintain too. I was talking to a plantsman at a plant fair that specialised in hostas and jungle type planting a few years ago who thought that lawns were a complete waste of space. As long as you've got an area to relax I think it could give you loads of opportunities for a unique garden.

DiddlyWiddly · 29/04/2021 20:04

I hate hate HATE grass!
I love gardening and colour and my garden is stuffed full of flowers but zero grass here

Original poster

FolornLawn · 30/04/2021 09:45

Say what you really think, Diddly, don't hold back.

I've just Google Earthed our estate and there is only one house that I can see that has no lawn at the back, and that has a lawn at the front. Our new neighbours are just reinstating the grass the previous owner took out. Argh.

Sticky and ChristmasTree, those gardens sound lovely.

I'm still dithering.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 30/04/2021 09:49

A friend of mine did this and she had to put it back in when selling. She lifted the stones then had it turfed. People with kids want a lawn. And this is a family house.

If you’re not selling any time soon though I’d do what work for you. If you are selling say in thr next three years then keep the lawn.

GrumpyHoonMain · 30/04/2021 09:51

@FolornLawn

We have a 4 bed house in a 20 year old estate. Typical housing stock, mostly 3 and 4 beds, families and some older people. Pretty much all the houses have smallish gardens and kids play in the street if they want to go on bikes, play chase etc. We are also 2 mins walk from a beach, so families go there a lot.

We're doing our garden up and I'm wondering whether we should bite the bullet and get rid of the lawn. If we kept it it would be about 2.5m x 3m, so about the right size for a picnic/sunbathing but definitely not big enough for a game of football/badminton.

I'm worried about devaluing the house if we remove it. Do people who are buying 4 bed houses find a lawn essential?

I'm keen on lush gardens so there would be plenty of planting, climbers etc, it wouldn't be a sterile concrete zone.

Depends where you are and what the other houses are like. I live in a really sought out Indian area where people still live in extended families so what others might call ‘overextended’ with a cemented garden / patio really sells - houses often go for 10-15% over asking price. That gave me the confidence to extend into my garden and reduce our lawn slightly.

But if I moved 10 miles up the road and tried the same I’d end up devaluing because it’s a totally different demographic.

SpaceOp · 30/04/2021 09:53

Unless you plan to move in then ext 2 years, you do whatever works for you. Worst case, before you sell, you lay grass and remove whatever paving/decking you've put in (or reduce the price of the house by a few thousand to compensate).

EventuallyDistracted · 30/04/2021 09:58

It would put me off buying too, but to be honest 2.5m x 3m is far too small anyway. My friend has just sold a 4 bed house that had an entirely paved and stylishly kept back garden, I did like it but wouldn't have wanted it for my own garden.

DiddlyWiddly · 30/04/2021 10:07

Say what you really think, Diddly, don't hold back
I’m very allergic you see.

I will admit though, if I wasn’t horrendously allergic, I would probably quite like a lawn as I have kids and dogs.

But as it stands, the first thing I would do in any new house would be to rip out the lawn and plant flowers.
I would love a house without a lawn!

steppemum · 30/04/2021 10:16

I am stunned that people won't buy a house because there is no lawn.

It cost a few hundred to put back!

We saw one house we liked, really good house, good place, good price, but the whole back garden was a series of interlocking ponds with fairy statues, lights waterfall, the lot.
Dh and I sat down and worked out how much it would cost to get in a digger to remove the lot and flatten what is left and buy turf and a load of top soil.
We added the 2 thousand to the cost of the house and then decided if it was worth it.
The answer was yes in terms of lawn, but we didn't end up buying.

BeechTreeView · 30/04/2021 10:23

I've just done this at the front. Paved area surrounded by big beds.

Plan it first.

I'm loving not having to mow the lawn - and I've planted loads of shrubs trees and flowers in the borders.

Just plan your seating areas and patio and storage. And the paths and then dig up that lawn.

Planning to do similar in back - but husbands want to keep a patch of grass for the dog.

BeechTreeView · 30/04/2021 10:24

husband wants not husbands want....

Original poster

FolornLawn · 30/04/2021 10:49

@EventuallyDistracted

It would put me off buying too, but to be honest 2.5m x 3m is far too small anyway. My friend has just sold a 4 bed house that had an entirely paved and stylishly kept back garden, I did like it but wouldn't have wanted it for my own garden.

I suspect the size of the garden in general might put some purchasers off.

The idea is that we would have a patio for table and chairs, a small hard landscaped/composite deck area for a couple of deck chairs, a 6x6 shed, and some planting. Is there anything I'm missing. I've factored in washing line placement.

OP posts:

EventuallyDistracted · 30/04/2021 12:40

I think so long as you don't concrete it all over as that is hard to get rid of it will probably be fine. Slabs, gravel, raised beds and big planters. Have you got any shade?

deplorabelle · 30/04/2021 13:33

I love those small London garden designs where a path snakes around the garden and the rest of the ground is planted up or made into tiny seating areas.

People are ridiculous about lawns IMO. They look unexciting, most people sit on deckchairs and loungers so don't need grass under them. They are pretty rubbish for wildlife unless you leave the grass long, and anywhere with clay soil you can't walk on them for six months of the year without turning them into a mudbath. Huge waste of space IMO.

If you are moving soon you'll have to keep the lawn. If not, definitely get rid of it.