Artificial grass - yes or no?

[ChicagoBears]

I have a substantial garden, some has porcelain tiles but it’s mostly loose stone which looks bare and is difficult to use so I was considering artificial grass.

I know there’s lots of grades of grass, I’d opt for the premium grade but wanted to garner opinion, what (if any) are the drawbacks of artificial grass? Will I love to regret it?

Personally, I think it's an abomination. Sorry, probably not the feedback you wanted! But others may have a different opinion.

No from me - too hot to walk on in the summer and you’re just covering it in plastic. Maintaining it can be hard as you have to wash/hoover it and if cats wee on it it stinks.

This.

Environmental disaster. Tacky. Plus is there not some link to cancer?
https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/10/phillies-ball-players-cancer-artifical-turf

No. Environmental disaster.

Agreed

From the RHS:

There is a mission to get the stuff banned atm. Awful stuff.

I'm afraid I agree. Honestly it always looks shit no matter how high grade it is and it's so bad for the planet.

Hideous, tacky and environmentally irresponsible.

PLASTIC GRASS CREATES A STERILE, LIFELESS AREA IN THE GARDEN WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HARM EARTHWORMS, EXACERBATE FLOODING RISK, CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND SHED TINY PLASTIC PIECES, KNOWN AS MICROFIBERS, WHICH ARE HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF ANIMALS AND PEOPLE. BY ADOPTING A PLANET FRIENDLY GARDENING APPROACH TO DESIGN, WE CAN HELP TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY.” Mark Gush Head of Environmental Horticulture at the RHS

Absolutely not, no

I agree.

I saw an article yesterday suggesting that households with artificial grass might need to pay higher council tax in the future.

Dreadful stuff
causing flooding for neighbours as well.

Hell no

Honestly I would support a ban on artificial grass.

Another no here. There are lots of low maintenance planting options. Grasses and creeping plants look good with porcelain tiles if you are keeping them.

No. Agree it's an environmental disaster, and I would also support a ban.

Never.

It is tacky.
It is environmentally awful.
It gets covered in shit which can't go down into the earth so is really unhygienic.

Please don’t ! Lots of great gardeners on here. Why not post a photo of your garden, and people can help you figure out something that you’d love ?

NO NO NO

Please, please don't.
Think of the birds. Nothing sadder than a hungry blackbird pecking at AstroTurf to try and find food to feed its young 😞

I hate it. As if anyone thought coating the earth in plastic would be a good idea.

Yeah to links with cancer and if you have a dog it'll stink of dog piss.

I saw this recently

Just… no.
I’ve seen the best and still… just no.