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?

I hope this is tongue in cheek especially with that spelling.

Why not just pave it over.

That's no excuse. No excuse to cover your front lawn with plastic.
Why not just use plastic bags to cover your lawn. It's essentially the same thing.

Lol, what as you think it would be done in front of you so you can identify them and go to court over some fake grass? And even it if was, I doubt you’d need to put them on mumsnet of all things, they don’t seem to be shy at hiding their faces, seen the news lately..

in all seriousness though, I also understand why folks do it . Like I understand why folks smoke, take drugs, drink or eat to excess. People make bad choices if they feel it benefits them.

Definite no. It reaches insanely high temperatures in the heat and contributes to the whole urban heat island effect. As summer temperatures are getting hotter over time, we absolutely should not be encouraging it.

A few years ago we put a house up for sale which had fake lawns and we had three serious offers in first week so didn't affect value at all.

But you have no idea how much your house would have been if you didn't have fake grass, or how many would have offered. Total turn off for me.

Looks fake.
Collects leaves.
Collects fox poo.

I think I would even not have a lawn at all but more biodiverse planting.

This is a ridiculous comment. My son is disabled and falls over all the time hitting his head. He's safer on fake grass than paving stones. It's also far easier for him to walk on fake grass because it doesn't get muddy, slippery etc.

What I dislike is people who think it's ok to put down other peoples houses, gardens. It's bad manners. When we are all perfect about everything maybe say something then.

You have fake grass. You're not being persecuted @Violetpop even if someone says it looks shit and only a selfish idiot would install it. It's fake grass. Not saying that's my opinion but feeling 'nasty and rubbish' because people dislike your decor 😂

It reminds me of how defensive people were on an en suite bathroom thread over a year ago. Was fa fun read

Fake plastic grass heats up quicker than real grass.
Temperatures of plastic grass gets twice as hot.
There's plenty of articles on the internet warning the dangers of fake grass heat in the sun.

You may as well use plastic bags to cover your lawn, as essentially that is what it is (and it is cooler too!) .

I've had it two years, during the heatwave last year. It's seriously been fine. I can walk barefoot in the sun. Our son doesn't walk on it barefoot. Even our dog loves it, I have to drag her off.

I kind of agree with this, the poster also commented on the “nasty comments” . I mean it’s plastic grass, not your first born.

I'm sure your dog would be just as happy on normal real grass.

I'd sooner rather cover my lawn in plastic bags. Because it is pretty much a glorified plastic bag. 🤷‍♀️

It only takes one time to be seriously burnt from fake grass.

Regarding your son, I'm sure when he is out and about on grass in playing fields etc, you take precautions with him.
Assuming he doesn't kick a ball about on grass in the park?
Doesn't walk on grass on the way to school, the park etc?
If so, there's no reason why you can't have real grass at home.

As it happens our garden is a bea and bird haven since we have put the fake grass down as I think the surrounding bushes and plants now have the water and nutrients to grow. After years of trying to get grass to take, buying endless turf and constantly watering it, having it turned into a mud bath by boys, I now have a garden that grows and nature doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. Kids use the garden now in a way they couldn’t when it was mud and paving stones would not have worked either.

What I dislike is people who think it's ok to put down other peoples houses, gardens. It's bad manners. When we are all perfect about everything maybe say something then.

But this isn't directed against you @Violetpop, Op asked for opinions, people gave her their opinions, and you have been personally offended by them.

How do you think this should have gone?

Op: artificial grass, yes or no?
Poster 1: It would be impolite to comment Poster 2: Some say it's bad for the environment but I flew to Spain in 2018 so I'd be a hypocrite to mention it.
Poster 3: it is bad for the environment, but no one's perfect so do whatever you want.

He doesn't get out and about on playing fields etc because he can't walk unaided on real grass for longer than a few steps, he gets tired on any uneven ground, slopes etc. He can use a walking frame to help with stability but if it's muddy or long grass it's very difficult and exhausting for him.

His garden is pretty much the only place he can freely walk about safely. The look of joy on his face when he walked about on the fake grass after it was laid is something I will always remember.

You've clearly never walked on it and it certainly doesn't feel hot to walk on in the summer heat. It feels very soft and silky to walk on.

Plenty of articles on the internet just flat out lie too.

So plenty of articles on the internet lie about how awful it is for the ecosystem and the environment?

Enlighten me on this information please.

Just ignore their ignorance.

Sounds like you've made a lovely safe place for your son to play.

Yes this heat argument is getting really annoying, in the heatwave last year it was nowhere near as hot as the patio, sand etc. It was perfectly easy to stand on barefoot in full baking sun. Maybe we have some sort of magic fake grass 🤔

Aw thankyou. I do get the environmental/plastic concerns, but sometimes the blind insistence that their view is the only right view is very depressing.

I just hope your dog doesn't have any accidents on your fake grass, like pees or poos on it etc
In time that will smell.🤢🤢

Our ecosystem would be non existent if everybody decided to put down fake grass.

She doesn't wee or poo on it now, but did plenty of times during the heatwave / drought last year when we first got her. We created a space for her on the grass to do so where we didn't walk. It didn't make the grass smell. We put the hosepipe on it for a minute or so every few days. I was amazed it didn't smell, but I'm telling the truth.

I think it's absolutely your duty as a citizen of the modern age to pump as much plastic into the biosphere as possible, so I wholeheartedly endorse everyone getting these numbers up. Let's finally make what we all truly desire: the first plasticsphere in the universe.