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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Artificial grass - yes or no?

490 replies

ChicagoBears · 01/05/2023 21:40

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?

OP posts:
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9
VintageThoughts · 01/05/2023 22:05

I try really hard not to judge people.

But I do judge people with plastic grass.

Snugglemonkey · 01/05/2023 22:06

LuckOfTheDrawer · 01/05/2023 21:54

I agree.

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

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Good. I would entirely support that. We have a load of it as we moved in and it was here. We have been getting rid of massive chunks and restoring the garden to nature. Hateful stuff

CC4712 · 01/05/2023 22:07

Other than the major environmental issues, its plastic, incredibly hot underfoot even on a shady day and alot more expensive than you'd expect.

If you have such a substantial garden- why not grow some real grass???

Hohofortherobbers · 01/05/2023 22:07

It's horrible, my fil lets his dog crap on his Envy. Feels like he's letting it soil a rug Envy

BigglyBee · 01/05/2023 22:07

No, no and once more no! There are alternatives that don't look awful, cause damage to the environment and are generally just better.

As pp have said, if you post a picture of the area you want to improve, you will get plenty of suggestions. I have dug up most of the grass in my garden recently because I don't really like lawns. I'm fairly sure you won't want to do what I did (make room for 32 more rhubarb plants!) but there will be a way forward that makes your garden lovely rather than looking like a Lego board.

hattie43 · 01/05/2023 22:07

Horrible , no good for wildlife , it would put me off buying somewhere if it has that stuff

Stripycatz · 01/05/2023 22:10

BigglyBee · 01/05/2023 22:07

No, no and once more no! There are alternatives that don't look awful, cause damage to the environment and are generally just better.

As pp have said, if you post a picture of the area you want to improve, you will get plenty of suggestions. I have dug up most of the grass in my garden recently because I don't really like lawns. I'm fairly sure you won't want to do what I did (make room for 32 more rhubarb plants!) but there will be a way forward that makes your garden lovely rather than looking like a Lego board.

Genuine question @BigglyBee, what are you planning to do with your rhubarb? I have 3 in my garden and can't eat it all.

BaronessBomburst · 01/05/2023 22:10

Can't you turn a section into a mini meadow and let it grow wild? I have a bit at the back full of nettles and fox gloves. The insects and birds love it.

caringcarer · 01/05/2023 22:12

What's wrong with real grass? Artificial grass is as bad as pretend Xmas trees. Just awful.

AlexandraPeppernose · 01/05/2023 22:13

I bought a house with it and I really like it. When it gives up the ghost we'll replace with real grass because it is dreadful for the environment even though I hate mowing and lawn maintenance. I will say however that my garden is also full of trees and shrubs and flowers and life. If it had just been a sheet of artificial grass and shingle we would have replaced immediately

RampantIvy · 01/05/2023 22:14

Artificial grass is as bad as pretend Xmas trees. Just awful.

No it isn't. Artificial grass is awful. Artificial Christmas trees get re-used every year and don't suffer from needle drop.

pictoosh · 01/05/2023 22:14

Flat no.

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 01/05/2023 22:15

Noooooooooooooooo😳

Okunevo · 01/05/2023 22:15

No, I think there needs to be a ban as people are not sensible. I do have a neighbour who only has a small piece by their front door which their cat loves to sit on in the sun. Another neighbour has done their entire back garden, no life at all.

MrsBungle · 01/05/2023 22:17

Absolutely not. It looks awful and harms the environment.

Sleepingbeauty2510 · 01/05/2023 22:17

Absolutely not. I cringe every time I see it on someone's garden or in photos. It's so obvious it's artificial and a little part of me dies inside thinking of the environmental damage.

farahway · 01/05/2023 22:17

No no no. Plastic pollution. Wish it was banned.

BlueBlueCowWondering · 01/05/2023 22:18

This feels like a very goading thread on the 'gardening' area of Mumsnet. The OP might have got more posts to their liking on eg 'properly/ diy'

But i can only echo others- it's an appalling idea to cover an outdoor space in plastic

LeavesOnTrees · 01/05/2023 22:19

You get mini electric shocks if you sit on it in hot weather.

Okunevo · 01/05/2023 22:19

Stripycatz · 01/05/2023 22:10

Genuine question @BigglyBee, what are you planning to do with your rhubarb? I have 3 in my garden and can't eat it all.

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You can stew it and freeze it. If you are eating locally you would eat it from the end of last year's apples until strawberry season.

Flidina · 01/05/2023 22:20

Awful stuff, avoid at all costs. We had it and took it up, it stunk to high heaven, due to having a dog, replaced it with paving, much better, smells now gone.

Thack · 01/05/2023 22:21

I've heard stories of kids getting awful burns on their feet in summer.
Risky if you have kids or pets.

Backtothegym · 01/05/2023 22:21

I’m afraid it’s a no from me too op, my reasons also include the fact it never ever looks real close up, so unless you only ever intend gazing at it from afar, then it’s going to look like plastic grass when you’re close. Generally folks who proclaim they got it and it was a good decision take photos from far away so it looks real.

it’s like putting plastic flowers in your garden, it just looks silly and it fools no one. And it’s terrible for the environment. Real grass is lovely but if you don’t want it there are so many other solutions from a clover lawn to creeping thyme.

Stripycatz · 01/05/2023 22:22

Okunevo · 01/05/2023 22:19

You can stew it and freeze it. If you are eating locally you would eat it from the end of last year's apples until strawberry season.

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Oh that's useful, thanks 👍

Goodoccasionallypoor · 01/05/2023 22:22

People seem to think it's lower maintenance than real grass but it's really not.

I know someone who has it, she has to vacuum and wash it. Absolutely ridiculous.