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?

A huge mansion near Regents Park in London has it. You can see it from the canal towpath. Money definitely does not buy taste!

It doesn’t put me up nor down I just accept it all as it is, it I can walk/sit on it in the summer and enjoy the sun I’m happy x

@Goodoccasionallypoor apologies I meant to reply to you with the above x

My last house had it in parts of the back where you'd entertain.

I loved it.

The entire place was professionally landscaped and decorated so nothing looked cheap, as it wasn't.

Many in the neighborhood also had it. Homes in the 3 to 5 million range.

It’s very popular where I live. You can spot it a mile away and it does not wear well.

I have seen neighbours hoovering and washing down their lawns, why would you want to add that chore to your things to do list?

also we have a lot of birds nesting in the trees surrounding our garden, the patio parts of our garden tend to get covered in bird poo, our garden would need regular washing down if we had artificial grass.

we got grass that grows in shady gardens.

I do wonder if anyone who has it down actually thinks it looks real. Does anyone actually think that?

I don’t believe that for one moment. Homes in that price range can afford a gardener to maintain their lawn. 😂

If you think you need artificial grass in your garden then you need to buy a flat and move there at once.
The stuff is an abomination!

I have artificial grass, the reason I chose it is that the spot gets no sunlight at all with the exception of 2 hours a day in the middle of high Sumer and only for a couple of weeks! It was the perfect solution to keep the area tidy, free from mould and to save me from the guilt of killing so many plants by trying to force them to grow there.

I am currently considering to put it at the front where I don’t have this problem but just because it would go above an area that has been concreted AND paved bricked over by previous owners and I can’t afford the expense it will cost to remove it.

If I had just loose gravel por any other soft surface, I would avoid it, it is bad for the environment and you still need to go through the process of removing the stones, even the area out with lots of sand, make sure the sand is compressed well and then add the artificial grass before adding yet more sand to keep it in place.

What area only gets two hours of day light for two weeks a year?

I have it because I have 3 dogs. Truthfully I wish I'd layed turf instead and bought a cheap mower. Seriously considering pulling it up and putting turf down when we do the extension.

A small courtyard that is north facing and in the shadow of very tall Victorian houses.

Literally everything we have in society is plastic. The idea of adding fake grass on top is beyond depressing

No, not good for the environment

A small courtyard that is north facing and in the shadow of very tall Victorian houses.

Don't take this the wrong way but people don't usually sit the side return of their house. I don't see why you'd need artificial grass there when stones would actually look much prettier...

I've just put in a clover lawn on one half of my garden (the other half is grass), and seeded it with wildflower seed to try to make it more attractive to wildlife. But then it's just me and the dog and I can see how the lure of kids being able to play out all year round has led to people using artificial grass.

However, the sight of next door's 'lawn' dotted with mounds and mounds of dog shit when their large dog has been out on their artificial grass, plus the smell in high summer, makes me wish the stuff could be banned.

1. they always look rough so they’re great if you want to devalue your property

2. the only wildlife you will get is mould after a few months

3. impossible to regulate heat from the sun, your cat/ dog will love the blisters

4 tacky AF

Just because something costs a lot, doesn't mean it isn't tacky.

You still get weeds in it, and have to dig them out with screwdriver. We have small patch in front but wouldn't have it as my main back garden.

I replaced my small lawn at the back with artificial. The previous lawn was in a shit state due to the developer dumping old sinks, tiles, hardcore etc. and then seeding it. I tried 3 times to grow an entire new lawn, by seeding it, then turfing it and then when that failed I got it professionally turfed. It lasted two months and I got told that I'd never be able to grow a proper lawn there without removing at least 6 feet of rubble from underneath.
Put down an artificial one about 15 years ago and had it ever since. Little or no maintenance, just the occasional rake with a plastic lawn rake to collect leaves, and it's on a sand and earth base so no flood issues. We have a cat (and two others previously) and had no issues with cat piss/shit etc.
Have never noticed it becoming overly hot in the summer, our kids grew up loving being able to play out in the garden most of the year.
Still got my lawn out front, but the rear garden was an act of practicality, and I don't regret it one bit.

Poor wildlife

Lawns don't have to be high maintenance. Let it grow a bit longer and only cut monthly, two weeks at most.

I’ll go against the grain here and say, I have it and love it. I wouldn’t have put it in myself tho, it was here when we got here. It ls great for kids and is dry about 20 mins after it stops raining- so kids can go straight out. I’ve heard it gets hot but not experienced it myself, my patio is usually hotter to walk on.

I think when it’s time to replace I’ll get real grass again (I miss the smell) but it really depends on your circumstances and how much time you have for gardening.

It be should be illegal, it’s an environmental disaster and causes flooding problems.

We bought a house with a garden covered by slabs. I didn't want artificial anyway due to reasons stated on here but the chap that did the garden for us said turf is a lot cheaper anyway. We went for a really good quality grass, it almost looks artificial it's in such good condition all year round and after maintenance for its first few weeks we do the bare minimum to keep it this way. Wildlife is so important, perhaps you could have a bark area for the trampoline or kids play equipment then turf the rest?