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 have been looking at this recently. Apprently limestone or granite drains well. This is what I'm using for mine .

Even the most expensive stuff looks awful, IMO, and it's environmentally disastrous. It also reduces the value of your house as most people will price in the cost of removal.

Lots of other low- effort ways to have your garden looking nice. We have areas of shorter grass and areas we let it grow long- looks great, is very useable and better for wildlife.

Yeah I remember thinking about all the sweeping etc we'd need to do but it doesn't need it. Obviously it has the odd leaf, twig etc over it but that just looks like any garden. The only time it gets covered is in the autumn when the big sycamore tree on the pavement outside drops the leaves.

No.

Given the responses on here it looks like it would affect the resale value and resaleability of your property.

Why on earth are you wanting to put put garish green carpet down in your garden?

As for flooding, the only time mine has been flooded is when next door emptied their massive paddling pool onto their paved garden and it all came into my garden. Whereupon it drained away 🤷‍♀️

I think it was one of these things that suddenly became popular very fast. There was a huge surge in uptake, and for many it was all about convenience. And now it’s went full circle where most have realised it’s a very bad idea and looks terrible, and they have realised very quickly .

it’s right the government is discussing banning in certain environments, and also charging those who habe it more council tax. But I think also societal pressure will also help put a stop to it.

its one of those things those who did it will look back and say oh god when I covered by garden in plastic grass..

We’re in the middle of looking to buy a new house, upgrading in size. We either don’t bother looking at or look to undervalue properties with fake grass. It’s vile and environmentally awful. Plus, as a sports person, you get awful slide burns if you play footy or rugby on it. Your children will get nasty injuries from it if they’re sporty.

Soil and grass actively absorb water. Artificial turf doesn’t and the runoff contributes to flash flooding on neighbouring properties as the water seeks egress.

Just as concreting a garden causes water management problems, artificial grass does too.

In addition it prevents the overwintering of burrowing insects like solitary bees, starves out worms and other organisms in the soil, is being investigated in the EU for emitting carcinogens and sheds micro plastics.

A garden doesn’t have to have a lawn. And a lawn doesn’t need to be a close-cropped expanse of green grass. Gardening has moved on to be far more environmentally sustainable.

There are lots of sedges, carex etc that grow well in the shade. A lawn doesn't have to be standard grass. Knoll nurseries are grass specialists and would be able to advise.

The only places I think it's fine to use it are concrete balconies and rooftop gardens. Anywhere that it is being laid over soil is just wrong.

This is absolute rubbish!
Might have been possibly true about 30 years ago when all artificial grass was like a green carpet, but I've had mine for about 15 years and my son was/is football mad and never once got any sort of friction burn from it. He's early 20s now and plays semi pro. He's convinced that the extra practice he got from an all weather surface improved his play.
Getting injuries from it by playing sport on it show's how little you really know about it.
I'm not advocating everyone goes out and gets it, but I'm just pointing out the plusses. It's great for kids to play on, it's easy to maintain, no mud gets traipsed through the house...
As I said previously, I had mine put down as a necessity, and don't regret it.

I'm just talking about the flooding aspect.

As I said, mine is on sharp sand and earth and has no problem draining. The rain goes straight through, it's not like a sheet of plastic. In fact we still get the (very) occasional weed coming through from the soil below, despite a PERFORATED membrane being put down directly under the artificial lawn.

I play full contact rugby and other clubs have artificial grass pitches and we have had way worse burns and and higher instances of twisted knees and ankles. It may just be I play a more intensive sport than your son so I experience it differently from him, or it may be because women bruise more easily than men

We got artificial grass front and back over ten years ago. Still looks fine and artificial 👍😂
One of the main reasons was there was loads of moss in lawns despite us spending lots of time trying to get rid of this. Also had a professional lawn company come on a regular basis to work on lawns but looked good for about three months of the year and rubbish for the remaining time. This is what we notice with some of the real lawns they look terrible and abit of a eyesore for neighbours when overgrown full of weeds and other rubbish. Animal poo not picked up hiding in the ling grass so offensive smelling too.
The Lawn company (well known) also used 'chemicals' on real lawn which we often see others doing.
Along with mowing, using the electric and weed killers etc which are all not good for the environment.
Also the environmental noise of the lawn mowers going especially spring and summer really annoying. A few of our neighbours have artificial lawns too and it's so nice to sit out in your garden without power tools going all the time especially on a nice day. Why do people always do their gardens on a nice day when others want to relax and enjoy the peace?!😬😂
We know the lawns don't look real but they are clean, never need mowing, never smell and not hot under foot. This is untrue about been hot underfoot?! Just warm in summer (nice)We Have barely done anything to them the odd rinse or rake but rare. We didn't get them to make out to other people that we have perfect lawns. They look artificial.
We have lots of wildlife in both front and back gardens from trees and bushes etc. We also have pets who aren't scared by loud mowers etc.
A lot of people who do criticise them we note tend to have big people carrier cars, don't like artificial Christmas trees although much better for environment. Have Fireworks and bonfires in their gardens which scare the wildlife and pets. It all feels and comes across quite snobbish re these lawns.
Just think about what's best for you as there are always people who have different opinions but don't always look at what negative things they do re environment.
Despite our fake lawns we do lots of good things re environment recycling etc etc.

Well said . This is exactly my thinking.

OK, I grant you I wouldn't like to play full matches on artificial surfaces because of wear and tear to knees, ankles etc., and I'm no stranger to these injuries (being male and playing football to a pretty high standard a good few years ago). But we're talking about practice in a back garden, not in match situations.

My neighbour put down some artificial grass (thankfully he just has a tiny courtyard so I suppose it could be worse) and he asked me to say which plastic sample I liked best. That presented me with a dilemma between neighbourliness and truthfulness.

I’m greatly cheered to see a lone, valiant muscari forcing its way bravely up at the edge of his sterile little patch. There’s life under there still.

Exactly 👍

No. It's dirty and scummy.
Gardens aren't ours to destroy. We need to work with them.

About 10% of my estate is now grotty plastic lawn laid by people who don't care what damage they are doing.
Hopefully it will be banned soon.

It's not dirty and scummy. It's not a nice way to word things and comes across very judgmental?
If you read peoples posts fully there are lots of reasons why people have got them.
Just like there are probably things you do to your home or things you have or do that other people don't like.
Have a think if everything is perfect that you do re environment, how your home looks etc.
I'm sure there must be things that you do that aren't perfect.

Like I said before chemicals and weed killers on real lawns, noise pollution re mowers, lots of big cars, bonfires, fireworks, inconsiderate parking, music noise, litter, dog mess not picked up etc etc
Not saying you doing this but it's not a nice way to say you don't like something.
Loads of people I know have fake lawns but do lots of good things for the environment too.

@Violetpop

I don't drive, have a dog, do bonfires, let off fireworks or have loud parties and I think fake grass is an environmental disaster.

The pp was revealing about the 'no mud inside' comment. A lot of people put this stuff down because they basically want their garden to be a room with no roof. Awful attitude to have.

yes absolutely. When we bought ours, I factored in the cost of removing it and offered reduced price. Terrible to look at, terrible for the environment. It really does get hot, and while this was top of the range apparently, my crawling baby got carpet burns until we removed it. I was feeling sorry for the birds who were pecking at it, (and then cursing the caked on bird poo on it in the summer).

I hope they ban it...