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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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Violetpop · 02/05/2023 13:33

Goodoccasionallypoor · 02/05/2023 13:19

@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.

Yeah I appreciate what your saying but if you read my original post that isn't why we put it down and many others too so it's just about looking at the wider picture and not judging people too harshly.
But I do appreciate your what you are saying about the environment it is important and I'm just trying to say there are lots of good things people with fake lawns do for the environment. Also some people have said things about the lawns which aren't entirely true re drainage, the lawn been too hot, smelling and so on. No of those things have happened with our lawns.
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.

Laffinalltheway · 02/05/2023 14:12

Judging by this thread, anyone who dares concrete over their front lawn to put off-street parking in, or has an artificial lawn should be hung drawn and quartered!

Sod it! I still don't regret it.

Mynewhome · 02/05/2023 14:22

Laffinalltheway · 02/05/2023 14:12

Judging by this thread, anyone who dares concrete over their front lawn to put off-street parking in, or has an artificial lawn should be hung drawn and quartered!

Sod it! I still don't regret it.

Most people saying that. probably have a drive for their 4×4. At least 2 of them 🤣

MereDintofPandiculation · 02/05/2023 14:22

Laffinalltheway · 02/05/2023 14:12

Judging by this thread, anyone who dares concrete over their front lawn to put off-street parking in, or has an artificial lawn should be hung drawn and quartered!

Sod it! I still don't regret it.

Multiply your attitude by a million and we have a problem. That’s why you now need planning permission to concrete over your front lawn

Yogagrandmum · 02/05/2023 14:23

No

79andnotout · 02/05/2023 14:28

Regarding the drainage - an artificial lawn is going to be no worse than an area of permeable paving, however it's going to have no net positive water absorption like a real lawn would have, that would help mitigate flooding.

Violetpop · 02/05/2023 14:40

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?

octurfandputtinggreens.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/iStock-687100606-1500x1001.jpg

minisoksmakehardwork · 02/05/2023 14:43

It just doesn't give the same feel to a garden. Imagine fake grass underfoot. No cool ground on a hot day. Risk of flooding if you don't have trees to absorb heavy rains.

That said, I can see the convenience and attraction if you're wanting low maintenance. Our grass gets wet and boggy in the winter as the trees are dormant and not soaking water away. In the summer, the ground dries and cracks as the trees try to get enough water to survive.

this article kind of sums my feelings up quite well.

MrsMitford3 · 02/05/2023 14:44

I read an article on this recently and one of the sentences stuck with me am paraphrasing here

It is a blight on the earth and we should normalise it's use to being akin to blowing cigarette smoke in a babies face

qpmz · 02/05/2023 14:45

I didn't realise it was so bad! We're moving house soon and part of the garden in the new place has it. Any ideas how to get rid of it in an environmentally friendly way? Can it be turned into something else?

IClaudine · 02/05/2023 14:47

Violetpop · 02/05/2023 11:30

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.

Fake grass is abomination, you can try all day to convince me otherwise. Also, it is well known now that grass is best if is left to grow a bit longer and native weeds are actually good for the environment. Pristine gardens are not good for nature.

Coxspurplepippin · 02/05/2023 14:54

Please don't.

megletthesecond · 02/05/2023 14:57

qp the current owners should be removing it before they move out. They shouldn't leave it for you to deal with.

HerrickForever · 02/05/2023 15:08

Still with the flooding comments… THE WATER DRAINS AWAY INTO THE EARTH THROUGH THE HOLES!

Its laid onto concrete IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD HAVE FLOODED ANYWAY!

HerrickForever · 02/05/2023 15:09

UNLESS it’s laid onto concrete.

FixItDuck · 02/05/2023 15:11

Saying it in capitals doesn't make it true, sadly. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866721002570?via%3Dihub

IClaudine · 02/05/2023 15:14

A series of tests revealed that more than 50 per cent of rainfall runs straight off some types of artificial turf whereas living lawns absorb almost every drop.

The more expensive fake grass, which is longer and tuftier, was found in the “controlled rainfall experiments” to be worse at retaining water than the cheaper and shorter variety tested.

inews.co.uk/news/environment/mass-rollout-artificial-grass-could-raise-risk-flash-flooding-scientists-warn-1067605

DontMakeMeShushYou · 02/05/2023 15:22

HerrickForever · 02/05/2023 15:08

Still with the flooding comments… THE WATER DRAINS AWAY INTO THE EARTH THROUGH THE HOLES!

Its laid onto concrete IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD HAVE FLOODED ANYWAY!

THE WATER DRAINS AWAY INTO THE EARTH THROUGH THE HOLES!

And this is the problem! It's not that the specific patch where the artificial grass is laid gets flooded. It's that artificial grass doesn't absorb any moisture itself in the way that the roots, stems, and leaves of natural grass do. It's all just drains into the ground beneath, increasing the risk of flooding in the locality.

CornedBeef451 · 02/05/2023 15:25

No.

Terrible for the local environment and looks weird.

We went to view a lovely house but the fake grass was really horrible.

Violetpop · 02/05/2023 15:34

CornedBeef451 · 02/05/2023 15:25

No.

Terrible for the local environment and looks weird.

We went to view a lovely house but the fake grass was really horrible.

That's a shame to miss out.
If the house was beautiful you could have ripped up the lawn and redone?

Abracadabra12345 · 02/05/2023 16:40

One day we may have a eureka moment where we realise we're sharing this earth with creation and it's not all about us and creating a tidy, mud-free outside room. Our thinking should be about the wildlife we are sharing the garden with, not in harming it.

someoneisalwaysintheloo · 02/05/2023 16:46

Backtothegym · 02/05/2023 08:07

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

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You don't do you. Who said we don't have gardeners. The landscaping and hedges aren't going to take care of themselves are they. Similar homes in area.

Artificial grass - yes or no?
Artificial grass - yes or no?
Artificial grass - yes or no?
Artificial grass - yes or no?
ElmTree22 · 02/05/2023 17:09

Awful stuff all round!

Mademetoxic · 02/05/2023 17:11

HerrickForever · 02/05/2023 15:08

Still with the flooding comments… THE WATER DRAINS AWAY INTO THE EARTH THROUGH THE HOLES!

Its laid onto concrete IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD HAVE FLOODED ANYWAY!

WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING AT US?

Mademetoxic · 02/05/2023 17:15

Violetpop · 02/05/2023 13:12

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.

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I do judge when people decide to put horrible plastic lawns out.
It looks awful.

Spend all that money and if it just looks tacky and cheap.