Astroturf v Grass

[StampOnTheGround]

Hello!

Myself and DH are discussing the garden, one of us wants to replace the grass with AstroTurf and the other doesn't.

Can anyone tell me the pros/cons and what you prefer so we can try and come to a final decision?

Thank you!

You just need to embrace the moss and dandelions 😊 biodiversity. Get some more wildflowers in there so it looks deliberate.

Plastic grass is one of the shittest things in the world.

Just take all the money you would spend on plastic grass and set it aside to pay someone to mow yours if he CBA.

If you get plastic grass, 90% of people who see it will think you are planet-hating twats.

The EU is currently considering a ban on certain types of astroturf, because the microplastics are so hostile to the environment, and leach in ways that are toxic to human health.

It's an environmental disaster, and I really wouldn't want young DC in regular contact with it. Playing a couple of times a week on a pitch at school/clubs is one thing, but regular exposure in their own garden would be a no-no for me.

Yes, gardens take maintenance, because they're living plants, and with dandelions, they'll be helping all sorts of useful insects.

Read "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson - from 1962 it talks about the dreadful effects of unfettered use of pesticides. Replacing the natural environment with plastic matting is a step in the same direction

He's always done the garden, more so since I was pregnant and it's kind of continued. I'd happily have a go at mowing it but we have a nice split of jobs round the house at the moment.

Haha, quite like this idea!

This. I've never been a fan of fake grass but from some of the ridiculous hysteria on recent threads about astroturf I'm starting to think it's not anywhere near as bad as people make out and people are just looking for reasons to hate on it.

Me neither, we have lots of plants for the pollinators and plenty of permeable surfaces for drainage.

👍

Robo mower is a great idea 👍 just get one of those OP.

Plastic grass should be banned.

Being too lazy to mow the lawn is the shittiest of all the shitty reasons to coat your corner of the planet in plastic.

Anyway, there are plenty of other alternatives to a lawn if you don't want the regular maintenance (plus we've been in our house 2 years and haven't mowed once!)

Slight detail but can I ask, those fake Ivy like panels you can get to attach to an outdoor fence or wall ... are these equally as disastrous for wildlife/he planet?

We have a gloriously wild green (real) garden with trees shrubs aplenty (weeds by the tonne!) and have lots of bits and wildlife visitors which I adore

I am however considering a couple of these panels for a fence near the house on a seating area to brighten the fence up. We have in the past had real Ivy grow up it but then had problems with it growing into the brickwork too.

Also ashamed to say I like how they look

But I'd hate to think of them confusing birds and wildlife or causing problems.

MN stance on artificial grass is the same as SUVs which again are the work of the devil

That's because both are really, really shit for the environment.

SUVs account for somewhere between 7-15% of global emissions - that's more than many countries. We need to be driving less, but the driving we do needs to be in smaller and lighter cars

Also lawn is essential with a 1 year old, we really want to make the most of the garden throughout the summer!

I haven't ever looked in the gardening section on MN before, I just came on here on a whim when DH told me to post.

I'm sure I'll win this fight, I've always hated astroturf too!

Birds not bits

If your garden is really only a yard and shady and less than 3 or 4 metres then fine. Otherwise have grass

Just had a quick google and I like the look of Robo Mowers.

If that small, then DC aren't really going to be playing in a "playing on grass" sort of way, and it might be better paved, with raised beds and planting pockets. Then other games become possible

Sell-ability - most people don’t like fake grass and would knock the cost of replacing/removing the fake grass off the cost of the house.

Environmentally - gives off harmful chemicals. It’s linked to flooding. Creates a rubbish environment for wildlife/nature. Takes ages to break down. Overly hot in good weather.

@EdithWeston agree but some people do have very small spaces and want to put a small slide or paddling pool for a toddler so I don't think it's awful then. I have a garden with real grass and lots of flowers etx but understand that's not an option for everyone.

I don’t think they’d actively cause a problem, but they do fade in the sun and then look really bad so you’d have to be prepared to replace every few years.

Honeysuckle and Jasmine are lovely and don’t cling like Ivy so wouldn’t cause the same problems.

Moss and dandelions aren't bad things though!

I would over seed with clover/camomile if it's patchy or even do a full clover lawn. You can buy micro clover which is drought resistant and never grows above a few centimetres so doesn't even need mowing.

Read recently that we should think of plastic grass as equal to blowing cigarette smoke in a baby's face.
Grim, disgusting and terrible for the planet

I have it, we had it put down about 15 years ago as the grass had all died due to dog piddling on it.

However, I wouldn't have it again. At the time we had it I wasn't aware of the environmental impact of it.

Also, it's not as low maintenance as you think it will be, it needs bloody sweeping and you still get moss growing on top of it if you're not careful.

All of the above, plus plastic grass is unbelievably tacky.

I have fake grass in a small yard.

Pros:
no mowing or maintenance (apart from picking stones and leaves off)
a bit like a carpet
good for kids to play on - no mud

Cons:
makes me feel crushingly depressed every time I go out there
gets very hot in summer
bad for wildlife

As soon as I have the energy and funds, I'll do something else with it - it is hard to know what else to do in a very small space when you have kids tho.

In your shoes I'd keep your lawn and get a robot mower or pay a gardener/local kids to mow it