Artificial grass - help!

[PennyPinkPineapple]

We've got artificial grass in our garden, about 11m2 of it. I don't like it but DH says it's more suitable than real grass as we have a dog.

I've just read a thread about how bad for the environment it is and seen other discussions about no mow May, wildlife in gardens etc and I've decided I want it GONE, like now!

DH has finally agreed we can get rid of it but 1) not until winter because you can't lay turf or grass seed in summer - no idea if this is true, and 2) we have to pay a professional to do it because it's hard work - again, no idea if this is true.

Whilst this discussion was taking place I got another waft of hot dog wee and said enough is enough, I'm doing it today. This has turned into an argument and I've been told I'm being reckless and impatient 🙄and the garden will be ruined by sun down.

Before I embarrass myself by starting something haven't got the strength or ability to finish, can anyone tell me if I can do this? I was just going to rip the AG up, take it to the dump and go and get some turf and unroll it and cut it into shape with probably a knife from the kitchen?

Well done @PennyPinkPineapple - great job!

You must be a machine OP to rip up 11m2 of AG, dig over and seed a lawn in 3 hours. How did you do it? Took me hours to do an area one roll of turf wide and 3 rolls long last year! I am very slow it seems 😂

OP I love your impulsive determination 😁 well done, sounds like you achieved loads today! Plastic grass with dogs is just the grossest thing ever. I hope you enjoy your new lawn

Oh, I hope I haven't done it wrong 🙈🤣

Go,OP, go.
Plastic grass should be banned

It's about 3m x 4m, not a huge area. I'm more impressed they got in and out of the garden centre with all that seed, top soil, etc. on a Saturday afternoon and managed to get it done within 3hrs. Most people would lose a couple of hours in the garden centre!

I didn't take a before photo before I started, but DH sent this to his mate earlier saying "she wants to take this up today 🙄"

It's 6m long and 2.5m wide at the top, I hope I haven't disappointed anyone re the size of my project!

Grass gone. I can't take much of the credit for this, he saw me struggling to get the metal stakes out and told me to give him the bloody hammer.

Shopping trip 🛒

Well done! This stuff is an abomination.

Fantastic Op!

The rake, borrowed from next door neighbour. Thanks 👍

It's 6m long and 2.5m wide at the top, I hope I haven't disappointed anyone re the size of my project!

You've removed an artificial monstrosity and replaced it with grass and wildflowers*. No matter the size, no one will be disappointed as you're helping to put a little bit of green back into nature.

*if they actually grow.

Raked

Where's my toilet gone??

Good for you OP.

A few tips - we got a bag of microclover seeds on Amazon, sprinkled with grass seeds then put some extra soil on top. It’s growing nicely and has filled in some bald spots on our lawn which is about half grass and half clover, with some little flowers and stuff too. I’m keeping an eye out for creeping thyme which I hear makes a good lawn too.

It needs watering daily unless it rains, ideally all summer, until it’s established.

The soil needs to be about 10cm deep - are you sure you’ve put down enough? If not don’t worry, just get a few more bags of topsoil, pour over and dig it a bit, should work out nicely. I just wonder if maybe you’ve not got enough on there, since you got it done so quickly? But I could be wrong.

I'm disappointed in you OP. There was tons of spare room in that trolley for other delights...pretty flowers, pretty pots...

*stares into space dreaming

And chill 🍷

It'll look so much better OP - well done 😊

Artificial lawns should be banned. Or failing that should only be allowed in Lego colours - that would soon put people off!

I left him at home because he agreed to do some hoeing while I was out, and he is also a massive ditherer in a shop and follows me around with the trolley getting in the way.

Well done OP. Artificial grass is hideous, even on a tiny patch like yours.

It’s going to look so much better.

my neighbours have several dogs and their artificial grass absolutely stinks from them going to the toilet on it. They have to keep cleaning it and we can smell it from our garden when it gets bad 🤮

Amazing OP!!

I'm happy this popped back up in my feed with your updates - it looks ten times better. It'll be much better for wildlife and your dogs too!

Hopefully if you jet wash the artificial grass someone can make use of it, if not it might get recycled at the recycling centre?

4.5cm

Maybe I have buggered this up then. What should I do? The top of the soil is level with the paving now, so if I put more on it'll be like a hump?

As you can see from the after photo (car park full of dead plants) we are not gardeners!

I've ordered some microclover seeds from amazon @Astromelia thanks