Fake grass- yay or nay?

[ReganSomerset]

We're looking to sell in a few years and are currently sorting out the garden. I'd quite like to put fake grass down and it would probably be easier than laying it to lawn properly, but I'm concerned it might put buyers off in future. What do you think?

I'm not a fan. Even when it's the expensive stuff and done well it looks horrid and fake. Bad for wildlife too, our planet is full of enough plastic as it is! Stop the mindless pollution! If I was looking for a house n saw one that had it I'd factor in its removal or look at houses without for less hassle!

Of course, no mess heaven forbid you have to tidy up the odd grass clipping, meanwhile insect and plant diversity goes down the pan and we continue to fuck over our planet. But no worries hey, because it means less mess and less work.

I would like to bet that the fact we are a vegan family who do not drive cars does more for the environment than having a real lawn.

We have a small patch and went for an expensive one so it looks realistic. I wasn't keen due to the environment however we have a dog and a child and it's more hygienic insofar that I can disinfect it and pick up poo easier. I counterbalanced the environmental issue by going all out in my borders, tubs etc and designing for wildlife. It wouldn't put me off if done properly.

Environmental disaster. Let alone cleaning, disinfecting and vacuuming it!!

Being vegan and non car driving doesn't change that fact.

I hate plastic grass, it's so bad for the environment and wildlife, we really need to start protecting even the smallest spaces for nature and our future. You wll still get wildlife visiting flowers in the garden, but have wasted an area that could also benefit them.

If grass is a no go from a maintenance point of view, and grass can be hard to maintain in a small area, then a tapestry lawn might be a way forwards, and they can be exceptionally pretty. They only need mowing a couple of times a year and require no fertilising. They use species that can withstand being trodden on, although probably not so good for a game of football!

Alternatively gravel can be planted up with lots of lovely plants and grasses, to whatever suits the conditions and space/individual taste. The Beth Chatto gravel garden is a prime example of how it can look, and you could do similar on a small scale.

Best thing we ever did. We tried for years to grow our lawn but being in London with too much clay in the soil and it just got water logged and muddy. We did spend some money on it and the kids love it. I know many people that did the same and love it too

Why not go the whole hog and put fake trees and flowers in too?

Fake grass is one of the reasons I'm pretty sure we're all doomed!

I should add we have a garden of two halves. We have three trees in the area where the fake grass is which is for the kids. The seconds area we have planted three trees and lots of flowers and various plants. So it’s not some plastic hell hole. The grass was only a small area for the kids.

Would absolutely put me off buying a house.

Have never seen fake grass anywhere that I haven't done a double-take and thought, "sweet Jesus, what the fuck have they done to their garden?"

It seems to be really popular near me, lots of houses putting it in and it does concern me because of the very obvious detrimental effect on wildlife and the environment.
You can be vegan, not drive cars and still not put fake grass down.

Vile stuff. And no matter how good quality it's meant to be, it still looks fake. The photo by a pp proves that perfectly.

It's no wonder the environment is fucked. It should be banned.

Those of you who are saying plastic grass is bad for the environment aren’t wrong but real grass isn’t exactly good for the environment!
Unless you never mow your real grass, never use pesticides and never water it you absolutely can not stand there and take the moral high ground.
Actually, if we all cared about the environment, we would be growing fruit and veg in our gardens as well as a variety of native, non-invasive, climate-friendly plants and flowers.

I guess buying a house with fake grass would be like buying one with anything you don't like, you would have to factor in the cost of removing and replacing it. It would be a factor to consider like many things, I don't see it as a desirable selling point though

Vile stuff. And no matter how good quality it's meant to be, it still looks fake. The photo by a pp proves that perfectly.

I thought her garden looked lovely, fake grass and all. Better looking than some gardens with real grass.

I thought her garden looked lovely, fake grass and all. Better looking than some gardens with real grass.*

It definitely looks better than my garden!

Unless you never mow your real grass, never use pesticides and never water it you absolutely can not stand there and take the moral high ground

Lol. Oh I think we can. That's like saying if you have one glass of champagne a year at Xmas, and never drink anything else, you can't say alcoholism is an awful thing. Because hey you drink too.

In terms of detrimental effects there simply is no comparison. Nice try though, 🤣

@keepaddingpets thanks I think this is the brand I've seen on Amazon... I'll order some, and cross my fingers this helps as nothing else has so far!! I would just rip up the fake and put real down, but they'd faked the front lawn too, and that would be such a pain to take up, plus, we sold our almost brand new lawn mower for a song when we moved here, and I'm really reluctant to buy another, especially as we've got so used to not having to mow now and love the lack of mud. X

@Bamb00 aaah, hosing down your plaggy bag lawn with chemicals. Truly, an English Cottage Garden.

You have painted quite the picture! 😂

Real grass is good for the environment though? That whataboutery just fell flat on its face.

To play along though, I have never watered mine, it always survives.

This reminds me of people petitioning for McDonald’s to bring back plastic straws.

To me it's like recycling. If everyone stopped doing it it would amount to a massive issue.

Similarly if everyone stopped using fake grass it would amount to a huge benefit for nature & wildlife.

Why cover the earth in plastic given we have enough issues with global warming & climate disasters?

A big no from me.
I don't care how good it looks, it's awful for wildlife. No daisies, worms, birds . I hope it's banned in large areas soon.

Disclaimer; ok for shady kids areas that would otherwise be a mud bath. Or for people who need a more accessible outdoor area.

I prefer my real lawn. You can easily spot the fake as it is too uniform, though as mentioned you can tell there is a big price range.

I was listening to the radio a while ago and a B&Q advert came on for bee friendly plants. The next one was for a carpet shop advertising their fake grass.

I guess if someone had it in a poor grass growing area, or as a pp said in a holiday home but then had a variety of borders it would reduce the environmental impact, but I am presuming the vast majority of people with it don't and just have it covering the entire area.

No no no no no

It utterly stinks if you have dogs, hosing down dog shit every morning and then chucking a load of disinfectant down to leech into the ground. Fucking hell!