Artificial grass - share experience and where to buy

[Mummyfry]

Hi,

Can anyone please share their experience with artificial grass and what to look out for when choosing and installing the artificial grass? Did you install it yourself or get the shop to install it?

We would ideally want something realistic looking, high quality and our daughter will play in it. The grass area won’t be that big so we don’t mind paying a higher price per m.

I’m not looking for any comments on how we shouldn’t get artificial grass (I’m aware of the negatives ie environment concerns and how it can get very hot) as I have a grass and pollen allergy so we can’t have real grass and we don’t want the whole garden paved as we already have a patio area.

thanks in advance!

I moved into the maisonette that has artificial grass. I have no idea who the supplier was. All I know is that it has been installed around 15 years ago and looks pre tty good (actually I dare to say the only thing that was properly done in this flat!).
It’s pretty low maintenance. We keep the leaves off and tidy up around the edges as some weed does grow.
It does mark when you put a chair on it, but it goes away quickly.
I do plan to replace it at some point that will be part of a big garden reno as I want a wild meadow sort of type garden. But not in a rush. I think I prefer the turf over grass as I have a north facing garden and the grass would just became this big mud pond during winter.
It does get hot during the summer, but everything would be hot when it’s 30degrees outside.

And for all the bird and wild life loving people trashing the turf. Quite honestly what’s the difference from a paved garden? Most of my neighbours have their garden paved.
I have a lovely thriving garden in raised beds! We have now tomatoes, zucchini, rhubarb, peas, strawberries. Also a lovely Acer bonsai tree and an array of climber plants around the fences that I can’t even name all! We just got a lovely rose bush and my son loves planting sunflowers and wild flowers! We even have edible flowers and I love the sharpness they bring into salads! My garden has so much variety of pollinators and birds! And honestly looks so much better than most of my neighbours boring tiles patios with plain furniture sets and no plants whatsoever.

Not the point of the thread, but my neighbour has it and sprays it every day with the scent of newly cut grass 🙄.

If I really wanted to buy a house with a plastic garden (which tbh would be a big turn off) I would absolutely factor in the cost of removing and repairing it all and offer accordingly.

I think I prefer the turf over grass as I have a north facing garden and the grass would just became this big mud pond during winter

Yes exactly...my garden is north facing and small....it's not a choice between a lovely real lawn and artificial grass ..it's a choice between dead, patchy, muddy grass and artificial grass. I have neither the skill nor desire to have moss...I have a tiny garden and just want to be able to enjoy the outdoor space I have.

There is never, ever any excuse for artificial grass, if you can’t be arsed with real grass put down stone chips or gravel.

x 100

I'm stunned the stuff hasn't been banned

Neither are great but plastic grass is far worse for the soil underneath, and therefore all the life and micro-organisms that enrich soil, which is one of the biggest carbon traps on the planet when it’s alive. Plastic leaches into the soil and microplastics end up in our watercourses. Concrete slabs are recycled and reused as hardcore at end of life. Plastic lawns end up as landfill. In terms of water run off, both aren’t great but plastic lawns are worse.

Wrapping the earth in plastic to keep it tidy is… baffling to me. Your garden sounds wonderful and I agree, better than the soulless concrete grey things that are popular right now. But you could just tip it over the edge into an absolute refuge for wildlife by ripping up the plastic and letting the soil breathe. Put bark chippings down if you don’t want turf. It’s a brilliant habitat for insect life and doesn’t need any maintenance at all. Or plant a clover lawn - so pretty, only needs a couple of mows a year, super drought tolerant.

A) Reported for advertising.
B) Bollocks. Utterly false claims.

If you are going to do it make sure you get the best quality artificial grass you can afford and ensure the contractor you use to lay it doesn't cut any corners when it comes to the sub base. It is hellish expensive to dispose of if you don't like it, and as far as I am aware they haven't found a way to recycle it yet, only reuse.

It’s grotesque and totally agree should be illegal. And I wouldn’t buy a house if it had plastic grass.