Experience of Astro turf (good or bad)

[BiteyShark]

So after a miserable wet winter the grass at the side of our house is now mostly moss and mud. This is the area we play ball with the dog so thinking of biting the bullet and getting artificial grass installed before the next winter.

Does anyone have any experience with it in regards to dogs? It is a shady area so won't get hot in the summer but my biggest concern is whether it would be bad for his paws when he runs and skids to get the ball.

[bluetongue]

I’ve considered it for my place I only have a small yard so hopefully pricewise it wouldn’t be too bad. Problem is my dog like to lie on the grass (or what’s left of it) in the sun and being in OzI’m worried it would get too hot.

To be honest the grass was struggling before I got the dog. There is lots of shade in the yard. Great for keeping the house cool but not so great for grass to grow.

[BiteyShark]

missbattenburg I am waiting for the days to be a bit lighter in the evening so my DH can be here when I can get some quotes as he wants to quiz them on all the work that needs to be done for a good foundation. I think we have decided we will have it laid in the summer ready for next winter so it's just down to which company we trust/want as there appears to be a couple close by. I had read for a good quality installation it can be around £55-65 per square meter and some suggest even more but honestly I can't see any other option for a surface that we can use with the dog in that area of the garden. Will let you know what we decide and costs so you have a reference point if you decide to do the same.

blue my understanding is that yes it can get hot but that is something we won't need to consider much with all the shade

[SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon]

I had some at my last house and despite drainage holes the urine doesn't soak away. It needs jet washing every 1-2weeks otherwise it positively stinks of urine (which I don't think will do the fake grass much good in the long term). Also you mustn't use disinfectant on it as it will get into the ground below, plus some will stay in 'grass' and thus come into contact with dogs paws. I would not use it anywhere dog may toilet.

[BiteyShark]

We do have disinfectant for use in kennels that is also paw friendly so I plan to use that if he toilets on it and I guess I will just have to factor in hosing it off in the summer. At the moment that area has slimy green moss type stuff all over it so god knows what it's breeding and even the dog is now refusing to walk on it

[BiteyShark]

Well we had a quote and the most expensive is the nicest and realistic looking grass . It does seem worth splashing out more for better looking stuff as the cheaper grass looks so fake but the expensive stuff really did look natural.

Discussed the issue with smell and it's due to some people using sand as a base which causes the urine to sits underneath whereas they use limestone which means it drains away.

Just need to get the pennies together now

[damnsandra]

Just noticed this thread. We have it. Worth every penny. Never smells.

Dog2 was ill last week. Love being able to hose off any mess so it's definitely clean and no residue.

[BiteyShark]

Our mind is made up having seen how realistic some of it was and if it lasts us the lifetime of the dog I will be more than happy as it will mean we can play out in it instead of it being a stinking mossy bog

The question is when to get it done as I was thinking summer but maybe the sooner the better so we can take advantage of it now.

[damnsandra]

We got ours done this time last year. The chap was booked in months in advance. He had to halt during January when the ground was frozen but so, so worth it.

Loads of hardcore, rubble, sand etc for the foundation. No way is urine sitting on top. It's actually sort of raised anyway so gravity would mean it is always draining down and away from it (and the house)

[agedknees]

We have it, it’s fantastic. We have had it 3 years now and no smell. Mind, we get a lot of rain.

But no mess in the house and it looks good all year round.

[BiteyShark]

If anyone has seen my other posts BiteyDog is too ill as the moment to appreciate his new lawn.

Just to update we went for quite a deep pile grass and I can honestly say it looks lovely although feels quite 'springy' underfoot.

Will be interesting how it holds up to BiteyDogs skidding about when he's better but at the moment it's making my other 'real lawn' areas look at bit rubbish