AIBU. Public flogging for garden taste misdemeanors

Start packing now downtoearth

I am with you on more time for a glass of gin.?

downtoearth

assorted ironmongery what, like old machinery, washing machines and/or four candles/forkandles?

We admit to a fake sheep. He's white with black extremities and lights up at night... One day I saw a magpie trying to befriend it, presumably as it had the same 'plumage'.

I read that astro turf can be problematic in the extreme heat we've had lately. Apparently it can reach temperatures of 62C underfoot . No good for animals. Whereas the real thing remains cool in most temperatures.

We passed a semi with a large front garden covered in the badly fitted stuff yesterday including a slope in the front. It looked like a carpet. Dreadful.

Oh that reminds me, outdoor carpet (plastic stuff that looks kinda-ish like carpet) is now a trend.

Eugh

Well my DD's artificial lawn definitely doesn't get hot although I know that the old Astro-Turf stuff possibly does. There are many different grades available now ranging from the very cheap and nasty to quite expensive and very real looking. My DD's was quite expensive as we need it to last a VERY long time. It's very soft and looks like real grass with a day or twos growth. It even has dead bits sewn into it.

I can't actually sit directly on my own (real) grass as I am terribly allergic to it and come out in a horrible rash.

Correction …..I don't know that the old Astro turf stuff gets hot, but I suspect it could.

We bought a specially recommended kind of organic disinfectant that is used to clean it once a month that causes no harm to the environment or indeed the baby.

You know thats an oxymoron right?
Just because its organic and not harmful to larger animals doesnt mean it doesnt destroy good soil bacteria (which encourages bad resistant ones to take over), and you cannot have a heathy eco system without that. It leaves insects and animals prone to nasty colonisations & disease. Encouraging birds and insects in other ways wont make up for the fact that without a key part of the ecosystem: healthy soil bacteria, super bugd and disease can spread within any insect/bird colonies you encourage and spreading it on to wider communities.

The fact that you say that there is no neighbouring soil makes it even worse.

No one is stopping you from doing what you want. But you cannot seriously believe that adding plastic and disinfectant to the outdoors isnt hatming the ecosystem!

Mossfar do you live next to one of our AC.....they have all you describe along with a hot tub and large inflatable swimming pool for the GC ???

When you put chemicals into the soil (organic chemicals are still chemicals) it has an effect that reaches beyond the borders of your property.

So you cant expect others to not have an opinion on it.

We went to a village local to us yesterday, and they were obviously preparing for something like 'Best Kept Village'.

The majority of the flowers around the place had been handmade by the local Artificial Flower-making Society. Mostly sunflowers. A lot of plastic involved.

Not at all sure about that. Although it did look very pretty, and the 'flowers' were well made.

I have also noticed that outdoor rugs are also popular at the moment on sites like Wayfair.

Big plastic things.

With big plastic garden sofas on them.

Whats wrong with the outside looking like the outside?

www.onlinecarpets.co.uk/outdoor-carpet.html yuck

We visit friends regularly and drive past a posh house that’s been extensively renovated. For months now we’ve watched as roof, windows, render etc have been revamped. Last week two big security gates were added giving it the appearance of Colditz. Plus two of the most hideous concrete lions you’ve ever seen cemented onto the pillar of each gate. We were staggered that anyone could choose such hideous adornments. We christened them Pinky and Perky !

I have a pink flamingo ?

Obviously I bow to your superior knowledge on all things soil related notanan but I really can't see what harm peppermint, orange and lavender can do to the environment?

Although you will probably correct me. My one year old DGD has very sensitive skin and this product was highly recommended.

Notanan2, gardens should be gardens, not manicured 'outdoor rooms' I believe.

It is not "superior knowledge" to understand that if something "disinfects" it will be changing the bacteria profile in the area that it is used on. Whether the "disinfectant" comes from organic sources or not.

Organic chemicals can be stronger tham synthetic ones. Organic doesnt = harmless.

Gardens and soils should not be "disinfected"

The good stuff looks a lot better than uncut grass full of weeds and moss .

I agree about wind chimes!!!!!!!!!!!!

My one year old DGD has very sensitive skin and this product was highly recommended.

Maybe if your daughter was less keen on sterilising her environment she wouldnt have these sensitivities?

Maybe if your daughter was less keen on sterilising her environment she wouldnt have these sensitivities?

That is below the belt notanan and beyond nasty. You have no bloody idea.

The soil is like the gut of the ecosystem.

Wiping out normal gut bacteria paves the way for fungal colonisations and resistant superbugs.

Soil works the same way. And insects then spread the "bad bacteria" throughout the population.

You cannot have a healthy sysyem of bugs, birds, wildlife and ultimately humans without good healthy soil bacteria at the base of the pyramid

You are praising your daughter for doing something that affects EVERYONES health gillybob so I say fair game!

Well whatever notanan Your last comment has really upset me and I am now leaving this nasty thread. I don't want to read any more of your nasty little sarcastic comments. I hope you are proud of yourself .