AIBU. Public flogging for garden taste misdemeanors

One of my children has it in her children's play area...perfect for when paddling pool is out...no mud. Oh and it looks real.

No I am not happy gillybob. That people like your DD continue to think its okay to treat the environment that way despite of all the readily available warnings and knowledge. "Disinfecting" the soil: humans are awful! What world will our GC have left??

Well that's me told ! I moved close to my DD to help with her young children. The bungalow I found suits me well and had a smallish garden which was paved over, uninviting and dangerous for small children. After much thought I had it covered with artificial grass. I am widowed and have arthritis in my hands which would make manoeuvring a lawn mower extremely painful. It looks much better than the paving and the children love it.I have never felt the need to justify my choice before !

Whats wrong with mud? I spent many happy childhood hours making mud cakes.

Mud is good. And healthy. And not that hard to wash off.

Yet again: artificial lawns are not the only alternative to high maintenance grass!

Clover, meadow lawns even bark mulch etc all take much less care. Nobody NEEDS artificial lawns.

We do however need less superbigs and a healthy ecosystem to survive...

"superbugs"

I don’t like to see mirrors in gardens as I am a bird lover. They have enough trouble with crashing into windows, they don’t need the extra hazard of mirrors. As for artificial grass, a no no in my book. Birds cannot dig for worms in that.

People will chose artificial grass ultimately because they like it. And that matters more to them than the impact its having overall. And thats okay: own it. You LIKE it and WANTED it.

But dont try to pretend that it is the only viable alternative to grass lawns or that it doesnt have an impact on the eco system (or that the impact is so small that it can be offset by a few planters and a bird feeder).

Artificial grass is a widespread problem as a trend.

No one is going to come and confiscate it from you! But dont try and argue that its not problematic.

Pleached trees! Our neighbour has just planted them along the bottom boundary and side boundary with us. He has used hornbeam. We are interested to know how he is going to maintain hornbeam. Don't get me wrong, I like hornbeam in a hedge situation but not when it is going to encroach on our garden. Also wind chimes are awful and people who leave their outside lights on all night. In my opinion!!

Good point foxyferret

I like mirrors in tiny post stamp gardens or dark corners. We have a dark corner where the extension comes out further than the house that at the mo is an ugly dumping ground for bins etc. It is surrounded on 3 sides by walls and at the mo isnt really part of the garden. I was thinking of putting some "interesting" things in there to bring it to life. Would a mirror in that space be okay as birds wouldnt have a "run" at it IYKWIM or not?

Incase anyones intersted: bark mulch works well under swings etc. Stops mud (if that really bothers you) looks nice and is insect and soil friendly. Also a fairly soft landing for kids. It is a by product

Aren't we trying to reduce the use of plastic?

We're all entitled to our opinions, but some of the above responses appear rather spiteful. Me, i would love artificial grass, but DH, who's the family gardener, loves mowing - so he wins the turf war.

people who leave their outside lights on all night.

Light pollution really mucks up insects anf birds life cycles and breeding patterns

I understand that in SOME layouts (like when the front door is down the sids of the house) it is a necessary security feature. But some people think they are lighting a football pitch with their back lights

Yes you are being unreasonable. What other people do or do not do with or in their gardens is not your business, is it?

I am at a loss to understand why it is increasingly being considered all right to comment on people's gardens.

Would you criticise their choice of wallpaper or flooring in their house?

I am sorry to offend you, but I really think you are out of line here and suggesting public flogging even as a joke is offensive too.

Aren't we trying to reduce the use of plastic?

Apparently not. And its "spiteful" to be angry and dismayed that trends are going towards MORE plastics and chemical pollution, not less..

My neighbour's have plastic grass and the weeds are always sprouting through it.
It was expensive but you can tell at once that it's fake. No other plants at all, another reason for their two cats to escape into my garden to dig and hide amongst my shrubs. Grrrr!
As we're supposed to be cutting back on our use of plastic shouldn't this horrible stuff be banned?

Yes you are being unreasonable. What other people do or do not do with or in their gardens is not your business, is it?

Unless they live in a self contained biodome then this trend of people "disinfecting" the soil affects all of us. I dont care much what people do with their gardens asthetically. But when they are causing disease and pollution to be spread throughout the ecosystem, then I do care. Everyone should.

And people think "oh Im just one person, its just my garden... but there are STREETS of the stuff!

I have wide borders around my artificial lawn full of plants and weeds and insects. I have never felt the need rd

Harmful invasive species and diseases thrive when you remive vital parts of the chain. And the poster whos Dd had it installed and chucks disinfectant on it to boot admitted that there arent "natural" gardens in the ajoining gardens either!!

Wow, that turned nasty quickly. Only went out to have my roots done and its pistols at dawn stuff. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought this was a light-hearted thread. I didn't realise the OP really meant to have people flogged!

I didnt think people would not only admit to disinfecting gardens, but defend it too

I am in shock that this is still a socially acceptable thing to do