Fake grass ?

I've seen some gardens where there were just strips of "grass" in amongst hard landscaping and planting. In one of these there was lovely lush planting in one large bed, with the "grass" effectively making paths through this, enabling access when the soil was wet. It worked quite well.

Awful stuff.. leaves everywhere.. dog poo ... it looks very fake...I would never have it in my garden...

NonnaW

We moved into a house with a very unsightly courtyard garden 7 years ago. It was paved over with weeds growing everywhere. We have 2 dogs, one of whom will only toilet on grass. We had top of the range artificial grass laid. It still looks good now, although we have to sweep up moss which falls from the roof. It is never overly hot underfoot, I can easily walk barefoot out there. The dogs toilet out there, solids are easily picked up, it does not smell.

The thought of walking barefoot where the dogs have toileted is not appealing.

Don't people train their dogs to use one area?

I've got some on my balcony.... It's very expensive and looks real. I've had more than one person ask how I've grass on a balcony.

It even feels real to sit on, I mean you can tell the difference but if you've been sitting on it for half an hour you really forget its not the real macoy. I did add some laminate underlay for padding cos obviously it's on concrete, but on grass it will be soft.

As my balcony is a tiny 1x1m I got an offcut cheap, but that still cost more than buying the cheaper stuff on a roll.

Its also easy to clean lol I brush it and any flat parts come straight back up, it has drainage holes so any water soaks straight through it. It doesn't get hot so it's safe for dogs. Some people say it's bad for wildlife, it probably is if thats all you've got in your garden, but if you have plants too then I don't see the issue.

I'd say go for it if you can afford the expensive stuff, if not don't bother cos ge cheap stuff is naff.

It will come green again in the Autumn and Winter. Forget the fake grass if I were you!

I just couldnt bring myself to have fake grass. To me it falls in the same category as garden gnomes and fake garden flowers. Just no.

I'm viewing lots of houses at present to downsize into.
One of my must haves is a garden and I don't mean a concrete desert or a huge patio. I want growing , oxygen producing plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables. I would like a greenhouse like I have now.

I am saddened to see the number of houses where gardens have been replaced with slabs, gravel, carpark, decking etc.
What's wrong with a few weeds and letting nature come up with some surprises.
I have a natural meadow which gets cut back annually. Insects and birds love it and so do I.

Robin202

I just couldnt bring myself to have fake grass. To me it falls in the same category as garden gnomes and fake garden flowers. Just no.

You obviously haven’t seen the expensive grass only those naff looking bright green carpet types.

Robin202

I just couldnt bring myself to have fake grass. To me it falls in the same category as garden gnomes and fake garden flowers. Just no.

There’s nothing wrong with garden gnomes…..😎😁

Shinamae I’m amazed a gardener is being persuasive re fake grass! It’s the most loathsome invention ever 😡 if you’re not affected by a hosepipe ban you could always hose puppy pee off it before it stinks to high heavens. Team real grass here 🌷🤗

How do people who would never have it know it stinks?
And those who do have it say it doesn't?
Which is it?

MissAdventure

How do people who would never have it know it stinks?
And those who do have it say it doesn't?
Which is it?

Perhaps because we've been to houses who have both the fake grass and dogs, and know it stinks? The new housing estate nearest to us has lots of gardens with it and you can smell it when you walk past.

Possibly so.
I've not got a dog or a garden, so I wouldn't know one way or another.

It just means you're calling some people on gransnet stinkers, or fibbers.

I rented a house for a short time that had had both dogs and fake grass. It did smell. I used a lot of Jeyes fluid. Which also smelled but I preferred the Jeyes😬

Dare I say that dog owners get quite used to their doggy smells 😳

That's true, I'm sure.My friend always said her dog only did a teaspoon of wee (on the floor, usually) so it didn't smell.
Well, I begged to differ (but kept quiet, like the coward i am)

Robin202

I just couldnt bring myself to have fake grass. To me it falls in the same category as garden gnomes and fake garden flowers. Just no.

I have fake flowers in my garden in amongst the real ones, around my fake grass. It looks really good, I love it.

Forgot to add that I don't have any gnomes but I do have a 'tree of wonderous things' which includes a full size american bald eagle, an owl, various other birds of prey, one of Odin's ravens, a baby bear and a baby chimpanzee and various other lovely bits that the grandchildren have me. I love it. As I said before, horses for courses.

I have wee GC ,I,d rather they were able to play on fake grass than the muddy mess it is if left natural.Concrete or chips are hard on wee knees and elbows but they can practice their gymnastics to their hears content on the fake grass.
They can also help to deadhead flowers and pick up leaves and literally smell the roses.
Life isn,tperfect or simple we just have to do what’s best for us and d the real/ fake mix works well.

Our real grass was never a 'muddy mess', despite years of play with children, grandchildren and dogs!

Well, this has turned out to be a very divisive subject…..😎

I have fake grass in my back garden because my garden is quite big on the front and sides. It’s been down for years and the grandchildren loved playing on it,the cockatoo loves to roll about on it and it looks lovely.

DH was a keen gardener when younger but despite all the feeding, weeding, scarifyig etc over the years the front lawn always became a brown desert in Summer (South facing)
We have a big back garden with real grass and the smaller front is artifical. We don't have any pets or children so it doesn't matter if front lawn gets hot. Always looks nice with little effort '- a godsend when DH had renal failure and I had all the housework and gardening to do as well as overseeing home dialysis and chauffeuring to hospitals etc. Rainwater goes through it so better than paving/patio and we even get the occasional weed growing through it.
Take on board the landfill comments, but the years of chemicals (feeds etc) which all come in plastic containers), would probably balance it up as it's only a small area.

If I couldn’t have real grass I’d have something quite different, rather than fake grass which seems an awful idea to me and bad taste - like those electric fires with fake flames.

I’ve only seen a camomile lawn once, but it was beautiful.

Grandma70s

If I couldn’t have real grass I’d have something quite different, rather than fake grass which seems an awful idea to me and bad taste - like those electric fires with fake flames.

I’ve only seen a camomile lawn once, but it was beautiful.

Oh I have had one of those too 😂