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To turf or not to turf?

jocero.johnstonejocero.johnstone Posts: 17
in Problem solving
Ok, so at the back of our garden is very shaded.  The whole area was paved and we decided to turn it into a play area for the kids.  We barked it, out in a slide, playhouse and sand pit.  Lovely.  The thing is I kind of want to put a small lawn in front of the play house but I'm not sure if it would work.  Would turf take laid down over paving with a few cm of bark in top?  

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    No, I'm afraid the turf won't grow in that situation. The only way would be to lift the paving slabs where you want a lawn to go, prepare the ground well and then lay turf.
    As the garden is very shaded, it might not do very well anyway and will get very mossy.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    It is very difficult to get turf to grow in shade,we have an area under a eucaliptus,it does get some sun,I have used specialist shade turf and seed it doesn't work very well
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited May 2021
    Shade plus wear from playing children doesn't bode well for successful turf unfortunately. And definitely not laid over bark/paving. Might be one of the limited situations I'd suggest fake grass.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • jocero.johnstonejocero.johnstone Posts: 17
    Thanks for the replies, I'm avoiding fake grass due to environmental issues around it.  I guess they're keeping the bark 😂.  It was just a thought.  We have a lawn, but thought the playhouse would look cute with a tiny one of its own.
  • jocero.johnstonejocero.johnstone Posts: 17
    This is the playhouse, excuse the mess we're just tidying up after winter.  Swear we're about two weeks behind this year.  Shade is from the hedge behind.  Garden is south facing as it gets some light but hedge blocks a lot.  Thought had been turf between the front door and the sand pit.  Maybe I should get stepping stones, I think I've seen rubber ones that won't hurt if fallen on 🤔
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Just lately I've been seeing outdoor rugs/carpets in the seasonal sections of supermarkets. One of those might look nice in front of the playhouse.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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