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Astro, New lawn or work with what I have

Daniel.wintermanDaniel.winterman Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi all.   

I have lived in this house for 11 years and not really given it much thought on the garden until last year when I did my fencing and decking. 

This year I want to focus on the back yard. Basically looking at the grass makes me sea sick.  Its lumpy as hell.  Some bald patches where we dug out last year etc.  

So it comes to what to do with this, I would love astro as I have 2 dogs and 3 lads who all like to run around on there, but the cost and work required to do this would be hard with my current work commitments.   I  thought about paying someone to dig it all up and relay a lawn , but is it worth it with the family. Or is there a cheaper, simpler way to get a flat lawn? Filling the dips and reseeding etc?

I must admit I dont have green fingers, in fact first time i mowed the lawn was this past weekend because the gardener was delayed getting to me and the grass was long and we wanted to get out in the sun. 

Would really appreciate some ideas etc. 

TIA 


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Posts

  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I think you are asking the wrong group for advice on astro turf as it is pretty much anathema to most of us being so very bad for the environment, the soil etc. Also be aware that in the sun plastic grass gets much much hotter than real grass.  I think you are going to have to dig over your patch, level it all, dig in some soil improver, level it off again then either seed it or have turf laid.  You can get stronger grasses for more robust use, which is how you want to use it.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • Daniel.wintermanDaniel.winterman Posts: 5
    Thanks didy, TBH I only thought Astro as its easier to maintain, but thats a good point about heat etc. 

    The problem I have is the area is 20m x 7m so a fair size to dig over, etc.  :(
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you and your lads want to use the lawn this summer you’ve left it too late to returf or reseed this year, as you have to keep off a new lawn for quite a while. 
    I would do it in mid September- mid October ... that way m, if you look after it carefully, the lawn will be ready to use next spring 🥅 ⚽️ 🎾 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Green_FalcoGreen_Falco Posts: 27
    edited June 2021
    I think it depends on how much time/money/effort you want to spend looking after the lawn. Personally I would chose lawn all day because of the environmental benefits and the pride I can take from the effort I put in.

    Everyone I know who has had astroturf really love it, however none of them have green fingers. Make sure you get lots of quotes and advice from the professionals.

    GF
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    A quicker and cheaper way to improve your lawn, given it's size, is to carefully lift the turf where it's bumpy, dig out some soil, relay and firm the turf back in and water it really well (and keep it watered whilst it's rooting again). Reverse the process where you've got dips, you can use the soil you've previously dug out to fill them up.
    It's a bit laborious, so do it in stages as and when you've got the time, the will and the energy!  Good luck.

    My son has fake grass and loves it. He's not a gardener, has two children and a very large dog. The 'grass' does get hot in summer, the dog loves it but the children have to wear sandals. It's on a mesh so the rain drains through quickly and doesn't get so muddy as it used to. He says it was worth every penny. I was very sceptical but it does look very nice when we visit. I'm not sure how long it lasts though.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I. 
    Know nothing about this stuff what do you do about dog pee and poo, obviously pee soaks into real grass,do you have to "wash" the fake stuff,?
  • MopaniMopani Posts: 25
    It’s interesting to hear that dogs like the heat of plastic grass.  We’ve got a bit and find that it’s very popular with the blackbirds in the summer who spread their wings on it and sunbathe (to get rid of their parasites I’m guessing).  We regularly see 4 or 5 doing this, it’s quite comical.
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Nanny Beach said:
    I. 
    Know nothing about this stuff what do you do about dog pee and poo, obviously pee soaks into real grass,do you have to "wash" the fake stuff,?
    I don't know the answer to this, however someone near us vacuums their plastic grass. Its hilarious watching them, especially considering they purchased it to avoid mowing!🤣
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Maybe there is some way ascetically to do both?  Maybe an area of plastic turf near the deck.. then a same level divider of flagstone or something, then the real grass?  You can do the plastic turf and stones now, and then save the lawn for fall.  If you have kids and a dog running around, if everything is the same level they can use the whole space for running around or ball games.  
    Utah, USA.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @Nanny Beach, the dog pee just soaks through  to the soil underneath and dog poo is removed with a scoop/bag as usual. Occasionally my son gets the hose pipe out and rinses the whole area. He was told by the installers that the underlying sand base contains an antibacterial agent to counteract any odours.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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