Artificial Lawn?

[dexx]

I'm looking at the option of using artificial lawn for a new house nearing completion. The property has about 200 m2 of front and back yard. Whether i choose real lawn or not, the garden beds will be minimal. An attraction of artificial turf is low maintenance and minimization of reticulation. However i'm not familiar with how hard wearing the product is or which brands/types are best. Your opinions would be valued.

[Deena]

Low maintenance, mmm you need to sweep it, it's plastic, in our hot climate probably puts of toxic smell when hot. Expensive. Looks cheap and nasty in my opinion. No idea in reality of how it wears, has it been around long enough for a long term evaluation? My thoughts only.

[pennyk]

My mother loved artificial grass. She put it all around the pool, where grass would never grow. We all thought she was crazy at the time, but in the long run, it definitely was the better decision than trying to have grass there. The combination of chlorine and not much direct sunlight meant that grass always died.
It has been installed for over 20 years. We just got it cleaned a week or so ago. It looks pretty much like it did 20 years ago. I know its not particularly cool, but it is hard wearing and low maintenance. You can clean with nappisan to lift off stains.

[savoys]

I was looking at some at Bunnings on the weekend. I like the idea of putting it in smaller areas, such as really shaded spots under trees etc, but 200 m2 is a lot and may cost a heap too, have you had a quote?

[BestInvest]

There is nothing more attractive than living breathing green grass to add beauty to a garden. Choose a buffalo variety which grows sideways and not up so maintenance is low. It will not only look good, but be much cheaper than costly but cheap looking fake grass (which would be ok for small shady areas where grass wont grow). my 2 cents anyway.

[dexx]

Well the quoted cost of $80 to $120 per metre killed that idea! Looks like retic and Wintergreen or Sir Walter is the go.

[danel]

Recent news says most imported are toxic, Aussie manufacturers reckon theirs is fine.

[amiaow]

My parents' next door neighbour replaced his front lawn with it a few years back. It looked horrendous then and still does now. Real lawn is the way to go, or replace the lawn with a native garden with a few paths and a seating area. Both have maintenance but of different types.

[Scott No Mates]

My landscaper put it to me this way: consider the length of time you spend mowing the lawn vs time spent on the garden.

Large native garden with plenty of mulch any day.

[lizzie]

I'm with Scott (who has mates, I'm sure)

Native grasses and drought tolerant, wildlife enhancing plants ... but a small patch of lawn is always nice.

[Doovalacky]

Originally Posted by amiaow

My parents' next door neighbour replaced his front lawn with it a few years back. It looked horrendous then and still does now.

Some of the better stuff looks great in my opinion. But its not cheap.
I agree the cheap stuff looks like plastic carpet.

I'm considering it myself for the duplex. Yard is small but it is still 4k a unit.
However its rare you get tenants that take care of a lawn enough to keep it looking decent.
Looks shocking when all you have is a dirt patch and trying to rent it to a new tenant.

[depreciator]

At least you can depreciate a fake lawn. Can't depreciate real grass.

[devank]

It all depends on how you use it.
After building our house we put reasonably good real looking grass in our backyard and sides. We still have natural grass in the frontyard.

It works because
1. Sides don't get much sun
2. Backyard got smaller and has too many corners because of deck, garden shed, opening areas for drainage related pits, trampoline, slide and 1m depth garden area.
4. Never have to worry about bugs or thrones when kids play in the backyard.
5. Saved many weekends.

It has been two years and it still looking the same. Happy to send any photos if needed.

[wealth]

I've just put in some artificial lawn and although it will never look as good as the real thing, but if you pay abit more you will get one that looks pretty similar.

I think the product has improved greatly since its introduction and it looks and feels so much better.

Of course, the benefit as you mention is no need to mow it and more importantly water it.

For a more realistic look, don't choose one which is too green, but has some brown running through it. I find these one to look better as no lawn is completely green in colour.