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Post by madonplants on Sept 5, 2008 16:15:26 GMT 1
Anyone have any experience of it? TBH, hope not, but have to ask.
Our friend, who Craig and I helped this week, wants a small lawn, but as she is 71, would struggle with mowing grass in the years to come. She mentioned a new artificial one she's heard of, new to the market, that isn't Astro Turf, does anyone know anything about it? I have done a quick Google and it seems that all the Artificial Grass is Astro Turf. Am I wrong? I mentioned a Camomile lawn, but she wasn't sure about that.
Any thoughts would be welcome. I just wish we lived nearer, so if she had problems, I could cut it for her!
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 5, 2008 16:21:08 GMT 1
I know about this grass............because we saw it at the GC a couple of weeks ago. I am NOT a fan of the stuff...give me a weed filled patch of grass anyday but this stuff was amazingly lifelike. MUCH better than astroturf. I do think that it would make a fairly reasonable substitute for grass if it's absolutely necessary to use it.......(bet you never thought I'd say that, Keith!)  PS It was at the GC at Downham Market but I don't know the name either..... |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 5, 2008 16:42:51 GMT 1
I know about this grass............because we saw it at the GC a couple of weeks ago. I am NOT a fan of the stuff...give me a weed filled patch of grass anyday but this stuff was amazingly lifelike. MUCH better than astroturf. I do think that it would make a fairly reasonable substitute for grass if it's absolutely necessary to use it.......(bet you never thought I'd say that, Keith!) PS It was at the GC at Downham Market but I don't know the name either..... What is the difference from Astro? I found this[/color] site, but I also read a few worries on the Wikipedia site.... The abrasions caused by artificial turf have been linked to a higher incidence of MRSA infections.
Some artificial turf requires infill such as silicon sand and/or granulated rubber made from recycled car tires. This material may carry heavy metals which can leach into the water table.
Periodic disinfection is required as pathogens are not broken down by natural processes in the same manner as natural turf. Despite this, recent studies suggest certain microbial life is less active. How would the birds react to it, would you get a build up of pests underneath, away from predators? One of the reasons I hate WSM in the border. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 5, 2008 17:00:52 GMT 1
I'm afraid I can't answer any technical queries Keith...when I said I know about it, I meant I had seen it..... Certainly it looked much more life like than astroturf and the surface was much more comfortable, eldest and I had a little feel of it...it was a pretty windswept day when we saw it and it even seemed to behave like grass - looked a bit flat and trodden on but it just need to be brushed to return to pristine condition! Very odd......I think your concerns are very valid though.I would worry about what was happening underneath too...... |
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Post by emseypop on Sept 5, 2008 17:38:53 GMT 1
What about a gravel garden? With a few pots?
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Post by debbiem on Sept 9, 2008 9:55:49 GMT 1
I know about this grass............because we saw it at the GC a couple of weeks ago. I am NOT a fan of the stuff...give me a weed filled patch of grass anyday but this stuff was amazingly lifelike. MUCH better than astroturf. I do think that it would make a fairly reasonable substitute for grass if it's absolutely necessary to use it.......(bet you never thought I'd say that, Keith!) PS It was at the GC at Downham Market but I don't know the name either..... What is the difference from Astro? I found this[/color] site, but I also read a few worries on the Wikipedia site.... The abrasions caused by artificial turf have been linked to a higher incidence of MRSA infections.
Some artificial turf requires infill such as silicon sand and/or granulated rubber made from recycled car tires. This material may carry heavy metals which can leach into the water table.
Periodic disinfection is required as pathogens are not broken down by natural processes in the same manner as natural turf. Despite this, recent studies suggest certain microbial life is less active. How would the birds react to it, would you get a build up of pests underneath, away from predators? One of the reasons I hate WSM in the border.[/quote] I don't know anything about this kind of turf but it doesn't look good from the above description, does it? I think a lot of people are conditioned into thinking that a garden must have some kind of lawn or it isn't a garden - I agree with the gravel and pots suggestion.  |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 9, 2008 11:20:42 GMT 1
The garden she has, isn't a bad size and she already has had a medium sized greenhouse installed. a nice patio and two raised beds for some veg. She had to have a 10ft by 8ft shed, as the garage was asbestos ridden. I should tell you, you can't get into this shed!!  There was a five leaf clover type thing, made of concrete, sunk in the ground, which she has planted some roses in, though I thought a herb garden would look OK there. Everyone she knew agreed with me there, but she likes her roses, almost as much as her herbs. I think in her mind, now she has a 'proper' garden, she wants a lawn, to make it look better. The last one she had, was about 15ft by 15ft. Don't ask me what she had there, but it included a 'large' apple tree and a 'large' cherry tree, small greenhouse and cottagey type plants. Oh and it was 3ft from the small block of flats (one house divided into 4 flats) where she lived. I've forgotten what I was going to say next, as I have just seen Jennifer off!! If I remember it, I'll add later. She brought most of her plants with her, which included, probably nearly 100 fuschias!! Suffice to say, she has lost some of them. Between you and me, she thinks she is still 30 something and fit as a fiddle, which she is not. I think I might have to work on this idea of hers of an artificial lawn. |
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Post by debbiem on Sept 9, 2008 13:40:15 GMT 1
Ooo, good luck with that Keith! She sounds like a lady who won't be swayed, she'll have what she wants regardless of space or reasoning! She made good use of her space then, in the 15ftx15ft garden.  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 9, 2008 14:27:26 GMT 1
Sorry.....but I have to say that I think gravel is a very bad idea for someone of any great age - it's very difficult to walk on, it'll HURT if fallen on and it's quite expensive.....how about a clover lawn?  If this lady loves plants as much it seems, it's a shame if she doesn't get her grass or as near as possible to grass..... |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 9, 2008 14:43:41 GMT 1
Sorry.....but I have to say that I think gravel is a very bad idea for someone of any great age - it's very difficult to walk on, it'll HURT if fallen on and it's quite expensive.....how about a clover lawn? If this lady loves plants as much it seems, it's a shame if she doesn't get her grass or as near as possible to grass..... I hadn't thought about a clover lawn, good thinking Batgirl! I don't think she wants gravel either. I just think with her 'proper' garden as such, she wants to have it like an old fashioned cottage garden and that to her means a lawn. She spent quite a long time in her previous flat and prior to this, quite a while abroad in places like India and Libiya, so never really had a 'proper' lawn. She now knows (well sort of) her limitations, but still wants some green to show off the plants she does/will have. Where they are all going to go, is another thing!! Maybe I will have another word with her. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 9, 2008 14:48:18 GMT 1
You're a nice man Keith. |
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Post by emseypop on Sept 9, 2008 16:47:59 GMT 1
think clover sounds like it will fit in nicely. Let us know what happens.
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Post by Sleepy on Sept 9, 2008 22:46:20 GMT 1
You're just trying to make me think of Felicity Kendall again. But it won't work - I don't have a packet of wotsits in the house!!!
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Post by madonplants on Sept 9, 2008 23:18:38 GMT 1
I have thought of that one, though I spelt it wrong in my post!! I think that or 4P's clover lawn, might be the way to go, but will ring her, maybe over the weekend and see what she says. I was really surprised when she mentioned an artificial lawn, I wouldn't have thought it to be her thing, really.
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 10, 2008 8:18:15 GMT 1
This is an interesting read, Keith. Also quite interesting is that when I googled I got all American links about growing clover as a lawn....all the UK ones were about getting rid of clover, not suggesting it as an alternative...seems like American gardeners are way ahead of us......... versicolor.ca/lawns/docs/clover.htmlThe link right at the bottom of the page has pictures... |
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Post by madonplants on Sept 10, 2008 10:50:28 GMT 1
This is an interesting read, Keith. Also quite interesting is that when I googled I got all American links about growing clover as a lawn....all the UK ones were about getting rid of clover, not suggesting it as an alternative...seems like American gardeners are way ahead of us......... versicolor.ca/lawns/docs/clover.html The link right at the bottom of the page has pictures... Thanks 4P. maybe the American bit, could be down to their hotter climate? On some of those American Groundforces, did you see their lawns, or should I say green dust!!? ;D This clover, still needs quite a bit of mowing, doesn't it, though not as much as grass? |
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Post by debbiem on Sept 10, 2008 16:13:38 GMT 1
This is an interesting read, Keith. Also quite interesting is that when I googled I got all American links about growing clover as a lawn....all the UK ones were about getting rid of clover, not suggesting it as an alternative...seems like American gardeners are way ahead of us......... versicolor.ca/lawns/docs/clover.html The link right at the bottom of the page has pictures... Thanks 4P. maybe the American bit, could be down to their hotter climate? On some of those American Groundforces, did you see their lawns, or should I say green dust!!? ;D This clover, still needs quite a bit of mowing, doesn't it, though not as much as grass? A nice little cluster of bantam chickens would keep the grass down no problem. ;D |
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There was a five leaf clover type thing, made of concrete, sunk in the ground, which she has planted some roses in, though I thought a herb garden would look OK there. Everyone she knew agreed with me there, but she likes her roses, almost as much as her herbs. I think in her mind, now she has a 'proper' garden, she wants a lawn, to make it look better. The last one she had, was about 15ft by 15ft. Don't ask me what she had there, but it included a 'large' apple tree and a 'large' cherry tree, small greenhouse and cottagey type plants. Oh and it was 3ft from the small block of flats (one house divided into 4 flats) where she lived. 
