| Author |
Message |
    
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1205
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 7:02 pm: | 
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I need to hear pros and cons on this...
I have a patch of lawn outside my kitchen and dining room windows. It is part of a very, very long narrow garden that is quite beautiful.
It starts with a brick and bluestone dining terrace that is almost a perfect square, next (on axis, everything is centered) is the 12' x 20' patch of lawn, next is a rolling mossy shrubby area that opens into a clearing with a giant oak tree - it's trunk is the centerline of the design.
It is all very lovely....except my patch of grass.
This is really no more than a ceremonial patch of grass. It's job is to look good, the dog is not allowed on it and the kids choose to play in other areas outside the house.
The grass looks terrible. We have tried everything but because of all the giant trees and some directional issues there is simply not eneough sun to grow lovely grass naturally or with chemical assistance.
Should I put down something like Astroturf????
No one would really know!
I am seriously considering this little "sleight of hand" for my near-perfect slot garden. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 437
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 8:38 pm: |
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They have come out with some really convincing astroturf...
Does it have to be grass-like?
Can it be some other plant?
Does it have to be plants at all? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 587
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 9:11 pm: |
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kmk,
Aren't you the same poster who argued against drywall for its lack of authenticity?
Astroturf? Are you kidding? If no one plays there, grow a nice shade loving ground cover. Most garden centers have this stuff now called "stepables" it's a ground cover that you can step on and not kill. It's for between and around stone walks and, I think, it can look really cool.
http://www.stepables.com/
Don't use astroturf.
J.B. |
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 46
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 7:15 am: |
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What about some nice gravel? That's what all the "lawns" look like in the southwest where the only grass that's able to grow is crab grass! |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1206
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:36 am: |
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Well my momentary madness has now passed!
Yes - Jersey Boy - I am always in a constant state of "design". I assess my surroundings and then try to make them look better.
Perfection doesn't come easily. The artificial grass was a very, very bad idea I have now come to find out.
My research proved just the opposite of what Joy mentioned...there is no such thing as "high end", Smith & Hawken type Astroturf. It all looks like a miniature golf course. (What was even worse was the web site's photographs of residential installations! They were beyond tacky.)
Thank you for the Stepables link. My folks in Texas have a giant live oak tree in the back yard and they have "paved" under it with random limestone slabs and stuff that looks like those Stepables grows between them. It is great when you are barefoot...like a little massage!
Moss grows beautifully on my property but it doesn't work in this instance because it is nice to walk across the lawn to get to the other areas.
Once you walk on moss a couple of times it becomes mud.
The gravel idea would be nice here only if it surrounded a lovely little formal garden of boxwood hedges and herbs.
I am not up to that level of gardening yet! When the kids get older I may go there though.
Thank you all. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7462
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:41 am: |
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I bought some stepables for a garden that abuts a paver walkway. They are rated for "stepability" (heavy traffic, medium, etc.). If you get the herbal ones, you get the scent when stepped on. Thyme is good for this. |
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