Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I love my artificial turf. It’s still green after one years neglect.

It is not too hot. Heaps of child care centres use it, as does our local school.

I don't think the chooks will like it though.

I got mine for ~$23 dollars per m2, but it was a great deal that I haven't seen repeated. 30mm long carpet of always green, needs no water, weeds or fertiliser. WA grey sand not a problem either.

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=10254&start=45

I will try and get some pics of artifical turf in my area full of weeds when I walk the dog next.

Cant exactly pull them out which means using nasty poison - something I try to avoid.

Like Charlie I have also heard it can get hot - hotter than asphalt.

Move somewhere with clay soil and near a brook so that the kikuyu survives the summer without watering - that's what I did.

thanks for replies . now I know what direction to take - Dingo and sir walter.
Should I do it now or wait until summer's over?

until you want to develop and find out site costs are 3x that of sandy soils...

Best time to get a lawn going is August I think.

Yep, I agree, can look terrible, just like the front yard of next doors yard. Comes down to preperation, and maintenance. I still have to pluck out weeds. Seeds blow around from anywhere around.


Depends on the grass. We often sit out on our lawn and watch the boys skate board on the road. Agree next doors real grass is softer, cooler, but I only spend 5 minutes each week checking for weeds.

Its all a balancing act. I got a healthy bonus mid last year so invested in the artificial. Not in everybodies price range I know. Not in mine now either as I've down sized jobs to something more rewarding than just money.

Dig out the back yard, put down a good base & Put the roll on down now. It will be perfect for xmas. Will need a bit of water to get started. Keep the grass blades long, but mow regularly. Yep, I do that out the back.

If your soil does not hold water, why don't you use Cocopeat bricks. You can mix coco peat with soil and spread on your lawn. Cocopeat has greater water holding capacity and can store water up to 7 times its weight, and porous so that your lawn plants can breath properly. It has many good properties.