felly100 Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Maybe I'll just turf it after all. Is that someting I could do my self ? I'm a car mechanic !It's all in the prep,for hard wearing grass you need a good root system and good drainage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Dig in loads of sharp sand into soil before re seeding to help drainage and compaction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROY Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I am a landscaper and hate artificial grass. It's stupidly expensive and looks rubbish. Most landscapers will charge about £50-70 a metre to supply and fit fake grass. Real turf should cost about £12-18 a metre. If you do lay real grass try and get RTF rhizomatous tall fescue. It's very hard wearing and can cope with both boggy and drought conditions. What area are you in? Try sovereign turf they do a turf called Xeris. If you speak to Lizzie say Roy from T&C sent you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3vert Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 We have it laid, been down over a year now. Looks great and everyone comments on how nice It looks. Wasn't cheap and if cost is an issue then real grass is a winner hands down. There is a fair bit more in the planning and laying of it than some have said in this thread, especially if your ground is boggy. We had to get drainage areas installed, hardcore whackered down, then quarry dust whackered down, wood laid around the edges and screwed down onto that. We got guys who specialize in laying sports systems (cricket and football) to install ours and got to say they done a fantastic job of it. We don't have dogs so sorry can't comment on how well it survives with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I am a landscaper and hate artificial grass. It's stupidly expensive and looks rubbish. Most landscapers will charge about £50-70 a metre to supply and fit fake grass. Real turf should cost about £12-18 a metre. If you do lay real grass try and get RTF rhizomatous tall fescue. It's very hard wearing and can cope with both boggy and drought conditions. What area are you in? Try sovereign turf they do a turf called Xeris. If you speak to Lizzie say Roy from T&C sent you.I'm in the North West Roy, think I'll go for real grass ive read a lot of reviews about fake grass stinking in summer of dog urine ! What's the average day rates for landscapers these days mate ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3vert Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Strange one that, we were told it was ideal for pets as it could be easily washed, if it was stinking why wouldn't you simply pour some disinfectant over the offending area and hose away? You never get any water sitting on top of the grass as it is so porous. You wouldn't have a dog **** on your living room carpet and not clean it, so why would you leave it alone on a plastic surface untreated? Seems like people are not willing to maintain it as designed to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Strange one that, we were told it was ideal for pets as it could be easily washed, if it was stinking why wouldn't you simply pour some disinfectant over the offending area and hose away? You never get any water sitting on top of the grass as it is so porous. You wouldn't have a dog **** on your living room carpet and not clean it, so why would you leave it alone on a plastic surface untreated? Seems like people are not willing to maintain it as designed to me.I've been reading a lot of reviews and they have all said the same with pets that's all, I would love to have it as I hate gardening !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Biowash liquid in warm water seems to neutralise dog urine smell.Couple of capfuls in a 10 litre watering can. I swill our slabs down with it. Works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) When I had artificial grass I used to disinfect twice a week, but it's hard to know exactly where there urine is and you can't follow the dog around with a watering can everytime it goes out. And nothing completely got rid of the urine smell especially when weather warmed up, unless you loved the smell of strong disinfectant or jeyes fluid in the air. It could be that the sand underneath was holding the urine that was the problem, as if it was grass the soil breaks it down naturally. Edited February 25, 2015 by andypaint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I am considering artificial grass for a courtyard with an existing concrete base. Are there any recommendations? As for dogs peeing on the artificial lawn, I have never let any of my dogs pee in the garden and they will not be peeing on the artificial stuff either. They go straight out from the house out for their walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 artificial grass ! legal high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 My friend supplies and fits artificial grass for lots of dog owners and it is a lot better than it used to be. He uses a European (Dutch) supplier who produces a much better product than the Chinese. The Dutch really know artificial surfaces. The grasses are `pet friendly` - they have drainage holes for the wee (and rain) and if you have a decent sand base underneath then drainage is not a problem (soil, or a particularly clay based soil would drain worse than sand). A breathable weed membrane is also fitted so the wee/water goes through it but it helps trap/`lock in` the wee smell (sounds like a nappy advert). He does not sand dress them (add sand on top) as this promotes weed growth and helps store the dog wee. It isn't necessary and makes a mess in the long run. You can get a more artificial (brighter green) grass or more natural looking ones. The latter are more popular with dog owners/home owners. Rough cost is £45-£50 per sq/m fitted and that includes removal of waste, adding sand, weed membrane and laying the grass. Sounds a lot but if you think it has a 10 year guarantee that's not bad. And it looks a lot better than a muddy puddle and has zero maintainance costs. If anyone wants to know about artificial grass please drop me a PM (I can also send photos to give you some inspiration). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3vert Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I am sure I bought ours direct from Smart-Direct their prices were very good and product was excellent. As I said before we got a specialist I know to install it for us. No drainage issues and certainly no sand on top of the grass or under it. It was hardcore and quarry dust (I am sure that's what they called it) that was underneath. Here it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I am sure I bought ours direct from Smart-Direct their prices were very good and product was excellent. As I said before we got a specialist I know to install it for us. No drainage issues and certainly no sand on top of the grass or under it. It was hardcore and quarry dust (I am sure that's what they called it) that was underneath. Here it is<script pagespeed_no_defer="">//=d.offsetWidth&&0>=d.offsetHeight)a=!1;else{c=d.getBoundingClientRect();var f=document.body;a=c.top+("pageYOffset"in window?window.pageYOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollTop);c=c.left+("pageXOffset"in window?window.pageXOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollLeft);f=a.toString()+","+c;b.b.hasOwnProperty(f)?a=!1:(b.b[f]=!0,a=a<=b.e.height&&c<=b.e.width)}a&&(b.a.push(e),b.d[e]=!0)};p.prototype.checkImageForCriticality=function(b){b.getBoundingClientRect&&q(this,b)};h("pagespeed.CriticalImages.checkImageForCriticality",function(b){n.checkImageForCriticality(b)});h("pagespeed.CriticalImages.checkCriticalImages",function(){r(n)});var r=function(b){b.b={};for(var d=["IMG","INPUT"],a=[],c=0;c=a.length+e.length&&(a+=e)}b.g&&(e="&rd="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify(s())),131072>=a.length+e.length&&(a+=e),d=!0);t=a;if(d){c=b.f;b=b.h;var f;if(window.XMLHttpRequest)f=new XMLHttpRequest;else if(window.ActiveXObject)try{f=new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP")}catch(k){try{f=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP")}catch(u){}}f&&(f.open("POST",c+(-1==c.indexOf("?")?"?":"&")+"url="+encodeURIComponent(b)),f.setRequestHeader("Content-Type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded"),f.send(a))}}},s=function(){var b={},d=document.getElementsByTagName("IMG");if(0==d.length)return{};var a=d[0];if(!("naturalWidth"in a&&"naturalHeight"in a))return{};for(var c=0;a=d[c];++c){var e=a.getAttribute("pagespeed_url_hash");e&&(!(e in b)&&0=b[e].k&&a.height>=b[e].j)&&(b[e]={rw:a.width,rh:a.height,ow:a.naturalWidth,oh:a.naturalHeight})}return b},t="";h("pagespeed.CriticalImages.getBeaconData",function(){return t});h("pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run",function(b,d,a,c,e,f){var k=new p(b,d,a,e,f);n=k;c&&m(function(){window.setTimeout(function(){r(k)},0)})});})();pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run('/mod_pagespeed_beacon','http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?s=243ef09ee4e8a0156562f204bb9b6470&app=forums&module=ajax§ion=topics&do=quote&t=306464&p=2765740&md5check=778562f2bd2bef1fae1754541a4918ea&isRte=1,l8PuqRhht8,true,false,6Iu4CgPuJkU'); //]]></script>&&0 Very nice! Quarry dust (or granite dust) can be used instead of sand. When compacted it is like concrete so gives a nice firm base but doesn't have the drainage properties of sharp sand. Doesn't matter which you use as long as you have the required drainage. As long as you get a competent fitter then it should all be good. It's not as easy as it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEshooter Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Just got of the phone to a fella from the artificial lawn co. £40 per metre fitted. I originally found the details of the company at a dog show. they was promoting there business and a spray that neutralises dog urine and also stops any smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Very nice garden mate ! I'm torn now !! I've not much wonger so I think it's steering more towards the real thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 It's all very well having a spray to neutralise the smell, but when dogs go out for last pee before bed, I'm not going around the garden at that time with a sprayer to get the exact spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROY Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 We charge £17 a metre for real grass supply and fit including topsoil if needed some companies charge around £20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Is that RTF Roy ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROY Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I am not too good at explaining the tech side but follow this link...... http://www.inturf.com/rhizomatous-tall-fescue-(rtf) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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