Replacement for Lawn

Agutka

Hi,
Hubby has never been good at mowing and since we got a large dog our lawn has gradually turned into a patchy muddy area. To start over we covered the area in plastic, to kill any remaining grass over the winter.
Anyway, what next? A friend gardener is convinced we should just shingle the whole area, keeping any greenery in pots - nice and simple to look after.
He promises the shingle would not be harmful to dog (who will miss grass as she is a !!!!! and uses it as toilet AND likes to graze on it like a cow).

Can anyone tell me about shingle - does it stay all clean and white or does it get all slimy and green with wet weather? Will heavy leaf fall have an effect? (huge tree overhanging garden)

I would soooo prefer a lawn (but we can't look after one) or just to pave the whole area (too expensive).

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

Shot the Dog ....... it's cheaper!!!

Baggiebird1nil

Ha ha ha that has tickled me for some reason!!

Agutka why don't you register for your local freecycling site and ask if anyone has any slabs they don't want?

Agutka

Would the slabs involve the majority of the cost? I thought it would be the labour. We couldn't possibly do this ourselves. Probably because we will be jailed for shooting the dog. :rolleyes:

What would be the purpose of shooting my puppy? The lawn was a meadow before she ever turned up - I believe it was mowed every two years.

I think my problem is I don't like shingle...

tr3mor

Get astroturf

EDIT: I didn't realise how sensible my suggestion could be til I saw this
http://www.evergreensuk.com/artificial_grass.htm

Searcher2

Do you like slate? I have had slate down for about 3 years and there is no sign of mould/discoloration.

If you like grass then maybe consider artificial turf.... see here for an example

http://www.sortoutyourgarden.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Artificial_Lawns_203.html

It is however probably as expensive to lay as flags/paving.

Agutka

Is slate not sharp?

The artificial grass I might have been tempted by, but have been advised it will hold dog pee quite well, producing a nice odor...

Becles

Our drive is paving slabs with a strip of shingle down the middle.

I hate it! The dogs and children kick it about and I'm forever sweeping it off the paving and back into the strip.

Sorry if this is too graphic, but think about poo's! A poo on shingle with have all bits stuck in it and be more difficult to pick up compared to a flat surface, especially if it's a soft one!

I would go for slabs - easy to pick up poo's and easy to clean with a hose.

Agutka

Thank you Becles.
Technically the shingle would be kept in place by the retaining wall (sloping garden), but I can just see it spreading all over the patio. Come to think of it I do have shingle around the patio, against the house and it is mucky and goes everywhere. The only good point of opting for the paving is that it may be labour-wise cheaper as the ground is solid under the plastic... This is silly - we need a new boiler and windows, not be losing thousands to the garden!

Lord_Gardener

Gravel and build a dog loo - train it to do it's business there!

Ditto

Build a kennel in a corner of the garden. Put a stake outside the entrance and fix a chain to it. When the dog wants to use the garden attach it to the chain. The dog can only crap the length of the chain.