Artificial Turf in back garden

Penguin_

Our back garden isn't the biggest or the best & the small grassed area (about 7m x 3.5m) is horrible. The grass isn't good & is patchy at best so we never have a lush green lawn. We have tried putting seed down in areas but it just won't take. So I'm looking at getting someone in to install artificial turf in place of the grass. We're in West Wales & there aren't that many companies around here that offer this but what ballpark should I be looking at in terms of quotes?

To clarify, the job will entail everything from digging & removing turf/earth. preparing & levelling to laying the artificial turf.

Thanks in advance 

TELLIT01

Just putting lawn seed down won't suddenly resurrect a poor lawn.  It does take time and effort, but will probably cost a lot less than getting good quality artificial turf laid.  It's certainly an option worth considering.  Try contacting local garden maintenance or landscaping companies.

Penguin_

TELLIT01 said:

Just putting lawn seed down won't suddenly resurrect a poor lawn.  It does take time and effort, but will probably cost a lot less than getting good quality artificial turf laid.  It's certainly an option worth considering.  Try contacting local garden maintenance or landscaping companies.

I've tried it for the last 3 years & the lawn is patchy, we have even laid turf down but still we end up with patchy discoloured grass. 

TELLIT01

Penguin_ said:

TELLIT01 said:

Just putting lawn seed down won't suddenly resurrect a poor lawn.  It does take time and effort, but will probably cost a lot less than getting good quality artificial turf laid.  It's certainly an option worth considering.  Try contacting local garden maintenance or landscaping companies.

I've tried it for the last 3 years & the lawn is patchy, we have even laid turf down but still we end up with patchy discoloured grass. 

Fair enough you have tried the 'cheaper' option.  Sorry I can't help with cost for your artificial turf.

koalakoala

How about some coloured aggregate?

DD265

I can't help with the artificial turf, but on the aggregate side we've just put blue slate down on our terrible-condition front 'lawn' which is 21msq. We dug it out ourselves, bought some heather/lavender/grasses to put in, put weed membrade down and then spent £200 on two bulk bags of blue slate. Apparently a lot of slate comes from Wales so you may find it's even cheaper nearby. Didn't have to get it perfectly smooth/level before putting the slate on as opposed to if we'd turfed or seeded it (like the back garden).

We still have almost a full bulk bag left, though we have some topping up to do.

[Deleted User]

3.5m2 was about 3k-ish when a family member had it done 3 years ago.

It was a lot of work for 2 guys to do and they did it in a week i think ..... can't remember exact details, sorry, but at least a rough idea there.

longwalks1

We’ve been pricing up artificial lawn at the moment and they nice ‘realistic’ looking stuff is between £17-£20 m2, just to buy. 

Prep work you mention I’d imagine would be a couple or more days for a couple of guys, plus material depending on the condition of your current garden 

searchlight123

our garden isn't large but is a curvy irregular shape so we had plenty of waste when having our artificial turf laid 4 years ago. roughly measuring 40' x 35', it took around 5-6 days to do with good quality realistically coloured turf and cost around £4.2k all in (we are in the SE).

it looks as good as the day it was laid and is fantastic. means the garden can be used by kids and dog all year round without trailing a load of mud in the house every time they go outside to play in wet weather. i realise it's not the most ecological solution but we do have a lot of bushes and plantings also to ease our conscience!!

Rosa_Damascena

Out of interest, what do you use your lawn for in practice? Is it a summer extension of your living space or is it the look of it that is the driver here?

TELLIT01

tonygold said:

our garden isn't large but is a curvy irregular shape so we had plenty of waste when having our artificial turf laid 4 years ago. roughly measuring 40' x 35', it took around 5-6 days to do with good quality realistically coloured turf and cost around £4.2k all in (we are in the SE).

it looks as good as the day it was laid and is fantastic. means the garden can be used by kids and dog all year round without trailing a load of mud in the house every time they go outside to play in wet weather. i realise it's not the most ecological solution but we do have a lot of bushes and plantings also to ease our conscience!!

One of the common arguments against artificial turf is that it can get very hot in summer.  Have you every had any problems like that?