Do you want your garden to look gorgeous but don't know where to start?
Well, there's one common Facebook mom trend you should avoid at all costs, at least according to gardening pro Pollyanna Wilkinson.
According to professional landscapers, artificial grass is a big no-no. Photo: Getty In small spaces, more plants are better. Photo: Getty Monty Don has criticised the artificial grass trend in the past. Photo: Getty
The landscaping pro recently criticized people who have artificial grass in their yards on the podcast “The Ins & Outs.”
“I hate it, it’s essentially like putting a plastic carpet in your garden.
“It's terrible for the wildlife, it's terrible for the soil. It's clearly not giving anything back to the environment,” she said.
That being said, Pollyanna says there are some exceptions where it's almost forgivable to give in to the plastic side, such as if you have a very small space where real grass won't “grow.”
But even in that case, pros say there are other options you should consider first.
For example, opting for more plants is a much better choice and will not only make the space look better, but it will also help wildlife.
And regardless of what you think, pros explained that it's a bad choice if you have pets.
That's because you're essentially putting your carpet outside, making it nearly impossible to keep clean.
Many parents are keen to have an artificial grass space for their young children to play, but gardening pros say they should look at other options first.
Artificial grass also comes with a number of additional drawbacks, especially if you decide to sell your home in the near future.
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Mark von Grundherr, director of estate agents Benham & Reeves, said plastic lawns could reduce house prices by up to £14,000.
He previously told Fabulous magazine that many people are misinformed about how desirable artificial turf is.
“I've seen a lot of cases where artificial turf has not been properly maintained and is overgrown with weeds, and frankly it looks awful,” he said.
“Installing artificial turf costs around £150 per square metre, so don't be surprised if potential buyers factor this into the purchase price of your home.”
“Depending on the size of your yard space, this could cost a significant amount of money.”
Even gardening guru Monty Don is against artificial turf, telling The Times: “Artificial turf is insane, for lack of a better word.”
“If I were king I would ban plastic lawns. They are the opposite of gardening and cut us off from the natural world.”
Gardeners also encouraged homeowners to allow natural grass to grow long in certain areas for the benefit of wildlife.
And if you're aiming for a Love Island-esque perfect lawn, you might need to plug in the lawnmower.
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Seasonal lawn care schedule
Lawn care varies with the season, with some tasks promoting growth and root development and others maintaining soil quality.
Claire Baglin, landscaping manager at Toolstation, shares seasonal lawn care tasks and tips.
Spring (March, April, May)
In March, as soil and temperatures are usually above 6°C, start mowing the lawn once every two weeks. In March, give your lawn its first fertiliser using a fast-acting fertiliser rich in nitrogen to encourage new growth. In April, give your lawn its first mow to remove any moss or dead grass that has built up over the winter. In April, puncture the soil surface to aerate the lawn, which loosens the soil and encourages growth. In April, you can also overseed to repair thin or bare areas of your lawn.
Summer (June, July, August)
Starting in June, start mowing the lawn once a week, except during periods of extreme heat or drought. Increase the mowing height to protect the grass from drought. In June, be sure to remove any weeds in your lawn. Remove each weed by hand, or use an herbicide for larger weeds. In July and August, water the lawn thoroughly for 5 to 10 minutes at least once a week.
Autumn (September, October, November)
From September, mowing frequency should be reduced to once every two weeks, with the final mowing of the year being done in November. In October, fertilise a second time with a slow-release fertiliser rich in phosphorus and potassium to strengthen the lawn. From October through November, remove fallen leaves and other debris from the surface of the lawn.
Winter (December, January, February)
Leave your lawn alone from December through to the end of February. Grass doesn't usually grow during the cold winter months. Winter is the perfect time to perform maintenance on your lawn mower, such as checking the blades and filters.
