Synthetic turf.

[Dogwatcher]

We're looking at redoing our garden as ours is currently dying due to the drought and strict watering conditions.

As I'd still like to have some sort of grass for a play area (for me as well as our child) we're considering synthetic turf. It seems to be taking off as a garden idea.

Anyone laid any in their garden? How durable is it? Any tips on what not to do, buy? How much does it cost per metre?

[Dutchy]

there is a couple of new homes around our area that have laid it, looks real good but I believe it can cost up to $80- a square...

[Dogwatcher]

ouch

[Sheik Yerbouti]

If you can get the price down to $80 a m2 your doing pretty well. Thats the commercial price, you can pay up to $120. You also have to have the right people install it, using the proper amount of glue, fastener & rubber/kiln dried sand for the leaf erectness (is that a word?).
At Hicks recently 250 people rocked up for an invatation night, most wanted to start a business & a lot were unlicensed & quite clueless.

I'm a bit wary of the synthetic gear, even though it's improved 100% on the old stuff it still gets hot, is abrasive for falls, does not cool the area down one iota & no one knows as of yet how long it'll last. It is when all's said & done a plastic carpet laid on a sand/quarry rubble bedding.

What are you water restrictions up there.
In town the restrictions have been softened on new (runner type) lawns. 25 days to water in, every day for 10 Min's per station 1st week, every 2nd day 2nd week, & twice in the 3rd (from memory)

If you can excavate to 75mm the area your laying your lawn, treat the sub grade with gypsum & organic matter & then add 3'' of 90/10 (free draining sand/loam) & lightly fertilize with a organic or dynamic lifter with water retaining crystals a Kikuyu lawn will establish easily. The secret to a healthy turf is however maintenance. Keep it cut high in summer, fertilize on a regular basis & if it's in heavy use core & scarify every two years & top dress with a washed sand. If you can get this achieved by say early March, Bobs your Auntys live in lover.
The Cooches need a bit more love & attention & the new Buffalo will also grow quite happily but needs a longer establishment period.

A Kikuyu lawn will survive harsh summers with little water & stay green all year, you just have to get the installing & maintenance down pat.

To be honest we make a fair quid from the synthetic turf, but up close it still has a manufactured look & you just don't get the satisfaction compared to a well prepared living lawn at first cut.

[Dogwatcher]

Thanks Sheik. That's some real good info. I'll take all of that into account. One of the main things with lawn is being organised to look after it properly - i'm not sure if I'm that organised. Hence looking at fake lawn.

Up here, while the water restrictions are the same as everywhere else, many feel a responsibility to be extra efficient with their watering out of respect to local irrigators who are struggling.
I'm not sure how much of a concession I wish to make - but your info very much helps.
Whatever happens, we will be cutting back our grassed area significantly.

We're looking at grape marc and another type of soft fall for the areas we have to look after, which is quite large, while retaining some grass.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Whatever soft fall you go with, this sounds naff, but walk on a sample barefoot before purchasing. I put redgum chips in a childcare centre as per the architects spec but it was hell to walk on barefoot as sharp bits & pieces stuck in the skin.
There is actual softfall mulch (dont have to go with the registered stuff) that's pretty cheap, around $35 a cube before delivery. Work it out at about 1 cubic m per 15m2.

[Strawb]

I never smokes astro turf before so i dunno?

[TroyGFC]

My g/friends parents just paid $35k to do their tennis courts as grass was dying off. Looks good.
I am thinking about doing a small section of my yard were the Kikuyi hasn't taken over but unless price is way cheaper than that I might just pull grass out completely and put bark down and some native shrubs. I don't need much lawn anyway as live next door to a school oval where we can kick the footy around.