Our backyard has been a work in progress over the years. We recently had blue star creeper planted in between the stones in our backyard. During the winter months, the plants would freeze and die. In the summer, the plants would burn up and die. Bottom line? I was going to the nursery and being robbed in daylight by the cashier (not literally by the cashier but by the high prices for those plants!), to replace my plants all too often.
Last spring, I decided to install synthetic grass as an alternative to buying new plants and watering all summer. This gardening project was done while my husband was away on a business trip. Coincidence? I don’t think so! I’m using the term “gardening” loosely here because I’m not sure “sowing” fake grass actually counts as gardening! Well, it did involve tools so it was a project.
Synthetic Grass Installation: DIY Project
First, I removed the dirt and weeds that were growing between these stones.
After having the pieces cut (at the fake grass store) to my dimensions, I tamped in ground stones, which I had hosed down to moisten and make a solid bed. Notice I used the tamper with a 4″x4″ piece of wood so I didn’t ruin my 2’ x 2’ stones?
It really looks pretty good and is quite sustainable…although I did have to drive all the way out to the suburbs to buy it! This project cost $42 and it only took a couple of hours, not including my driving time.
According to the literature, this synthetic grass is made from renewable and recycled components. Very environmentally friendly – no watering or weeds! Fake grass does seem to go against my all natural, no preservative, and all organic ways and yet there it is – in my yard.
Someday, my husband will like the fake grass. He certainly didn’t miss watering the plants between his stones all summer or having to purchase new plants! I have caught him wiping his shoes (chickens poop everywhere!) on the fake grass from time to time. In addition to looking good, it does make a good shoe wiper. Sometimes fake is better.
Synthetic Grass Resource: Synthetic Grass is here
Do like DIY projects? Ever used fake grass before? Fake anything?
Go Gingham related links:
Finding Inspiration for a Bathroom Re-Do
All the sources we used for our bathroom re-do project are here.
Bathroom Project Part 1
Bathroom Project Part 2
Bathroom Project Part 3
Bathroom Project Part 4
Bathroom Project Part 5
Laundry chute evolution and how it came to be
Our fun adventure to find a claw foot for the bathtub – we traded!
DIY project redoing the missing claw foot
Bathtub in old bathrooms – shower curtain holder
How to keep a house project sustainable – for the wallet and environment
Go Gingham 
I like your way of thinking. Around here, the best projects begin and end when my wife is out of the house. These days, my 14-year-old daughter is a willing co-conspirator, especially if it involves hammering and sawing.
I think one of the major “life lessons” I’ve passed on to her in the course of doing our side projects is “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” Maybe it’s not the best thing to be teaching her, but I rationalize it away, as most us do with many dilemmas, by figuring that at least we’re doing something positive for someone or for the family.
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Thanks for the compliment. I like that you and your daughter work on projects together. Thanks for commenting.
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Oh, Jeff is WAY in on this project. May need a consult later on.
EFB
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Thanks for the comment, Erin. The other thing with the “fake grass” is that it is green year round and not muddy. Or sponge-y like the rest of our grass is right now!
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This is so weirdly awesome.
We used to have astro-turf covering the front porch, and it was an interesting look. I always wanted to wrap a gift in the extra pieces the previous owner had left us.
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Bridget, you are too funny! This is not astro-turf. They also have different “types” of grass to choose from. Mine was from the remnants bin – of course!! Thanks for commenting.
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