Does anyone have a fake lawn - Astroturf??

[4_Legs_Good]

Hey,

I went to some "green trade show" a few months ago. Just checking up on the latest in solar and tankless water heaters. I walked by a display for fake lawns and just kinda laughed at how rediculous the idea was.

But now I'm thinking seriously about it, and feel silly for laughing at the idea. I mean if it feels reasonably cool, doesn't destroy the environment, saves tons of water and is fun to play on for my kids, well, then why not install it in the back yard? I wish I had walked on it and priced it.

I live in California, and water is going to get more expensive.

Anyone have any experience with this in a residential setting?

David

[KitchenWitch]

1. Our next door neighbors have it

It looks totally fake next to everyone else's real grass.

Eventually, we plan to Xeriscape our yard. Oodles of cacti, succulents, and native desert plants to replace the grass.

[4_Legs_Good]

2. Xeriscape?

Never heard the term, but I think I know what you're talking about. I'd love to do that in the front, but HOA rules, you know.

But if it's fake looking in the back yard, it wouldn't be so bad, I think. Maybe??

David

[KitchenWitch]

3. In the back yard I think it would not be too bad.

Something to keep in mind is that your kids could get "rug burn" from the astroturf, because it is not as soft as real grass.

On edit - here is the Wiki entry for Xeriscaping. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping

[KitchenWitch]

4. HOAs have their good points and bad...

Thankfully, we are in one of the older neighborhoods in Irvine, so we are not in an HOA. But we also do not have access to some of the amenities available to the HOAs here, such as swimming pools and the like.