Astro Turf instead of grass? (maintenance, gardens, backyards)

[81bluewater]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Great subject and I definitely agree with you.

What really is the point of having a backyard that you can't use? Our front yard is gravel and desert plants because it is all for looks and really we wouldn't use it.

The backyard however has a decent sized lawn area (1500 sq ft) and the upkeep really isn't what everyone is making out to be. We did put a little bit of effort when we layed the sod by preparing the soil. Rototilled it 6" deep, added top soil, sulfur and gypsum, then rototilled again before using a sod roller to flatten everything. We water the grass for 45 minutes once per day at 3:00 AM and it looks fantastic. We did have a couple different weeds that sprouted up in the areas that received more water then others but $90 to a week control company and I havn't seen on ever since. The only maintenance it needs to mowing once per week.

A lot of people under-water their lawns and you see a lot of people give their lawns water for 10 minutes twice or three times a day, even during the hot hours of the day. The thing here in Arizona, you have to establish a deep root system and the way to do that is water for prolonged times but not as often...so the water seeps down deep and the roots along with it.

I personally love having a bakyard with grass. It looks great itself, makes the backyard look nice, and I love the look and smell of a fresh cut lawn.

As for the artificial turfs, I think they are horrible. For one, they heat up immensely from what I've read...something like 160 degrees during the day. Real lawns actually help keep things cool...maybe not a lot but if the area is big enough, you will notice a cool down. Also, the artificial lawns may look real, but they don't feel real.

Thanks for this reply. I was getting the feeling that NOBODY has a yard there. I just cant imagine not having any grass or plants. I am very conservative with water and will take the time to do it properly. I don't need my whole yard filled with grass. I want a small pool and will take advantage of all the beautiful desert plants. I think the front yard I will just do what you did. Thanks, you have helped ease my mind on this.

[intek]

There are tons of houses with actual grassy yards here. In fact, 3 out of the 4 places I've lived in while in Arizona have all had grass. I think a lot of people just go the rock route to avoid work as having grass requires a lot of upkeep. In my case, I've been renting and every property that had grass either had a sprinkler system or an irrigation system that flooded the yard every so often. I think you'd be surprised as to how many grassy lawns there actually are here... and not only that, but with some water upkeep, how well they can actually flourish.

[HX_Guy]

Here are a couple shots from today, July 28th. The dark clouds actually make the lawn look even better then normal, a very deep green. I love sitting on the chair in the backyard and just taking it all in, it's relaxing.

[aj661]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Great subject and I definitely agree with you.

What really is the point of having a backyard that you can't use? Our front yard is gravel and desert plants because it is all for looks and really we wouldn't use it.

The backyard however has a decent sized lawn area (1500 sq ft) and the upkeep really isn't what everyone is making out to be. We did put a little bit of effort when we layed the sod by preparing the soil. Rototilled it 6" deep, added top soil, sulfur and gypsum, then rototilled again before using a sod roller to flatten everything. We water the grass for 45 minutes once per day at 3:00 AM and it looks fantastic. We did have a couple different weeds that sprouted up in the areas that received more water then others but $90 to a week control company and I havn't seen on ever since. The only maintenance it needs to mowing once per week.

A lot of people under-water their lawns and you see a lot of people give their lawns water for 10 minutes twice or three times a day, even during the hot hours of the day. The thing here in Arizona, you have to establish a deep root system and the way to do that is water for prolonged times but not as often...so the water seeps down deep and the roots along with it.

I personally love having a bakyard with grass. It looks great itself, makes the backyard look nice, and I love the look and smell of a fresh cut lawn.

As for the artificial turfs, I think they are horrible. For one, they heat up immensely from what I've read...something like 160 degrees during the day. Real lawns actually help keep things cool...maybe not a lot but if the area is big enough, you will notice a cool down. Also, the artificial lawns may look real, but they don't feel real.

AMEN!

FRONT YARD:
Attachment 5792
BACK YARD:
Old photo, back wall now completely lined with roses and citrus trees gone...
The 'creature by the waterfall...don't ask; I simply do as I'm told

[topjimmy]

This is the desert. Grass does not belong.

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by topjimmy

This is the desert. Grass does not belong.

How do you feel about cotton fields?

[aj661]

Time for a history lesson:
OUT OF THE ASHES (http://phoenix.gov/CITYGOV/history.html#EARLY - broken link)

The earliest inhabitants of the valley were farmers. They built the first canals. We refer to these people as the Hohokam (named after the elementary school I attended at Granite Reef and Oak in Scottsdale). The earliest inhabitants of European descent were also farmers. When a guy named Jack Swilling rolled into town in 1867, he didn't see beige houses with red tile roofs and crushed granite yards stretching to the horizon. He saw bermuda grass covering the yards of my parents house and their neighbors in south Scottsdale and realized the sea of vacant lots to the south and east would make great farmland. These areas would become known as Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa.

*A few months later, Swilling was knocking back a few Newcastles with my Dad and brought up his idea of converting the vacant land into farms, but was unsure how to proceed. My dad told him that 1/4 mile east of us the Pimas had dug out an old Hohokam canal on the reservation and were irrigating their farms with water from the Salt River. Their farms were doing so well there was talk of building a casino with the money they made off the crops. Less than a year later in 1868, Jack started the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company, digging canals off the Salt River, installing sprinkler systems and selling irrigation equipment from his store in east Phoenix.

The Salt River hasn't always had dams upstream. It actually used to flow right through town. When it finally was dammed up, the Valley of the Sun was guaranteed a plentiful supply of water for generations. The lack of water isn't the problem. There's still an abundance of it. The problem is too many people, most of whom have arrived in the last 25 years. My vote goes to plowing under the houses and replanting the cotton.




*I was pretty young then but that's how I remember it.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by topjimmy

This is the desert. Grass does not belong.

Thank you, Topjimmy

However, with many . . . LOGIC IS NEVER PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.

[HX_Guy]

Well great...if we go along that line, people probably don't belong either right? I mean we can't survive in the desert without modern technology.

[sablebaby]

HxGuy- nice pics! Very clear and pretty! Btw, your cover looks awesome this month!!