There was nothing for it: the balcony had to change radically. This came to me as I was staring out of my french windows at the miserable scene in front of me. I might have planted all sorts of stylish plants out there, but the balcony itself looked awful.
The problem with the balcony is that it gets so mucky so easily. The metal base is so tricky to keep clean, and even when I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed for hours, the shiny metalwork still doesn’t look quite right. It made the rest of the balcony look rather messy and down at heel, even when I had cleared up the pots scattered across the photo above.
So I decided to take drastic action. I considered fixing decking over the base, or simply painting it black. But then I had a rather funny thought.
What if I turfed the balcony?
This funny thought was inspired mostly by the fake grass installed in the stylish West Village Garden that we featured a few weeks ago. Up until then I had taken a rather dim view of artificial turf. It seemed rather unnecessary. But that garden looked so very lovely, and the turf was a very clever solution for a site that simply could not accommodate real living grass.
Though real grass would never be welcome on my balcony for a number of reasons, I decided I still wanted a lovely lawn to call my own. So I ordered a length of Wonder Yarn from Lazy Lawn.
I can’t quite believe how cool this fake grass looks. It neatens up the whole balcony. It’s also quite funny. I have grass on my balcony!
When you look at it close-up, you can tell straight away that this is fake grass, but it’s still put together in a very impressive way, and from a distance it looks fabulous. The green grassy spikes are woven together with another yarn which looks like dying grass, which makes the overall effect a bit more realistic. It is also really lovely to walk on barefoot.
I realise that some people are a little snotty-nosed about fake turf. I cannot imagine ever wanting to exchange a real lawn for artificial grass where grass would grow effectively. This set-up on my balcony might not be something that everyone approves of, but it suits me down to the ground, and looks marvellous in a situation where I would never be able to have real grass. Plus I’m getting odd looks from my neighbours whenever I ‘mow’ it with a vacuum cleaner, which is always a bonus.
I got my Lazy Lawn turf from Evergreens UK.
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Andrew O'Brien
This looks absolutely FABULOUS, I love it! Thought I might too turn up my nose at the plastic grass, but you’re so right, just because you don’t have the conditions for real turf, why should you be denied an elegant sward?! It’s an all weather carpet, and it performs the same visual function as a more traditional lawn bringing everything together. and no mowing! Great stuff. Now, where can I stick some…?
Malc Mollart
What a difference!!
Lynda
This is beautiful. What a transformation, and anyone sticking their nose up better watch out that they don’t trip and fall on it (their nose that is).
~ Lynda
Lisa
This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about for my balcony here in the drizzly Hatfield! Been trying to find a source for the artificial lawn that’s affordable and worthwhile.
Another idea was a little but more out there and actually lay a real lawn but don’t think it would work out too well in a rented apartment.
F&F
Hi Lisa, the trouble with a real lawn would be that turf and the soil needed to sustain it is very heavy and could be an issue for the bearing weight that your balcony can take. Plus it would be tricky to keep alive! I hope you do enjoy an artificial lawn on your balcony: every morning I look out at mine and feel really chuffed!
mel
Wow! This looks stunning, and so inventive. If I may, I think I might borrow this idea to suggest to friends who ask me to assist witht heir balconies, although I’ll be sure to give you full credit, of course!
Caro (urban veg patch)
I recycled a discarded piece of the “grass” covering that’s used on market barrows as a base for an art installation I did with the kids at the local City Farm. There was a piece left over and I have frequently wondered about “grassing” my tiny balcony because the concrete is so ugly (and never cleans up properly). I wasn’t sure how I’d clean the “grass”, especially as I get a lot of leaves and city dust but you’ve provided the answer to that! Now, how do you anchor yours? I’m assuming that it’s held in place by the pots and boxes?
Asparagus
Your balcony looks fantastic! I’ve always been a never-say-never girl, and I think my outdoor shoebox is about to undergo the same transformation as yours. Quick question. Did you just lay the “grass” straight down? Glue? And how has it held up over time? Oh, you make my mind race with ideas. Thank you!
Katie
I love this idea! What did you do to keep the grass on the metal? Is it easy to install and did it ruin the flooring underneath? I would love to know the materials you used for installation.
Thanks!
F&F
hi katie
because the grass matt is quite stiff at the base, and because it fits around the railings, once it’s down, it doesn’t move. I don’t know how you’d install it on an open space like a lawn, though.
Alison
That is superb – love it