Lawn dramas
Q My home is a new build, and the quality of the soil is such that the grass won’t grow. We can’t decide between artificial grass or paving. We have two dogs, so perhaps artificial grass a bad choice, but we’d still like some greenery as well as paving. What can you suggest? A I’ve worked on a number of properties like yours, and the builders give very little care to preparing the ground. Artificial grass is fine for pets, actually, and there are products to neutralise the chemicals in their waste. Or you could ask a landscaper to rotavate the ground, remove major clumps of rubble and incorporate topsoil to improve drainage and fertility. Then you can go for lawn and planting. Best of luck!