Proud to support the SGD “Say no” to plastic grass and plants campaign

Updated from March 2023

Today I am proud to support the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) campaign to “say no” to plastic grass and plants. The loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis we are facing is real and troublesome. Plastic grass and plants are only exacerbating this trend as they reduce habitat and cause unnecessary emissions to produce and maintain.

To often people are sold these materials without being informed of the wider environmental consequences of their decisions. Plastic grass is troublesome as it:

• smothers our soil, by requiring a stable base they are like laying a patio down

• excacerbates storm flooding and drainage issues (by being less able to absorb water)

• is not currently recyclable meaning by buying it you are filling a future landfill

• lasts only a few years before needing to be renewed.

A key reason many people choose them is because they are seen as a ‘no maintenance’ solution. In fact, as the SGD factsheet will show you, they can by higher maintenance than many natural solutions and actually require regular cleaning - often with chemicals. This is due to a build up of unavoidable excrement and urine from wildlife; as well as organic detritus such as self-seeding grasses, weeds and moss.

Plastic grass and plants are therefore short term rather than sustainable solutions. To me they are the garden design equivalent to single use plastic packaging - but are worse as they are cleaned with chemicals.

This is why I am delighted the SGD are running this campaign and I am publicly pledging to not specify these materials in any of my designs. For more information about the campaign, and for alternatives to these products see this factsheet provided by the SGD and page on the SGD website.