If I were to pave my back yard . . .

[Bateluer]

Then install some kind of all-weather, out door 'carpet', would 'yardwork' then be accomplished using a shop vac?

Also, what do the ATOT Experts reckon such an endeavor would cost, for a typical modern suburban back yard?

 

[WelshBloke]

:sneaky: You could have an out door carpet (a lawn) and use a special type of outdoor garden vac (a lawnmower) now for cheaper and better looking results.

 

[Bateluer]

:sneaky: You could have an out door carpet (a lawn) and use a special type of outdoor garden vac (a lawnmower) now for cheaper and better looking results.

At the cost of weeds, regular herbicide, allergies, yard trimmings, gasoline, and the cost of a lawn mower . . .

 

[olds]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is a law limiting you to a certain % of coverage on your property.

 

[WelshBloke]

At the cost of weeds, regular herbicide, allergies, yard trimmings, gasoline, and the cost of a lawn mower . . .

Weeds are free mate . I dont bother about them or herbicide, the mower sorts all that out.

 

[manimal]

Throw some astroturf on it so the neighborhood kids slip on it they will tear MCL's and get concussions like the football players do!

 

[Leros]

According the Brady Bunch, you'll still have to mow it.

 

[MovingTarget]

Sounds like a bad idea. It will turn your 'yard' into a moldy-smelling wasteland.

If you don't feel like mowing grass is worth it, till up your backyard and plant something more useful - like fruit/veggies.

 

[etrigan420]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is a law limiting you to a certain % of coverage on your property.

This is how ours works. A certain percentage of the land must be permeable.

 

[Colt45]

gravel and tar paper is permeable, if you're too lazy to cut the grass.

 

[bobdole369]

The cost is the amount of debris to remove and dispose + the amount to pour a slab and pave it + labor.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Throw some astroturf on it so the neighborhood kids slip on it they will tear MCL's and get concussions like the football players do!

^We have a winner

 

[Raduque]

Pave that SOB and paint it green. Then, just hose it down to clean it!

 

[Capt Caveman]

Then install some kind of all-weather, out door 'carpet', would 'yardwork' then be accomplished using a shop vac?

Also, what do the ATOT Experts reckon such an endeavor would cost, for a typical modern suburban back yard?

If you do, I hope you don't plan on ever selling the house.

 

[Bateluer]

If you do, I hope you don't plan on ever selling the house.

Who wouldn't want a home with almost no yard work required?

 

[SparkyJJO]

At the cost of weeds, regular herbicide, allergies, yard trimmings, gasoline, and the cost of a lawn mower . . .

Chop the weeds with the mower, screw the herbicide, and allergies? Really? You're on ATOT, you NEVER go outside, right? :sneaky:

 

[paperfist]

Either buy a goat or this: http://nomowgrass.com/

 

[CPA]

Then install some kind of all-weather, out door 'carpet', would 'yardwork' then be accomplished using a shop vac?

Also, what do the ATOT Experts reckon such an endeavor would cost, for a typical modern suburban back yard?

You don't need to cement it, just skim off the top layer and lay out the fake grass.

 

[DrPizza]

What are you going to do with all the water after it rains? Having worked with a miniature golf course in the past, unless you have really good drainage, you're going to get mold and stuff in that carpet.

 

[DrPizza]

You don't need to cement it, just skim off the top layer and lay out the fake grass.

Brilliant! I'd put down a layer of sand first, along with a permeable membrane that also helps stop the weeds.


OP, don't forget a few holes for miniature golf, and some flags.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I don't know about that carpet thing, but I'm with you OP, fuck the grass. Just don't pave your yard over solid with cement. Looking at google maps, it seems the neighbors from where my parents live don't have grass in their backyard. Either gravel, what looks like woodchips, paved with cement and/or stone, or a mixture. One has a pool. I am sure you can come up with something practical and interesting, OP.

 

[DrPizza]

At my old house, I installed 2 ponds in the back yard, a stream running between them. Removed all the sod, covered the entire thing with newspaper (which degrades with time) to keep the weeds out. Then, put in a bunch of perennials (flowers that come up every year) and used a landscape bark around everything. Turned out awesome & the time spent to upkeep it was probably less than the time to mow weekly.