Artificial Turf for a Small and Shady Lawn

Q: Should I install artificial grass in my backyard? I’m 76 years old and I don’t have a green thumb. My yard is small, measuring about 16 feet square. 

A: Artificial turf is sometimes the best option if your backyard is very small and shady. The only plant I recommend for shady lawns is mondo grass, but you’d have to find it, transplant it and wait three years for it to spread. That would be too big a job for you, so let’s consider artificial turf. You will need to perform some maintenance on it. Leaves will have to be removed regularly because if any of them decay, they will make an organic layer in which weed seeds can sprout. If some weeds do grow, you will need to pull them out immediately. If the roots penetrate the turf and spread beneath it, you will have a heck of a time pulling them out. Of course, before the turf is installed, correct any drainage problems that could result in water standing on the turf after rain.