Fake grass for easy access?

So I'm getting my septic tank pumped next week. We have some extra money that was budgeted for furnace repairs we didn't need, and I don't know the last time it was done, so getting it done before winter.

Now I have to dig up to get to the covers on it, and from what I understand, a house of 4 people I should I expect to need my tank pumped every 2-3 years.

That's a lot of pointless digging and replanting if you ask me.

I don't know how deep it is, which could change some answers, but is there something easy and artificial that wouldn't look like total crap I could put over the tank instead of planting new grass just to dig it up again later?

The tank is in the front yard just off the sidewalk, so kind of on display. From the new grass that doesn't match the rest of the yard, I'm going to say 3x4 feet to cover. 

Something like this? https://www.instructables.com/id/A-grass-septic-tank-coverCOVER/

My parents put a deck over theirs, with a trap door in the deck to access it. I've also seen fake rocks and other landscaping done around them that looks nice. Here are some from a google search:

I did total 2700 sq feet fake  grass in my house few months ago. Did it all myself. There are LOTS of types of grass out there - will make your head spin 
 

I did some on soil and  some on concrete 

here are the before and after pics. 

here is my thread on it 

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/backyard-build-deckconcretepool/163253/page1/

been very very happy with it. 
 

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

I would love to do the whole yard. I've been told I'm not allowed "because it doesn't feel the same on bare feet" by someone who never goes in the yard with her bare feet. 

But honey, for $2500 I can put down an old football field over the entire property and never need to mow again.

Maybe I'll do a wishing well or fake dog house, I don't know why I didn't think of an object instead of just grass seed or sod. 

RevRico said:

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

I would love to do the whole yard. I've been told I'm not allowed "because it doesn't feel the same on bare feet" by someone who never goes in the yard with her bare feet. 

But honey, for $2500 I can put down an old football field over the entire property and never need to mow again.

Maybe I'll do a wishing well or fake dog house, I don't know why I didn't think of an object instead of just grass seed or sod. 

We are very picky. I went to 7 stores and 3 wholesalers before deciding. We brought samples home and walked on them for weeks. 
 

face weight of grass is critical. Thickness/weight determines how real and fake it is, not to mention $$ 

there are grass that feels literally exactly what real grass feels like. I live in a fake plastic state, but my other properties have real grass so I can compare :) 

I won't bore you by writing a grass dissertation, wasted plenty of life writing those 

I have been very happy with the results on this house. 
 

good luck with your choice my friend! 

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

That's awesome. Do you just leaf blow it to clean up fallen stuff? Also, does it get hot in the sun?

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

That's awesome. Do you just leaf blow it to clean up fallen stuff? Also, does it get hot in the sun?

Yes I leaf blow the back (due to oak tree there). It is over $100,000 fine to remove oak tree. 

It gets hot like regular grass normally. At times, does it get hotter than regular grass? Yes. Unberable? Never. 

People often say "you will burn your feet on synthetics," we haven't found that to be the case living in So Cal. It is a common misconception.

We have had some sort of fake grass for the last 15 years, in different applications/properties. Our kids, and us, always are barefeet on the grass, and even in the heat or So Cal summers, it does get hot, but perfectly tolerable. No burnt feet here. 

During the pandemic, our kids spent 30 min -2 hours a day laying on the grass (no towel or mat), and reading books, and we have had a hotter than usual summer this year.

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

that's great!

There is a playground we've been to more than a few times (it's at the same facility as a pool), and it has fake grass that gets so hot I can't stand to walk on it most summer days. Much less stand on. So that's great to hear it's not all fake grass with the hot issue. 

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

that's great!

There is a playground we've been to more than a few times (it's at the same facility as a pool), and it has fake grass that gets so hot I can't stand to walk on it most summer days. Much less stand on. So that's great to hear it's not all fake grass with the hot issue. 

I think the "amount for grass," (height) and density makes a huge difference in heat.
 

we do have some fake grass in parks that are so dirt cheap and feel like quarter inch above concrete that's hotter than the concrete it seems 

When we went to check out- there were grass you couldn't put your feet on (burning), versus others next to it which were over 20F degrees cooler 

Add a riser, so you don't have to dig so deep next time.

Google fake rock covers, that's the easy button

Hire a better septic company? We had our tank pumped a couple years ago. They stuck a metal rod in the ground to find the corners, cut out a square of grass ~12" larger than the access hatch, dug down, did their job, refilled the hole, put the grass back in place. You could tell the grass had been cut out for a few weeks to a month. After that, the grass had grown back in and you couldn't tell where it was.

Fake grass is a gateway drug. Next thing you know, you're deep into fake rocks and rubber woodchips. 

How does this fake grass do with dog E36 M3? 

I'm thinking about it for a small area that we currently have a garden. Bad spot for a garden. I think I'm gonna put a garden railway in the space.

tomtomgt356 (FS) said:

Hire a better septic company? We had our tank pumped a couple years ago. They stuck a metal rod in the ground to find the corners, cut out a square of grass ~12" larger than the access hatch, dug down, did their job, refilled the hole, put the grass back in place. You could tell the grass had been cut out for a few weeks to a month. After that, the grass had grown back in and you couldn't tell where it was.

This. 

And 2 to 3 years seems excessive.  I get mine done every five and it's plenty, unless your tank is very small relative to the number of bedrooms.

And you people with your fake grass.  It's just sad.

1988RedT2 said:

 

And you people with your fake grass.  It's just sad.

Why?

Appleseed said:

Fake grass is a gateway drug. Next thing you know, you're deep into fake rocks and rubber woodchips. 

E36 M3 man, I looked into artificial hedges when we moved in. I like the look and pseudo privacy hedges offer versus a fence, but I already hate the maintenance on them in less than a full season.

$235 plus shipping for a 3 foot tall, 2 wide, 1 long piece was the best I could find. I've got ~150 feet of hedges between the neighbor and along the road. Definite no go. 

For those curious, 44"x160 foot former football field, $295, warehouses in Chicago through repurposed materials website. 

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

How does this fake grass do with dog E36 M3? 

 

I'm thinking about it for a small area that we currently have a garden. Bad spot for a garden. I think I'm gonna put a garden railway in the space.

It is actually very easy to clean and maintain, with pets especially. Also all of mine have holes on bottom , so things drain away and doesn't stand still. 

Infill is the key. I went with the silica granules instead of the sand. They are mostly used in playgrounds and very high traffic areas. The granules also cool the grass down significantly. 

In reply to RevRico :

Dood, got a link to that repurpose outfit?

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

1988RedT2 said:

 

And you people with your fake grass.  It's just sad.

Why?

It's not "green."  Manufacture, elimination of natural habitat, disposal.  One day we'll have huge dumps full of the stuff and they'll catch fire...

Hate to break it to you, but the elimination of the natural habitat is not fixed by putting Kentucky Bluegrass or Zoysia down and wasting potable water to keep it green, and burning gas to keep it short. 

If you're advocating for a garden, or natural fescue (and the wildlife that comes with it), then sure. If you're complaining about acres of land, sure. But a small postage stamp lot with a pool in SoCal? Or a 4x4 patch for a septic cover? C'mon. 

mr2s2000elise 

Yes I leaf blow the back (due to oak tree there). It is over $100,000 fine to remove oak tree. 

Explain please!

rustybugkiller said:

mr2s2000elise 

Yes I leaf blow the back (due to oak tree there). It is over $100,000 fine to remove oak tree. 

 

 

Explain please!

?

Appleseed said:

In reply to RevRico :

Dood, got a link to that repurpose outfit?

Here you go

That site is dangerous. They don't have the best prices on everything, but they showed me E36 M3 I had no idea I could buy

In reply to mtn (Forum Supporter) :

I'm well acquainted with the benefits of xeriscaping, native species, and all that.  Hey, to each his own.  To me, putting down a rug instead of planting something just seems cynical.  It feels wrong.  And after all, isn't it all about the way we feel?