Man completely transforms garden by removing one ‘controversial’ item

A man has been praised for doing “God’s work” after completing an extensive garden makeover – with the removal of one derisive item responsible for the major change.

Sprucing up the garden can make a world of difference – access to outdoor space is great for improving our mental health and outlook, and having a quiet and private spot to get some much-needed fresh air is an equal contributor to this.

With the notoriously unpredictable weather in the UK, making the most out of the garden in warmer, drier months is a major goal for many people. In a bid for guidance and advice on how to best tackle certain gardening issues, lots turn to social media.

Garden gurus and novices alike are all too keen to share their experiences on popular platforms like TikTok and Reddit, with one man’s “excellent” garden transformation going down a storm.

On the popular Gardening UK forum on Reddit, the beginner shared a string of images of his garden while it was laid with a very contentious item – astroturf.

This artificial grass is typically used in sports fields and similar settings where a grass-like appearance is desired, minus the upkeep of natural grass lawns.

It’s a controversial option for gardens, with some people besotted with the ease and consistency it brings while others think it looks tacky and ruins the natural beauty of a garden.

The beginner delighted fellow gardening fans by removing the artificial grass in his garden and sought further advice on what to do next in his renovation project.

Alongside images showcasing the astroturf as well as the state of the garden after he successfully removed it, he penned: “Never gardened before in my life. My question is, now that I’ve dug it all over, rotovated, dug out 8 flagstones, 4 fence posts, and added 900 litres of composted manure, do I need to add much topsoil?

“Turfing the middle section, and while the soil looks dry and crusty as it hasn’t rained, it is not too bad beneath the surface. I’ve bought some, but no idea if I need more etc. Thanks in advance.”

People were keen to share their thoughts and advice but mostly, they heaped praise on the banishment of the astroturf. One person said: “F*** astroturf. Well done OP [original poster].”

Another said: “I’m a simple man – I see astroturf removal, I upvote. Nice work, looks like a big job!”

To which the original poster replied: “Oh thank you. There’s been a lot of digging for sure, but it’s been very satisfying.”

Someone else commented: “Lovely to see. It will make an amazing difference to wildlife presence in the garden”.

Another declared: “Doing God’s work imo [in my opinion].” While another added: “A lot of hard work, but my oh my, wasn’t it worth it. Excellent job, that is going to look great later.”