Small gardens and courtyards
Artificial grass for small gardens and courtyards in Kettering
A walled garden behind a terrace, a corner of a new-build plot, a strip beside the house. Small spaces can be the trickiest to keep green, and the most rewarding to get right.
Terrace gardens
Why small gardens struggle with real grass
Much of Victorian Kettering was laid out on grid plans as streets of brick terraces. Gardens behind homes like these are often compact, where high walls, outbuildings and neighbouring extensions can cast shade for much of the day, and the same small patch of lawn gets walked on every time someone goes to the bins or the shed.
Real turf in that position tends to thin out, go mossy and stay damp. An artificial lawn will not need sun to stay green, and it gives a clean surface for a table, a few pots and a child’s play.
Source for the Victorian estates: Kettering Conservation Area Appraisal, March 2007.
Access: when everything goes through the house
Many terraced homes have no side gate, so every bag of old turf and soil goes out through the hall, and every bag of stone and the roll of grass comes in the same way. That takes time and care, and it is the main reason small gardens can cost more per square metre than larger ones.
- Ask how the installer protects floors and doorways along the route.
- Check whether a rear alley or shared passage could be used instead, and whether you need a neighbour’s agreement.
- Ask how the grass roll will be carried in if it cannot bend round tight corners, and whether it can be cut to size outside first.
- Agree where the waste bags or skip will wait, and for how long.
Laying over paving or concrete
Some small gardens are already paved or concreted. Where the surface is sound, level and sheds water, artificial grass can often go straight on top with a foam underlay beneath for comfort. Where the slabs rock, crack or hold puddles, they may need lifting or repairing first. The water still has to go somewhere: ask whether it will run off the edge, into a drain or into the ground.
Getting the details right in a small space
In a small garden every edge is close to where you sit, so the finish shows more than it would on a big lawn.
- Edges against walls: grass is usually tucked tight to brickwork and fixed down, with a neat line along the foot of the wall.
- Round planters and steps: careful trimming and a firm edge stop curls and fraying at corners.
- One piece if possible: a lawn narrower than the roll width can often be laid without a join.
- Direction of the pile: the blades lean one way. Laying them to face the house usually looks best from indoors.
- Drainage at the low point: with walls all round, check where water will go in a downpour.
- Shade and leaves: damp corners can grow moss or algae on any surface. A regular brush and leaf clear keep the grass fresh.
Pick a grass with care too. Up close, a natural mix of shades and a little thatch look far more convincing than a single bright green. The choosing guide covers what to look for.
Other small spaces
Side strips, front gardens and new-build corners
Plenty of newer homes around Barton Seagrave and towards Wicksteed Park have compact gardens with awkward side strips and corners that turf never fills. A small artificial area can tidy those up without much digging. Front gardens need more thought: if yours is in a conservation area, or rainwater would no longer soak away, check with North Northamptonshire Council first.
Small garden questions
Is it worth doing a very small area?
It can be, if the space is otherwise unusable. Expect a higher price per square metre, since set-up time and materials do not shrink in proportion.
Can artificial grass go on a balcony or roof terrace?
Some grasses are made for it, laid loose or on an underlay. Check the structure, the drainage and any lease or building rules first.
Will it look fake in a small garden?
Choice of grass matters most. View samples close up in your own light before you decide.
Have a small space in mind?
Add a photo of the area and mention access when you request a quote.