GARDEN

Im having a house built at the moment about 30 mins from Bandung and was wondering about the best way so surface a garden - after leveling - not sure wahts best - can u buy turf locally and does it work - new to Tahiland so not sure about the best way - so turf - gravel -plants in pots what u think

If your going to turf,i would recommend the Maylasian grass,it is thicker than the usual grass and has done very well for me. I got mine just across the junction from Tesco old store ie go towards Global do a U Turn and the nuserie is on your left.

Thanks for the info -- just kicking ideas around at moment - my wife thinks its going to be too expensive nwith grass that needs a lot of water - hence the stone but I dont like that idea much

Thais seem to prefer stone/gravel because they believe that snakes will not cross the gravel....At my insistence, we have grass and it is great..got the sod from the nursery mentioned in an earlier posting....Oh yes, I keep it mowed and have not seen a snake in the grass in almost 2 years...

Stoneman

I bought turf from the same place near Tesco. Cost is 20 baht per sq meter and I believe that for another 20 baht they will lay it for you. I did mine myself so not sure on that. There was a period when the price to buy was 18 baht per sq meter, but that may be a seasonal thing. There are actually two stores selling turf, the one mentioned and one around the corner on the way to town. Both are owned by the same people.

I did use a lot of water in the hot season but the cost didn't seem to be THAT much, maybe 500 baht per month. Depending on the size of the area involved, Global House have a lot of underground sprinkler rquipment that doesn't seem to cost that much and may save some work. The time involved in watering was more of a pain then the cost of water.

Not sure on the snake thing, my house had a gravel/stone border at the bottom of one patio door, but a snake still came inside through that door and appeared in front of my computer screen one day. But only once and maybe a wider stone border would work.

One thing about gravel, weeds grow up through and so to keep it pristine, weeding is involved. With grass, everything just gets mowed!!

For and against I guess.

500 baht a month!!!!!
I pay 40 baht a month in wet season and 150 baht a month in dry,that includes changing the water in the fish pond,but i suppose it depends how big your lawn is.

Thanks for the advise guys - never thought about the snake element lol - to be honest I hate the things

and the snakes are green, they like grass and trees

Ants hate the grass.

I'll take my chances with the odd serpent so long as the crawling insects stay away.

Where do they sell grassy rocks?

Just wonder if anyone knows people (company or private) who do garden maintenance? I'm looking for someone to come one day a week for 500 baht to (dependent on season) cut grass, strim, weed garden beds, spray etc. No real creative input needed as that's the bit I like to do myself. I have all the equipment required. Any day of the week is fine or two half days also OK. I'm in the Chieng Pin area. Reliability and trustworthyness are the key ingredients as I'm not here all the time. My wifes family watch over the house for me, but aren't inclined to do much work.