The lawn is the centerpiece of a garden, the canvas against which the rest of the garden is painted. For many gardeners, this makes it worth all the mowing, feeding, and grooming that a good lawn demands.

If your lawn has to serve as a play area as well, be realistic and sow tough grasses, and settle for a hard-wearing lawn rather than a showpiece. It can still look green and lush- the important consideration from a design viewpoint