Okay, so I finally caved and bought this artificial grass for my tiny balcony-turned-dog-zone. Here's the real tea ☕️

First off - the softness surprised me! My golden retriever immediately started doing zoomies on it like it was real grass. The 0.4" height gives decent cushion without being too spongy.

The drainage holes are lifesavers. Accidentally spilled an entire water bowl (oops) and it dried crazy fast even in 40°F weather. No soggy mess!

BUT - pro tip: Weed barrier is a must. I learned this after week two when some determined dandelions tried poking through. Fixed it with landscape fabric underneath.

Aesthetic-wise? From 5 feet away it looks shockingly real. Up close you can tell it's synthetic, but way better than that awful neon-green astroturf at my aunt's trailer.

Pet parents rejoice - poop cleanup is stupid easy. Just hose it down and no lingering smells (tested after my dog ate an entire rotisserie chicken...long story).

The only con? The edges fray a bit if you cut it. I fixed mine with outdoor glue and now it's holding up fine through rainstorms.

Final verdict? 8/10 - would absolutely buy again for small spaces, but might splurge on premium turf for larger areas.