how to install artificial grass

How to Install Artificial Grass: Simple Guide to Beautiful, Hassle-Free Lawns

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Artificial turf can transform your lawn and make it look stylish and beautiful. It can also withstand harsh weather conditions and maintain its green colour throughout the year. Plus, it looks just like natural grass.

While you can hire a team of professionals to install artificial turf in your backyard, you can save a lot of money when you do it on your own. Not to mention, it is an enjoyable DIY project. Plus, it is an interesting project that helps you improve your home improvement skills.

In this guide, we are going to show you how to install artificial grass.

Tools Required to Lay Artificial Grass

Here are the different tools that are required to lay artificial grass:

  • Adhesive – Adhesive is used to secure the seams of two rolls of artificial grass. It joins the edges of the two rolls. Joining the edges of two rolls prevents any unnecessary movement. You can apply it on the edge of the turf roll.
  • Turf cutter – A turf cutter makes it easier for you to reduce the size of the artificial grass.
  • Ground pins – These are used to lay artificial grass to the ground. They are quite effective in securing artificial grass to the ground.
  • Seam tape – Seam tape joins the edges of two artificial grass rolls.
  • Weed membrane – A weed membrane prevents the growth of weed.
  • Lawn cutter – A lawn cutter trims synthetic grass and reduces the size of the synthetic grass.
  • Brush – This tool makes it easier for you to spread infill (silica sand) on your turf. Regular brushing also improves the appearance of your lawn.

Fake Grass Installation Guide

Step 1: Determine Where You Are Going to Place the Artificial Grass

The first thing you need to do is determine where you are going to lay artificial grass. Once you find the right spot to fit the turf, check whether the surface is appropriate for the artificial grass or not. Pipes running through that area should be deep enough.

Not to mention, remove other obstructions such as sprinklers and electric cables. If there are any electric cables in that area, move them to a secure place.

Step 2: Prep the Space That You Are Planning to Lay the Turf On

Clear the area of your artificial grass installation. Start off by killing the different types of weed plants that are in that area. You can use a biodegradable weed killer to kill or remove the weeds in that space.

Make sure that the weed killer penetrates the roots of the weed plant and gets rid of the whole weed plant.

Excavate the top layer of soil by removing 4 inches of the vegetable soil. The depth of the pit should be 4-inches. Use a hand tamper or a vibrating plate to compact the loose soil on the ground. Plan how you are going to install the drainage system.

Fake grass drains water easily, just like natural grass. If you are laying artificial grass on soil with good drainage, you don’t need to develop a drainage system for your turf. On the other hand, if you are laying artificial grass in a place that has bad drainage, you need to build a drainage system.

Measure and mark the perimeter of the ground that you are prepping for turf installation. You can use a tape measure to measure the edges of the perimeter. Fix a bender board along the perimeter of that space. After that, place a gopher wire on the ground. You can also place a weed membrane over the gopher wire to prevent unwanted growth. It protects your artificial lawn all year round.

Step 3: Lay the Stone Base

Some of the materials used in this procedure include crushed rock, gravel, and decomposed granite. Fill a wheelbarrow with any of these materials, then pour it on that area that you are working on. Ensure that the base layer’s thickness is about 4 inches, just like the vegetable soil you had excavated earlier on. The base layer improves drainage and prevents stagnation on an artificial lawn.

Create another layer by laying sharp sand on top of the base layer. The top layer that contains sharp sand should be around 15 mm thick. Water that area slightly. Do not use a lot of water in this process (you might wash off the fine sand if you use a lot of water).

Compact the two layers using a plate tamper or a vibrating plate compactor. This makes it easier for you to attain an even surface. Repeat this process until you compact all the materials. While a vibratory plate compactor can help you finish this task in a short period of time, it might be quite expensive to buy or rent it.

Check if the area has an even surface or not. Ensure to fill in some of the holes that might be present on the ground. You should also dismantle some of the bumps that may be on that surface. Try to make the area as flat as possible.

While you can lay the artificial grass on concrete, the drainage might be poor.

Step 4: Attach the Artificial Grass to the Ground

Once you finish prepping the ground, cut the artificial turf using a sharp Stanely knife. Measure and mark the sides that you’re going to trim off. Use a tape measure to measure the sides of the artificial turf.

After that, cut through the artificial grass until you get the perfect shape for your artificial lawn. You should be keen as you are cutting the artificial grass with a Stanley knife. Lay the artificial grass on the base that you had prepared.

Roll the grass and unroll it on the stone base that you had prepped. Make sure that it covers the ground completely. Trim off the excess material with a sharp Stanley knife to get a perfect shape. Cut the edge of each side until the artificial grass fits perfectly. You should carefully place it on the ground. Do not drag it along the ground.

Get rid of any wrinkles that may be on the surface of the artificial grass lawn. You can use a tool like a carpet stretcher to get rid of such wrinkles from your artificial lawn. It helps you get an even surface on your artificial lawn. Not to mention, it firmly secures the fake grass to the ground to prevent any slippages.

Alternatively, you can use multiple rolls of artificial grass if you want to get a thicker surface. The edges have to be cut carefully and in the same direction. The blade direction should not change.

Once you finish placing one roll on top of the other, you have to secure the seams of the two layers. Make sure that the fringes have an even cut. After that, use seam tape to secure the seams of the artificial grass. Use an adhesive to join the rims of the artificial grass rolls. You can also stitch the seams that join the edges of the grass.

Apply some pressure on the seams for about 5 minutes to join the edges together.

Hammer some ground pins into the artificial lawn to secure it sturdily. The grounds pins should have at least 5-inch intervals. Do not use too much force as you are hammering the pins into the ground. This may cause the turf to sink into the ground.

Step 5: Pour Some Infill on the Artificial Grass After Laying It

laying synthetic turfInfill is a substance that helps artificial grass retain its upright position. For instance, you can use silica sand as your infill. Before you pour the infill on different sections of your artificial lawn, you have to brush the grass first.

Check whether the artificial turf is completely dry or not. If it’s dry, use a shovel to pour the silica sand on your artificial lawn.

Use a broom to brush the infill, making sure it settles evenly on your turf. Set the silica sand by sprinkling water on your lawn.

If you are laying artificial grass roll on a concrete base, you first have to clean the area with a pressure washer. After that, lay some shock absorbers on the concrete. You can use some adhesive to stick the shock absorbers to the concrete ground.

Once you finish installing the grass, you can trim it off to the most preferred height to complete your DIY project.

Installing Artificial Grass

While thinking about how to install artificial grass might seem like a hectic task, it is an easy opportunity that can help you transform your front yard or backyard. You can also lay artificial grass in your garden. Place a weed membrane under the turf to prevent the growth of weed.

When installing artificial grass, make sure that you use a membrane that is made from durable material. If you are using two rolls, apply some adhesive on the edge of each roll. Joining the seams with adhesive prevents slippages. Moreover, you can trim the turf to get your most preferred height.

Have you tried installing fake grass? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments.

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