The use of synthetic grass has become more popular in recent years since it’s a low-maintenance yard solution: It doesn’t require watering, mowing or conditioning the soil, but your grass will still look pristine and vibrant green all year round. Additionally, you can lay it on flat ground or concrete, giving you flexibility when renovating your property.
If you’re looking to invest in artificial turf, you can hire a contractor or install it yourself. Your landscaping skills, yard condition and the time and energy you’re willing to devote to the project will determine if going DIY is the right path for you.
Assuming that you’re working on relatively flat ground, DIY artificial grass installation is an easy task.
Where can you buy quality artificial turf?
Visit Forest Green Artificial Grass if you need durable, toxin-free, realistic-looking artificial grass. As a one-stop shop for all your artificial grass needs, our online shop carries a wide range of pet- and kid-friendly synthetic turf, odor spray, infills, seams, tapes and other supplies. You can also call us at (916) 474-5036 if you have any questions.
What tools do you need to install artificial grass?
To install artificial grass on your own, you’ll need the following supplies and tools which you can find in Forest Green Artificial Grass online store:
- Turf cutter or carpet knife
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
- Tape measure
- Hammer
- Planks or roller
- Grass glue or seaming tape
- Weed barrier
- Artificial grass nails
- Crushed stone, gravel or rock (infills)
- Plastic broom or power broom
How do you prep your ground before installing the synthetic turf?
First, locate any sprinklers, water pipes and electrical outlets, etc. Next, remove sprinklers since you won’t be using them anymore, and relocate any wires or cords at least one foot away from the perimeter to ensure you won’t damage them with landscaping pins.
If you live in a region that experiences a protracted rainy season, you may consider installing drainage pipes beneath your synthetic turf.
You also need to measure where you will lay your artificial grass. Generally, synthetic turf comes in rolls, so you must get the correct measurements before making your order.
Pro tip:
Once the installation is complete, don’t throw away the remnants because you can use them to patch up damaged spots in the future.
Once you’re done measuring the installation area, you need to make it as flat as possible. You can do this by removing the grass and other vegetation and adding infills, which level the ground and create good drainage.
As a general rule, you need 1-2 pounds of infill per square foot. (Note: If you’re using a weed barrier or landscape fabric, you must install it before placing your infill.)
But before you lay down your infill, you need to compact the existing soil with a vibrating plate or roller. The key to a flat and pristine-looking synthetic turf is to achieve around 95% compaction.
Of course, you also need to compact your infill, which you can do by hosing it down with water.
Why do you need an infill?
If you directly put your artificial turf on the soil, you’ll have some irregular spots. To prevent this, you need at least 3-4 inches of infill, which is usually made of crushed stone, gravel or rock.
Additionally, infills promote good drainage and prevent the formation of puddles which can damage your turf.
How do you prevent weeds from growing through the artificial turf?
At Forest Green Artificial Grass, we recommend using landscape fabric beneath the artificial turf to prevent weeds from growing through it. Remember that regrowth may still occur even after spraying the ground with weed killer.
But you may want to skip using landscape fabric or weed barrier if you have pets that may urinate on your artificial turf, causing an unpleasant odor.
For pet owners, we recommend pet-friendly artificial turf with no porous surface (which prevents unpleasant odor) and urine neutralizer spray, which you can find in our online store.
How do you install the actual artificial grass?
Once you prep the ground and lay down your weed barrier and infill, you can begin spreading the artificial turf on the area. Leave it overnight to eliminate any creases.
Next, lay the artificial turf rolls on your infill. Make sure that when joining two pieces together (which you can do by using a special glue or tape), the strands of their grass face the same direction.
To ensure that the two pieces of rolls stick together, apply pressure on their seams by placing any heavy object (pots, stones, etc.). Meanwhile, opt for S-shaped seams which are easier to conceal than straight seams.
Once the tape or adhesive has secured the artificial turf, cut any remaining portion with a carpet knife. When cutting, do this on the underside to avoid damaging the grass strands.
You also need to secure your artificial turf with landscaping pins, which can help secure the seams. While you want to hide them in plain sight, make sure they don’t cause uneven spots on the ground.
Meanwhile, a bender board is an excellent addition if you want to create a nice contrast between your artificial turf and paved driveway, pathway, etc. However, this is entirely optional.
Enjoy your lawn
After installation, you may want to brush the grass fibers using a plastic broom to fluff the blades and make them look more natural.
With your artificial grass properly secured and fluffed, all that’s left to do is enjoy your new lawn. Then, after spending days working on your yard, get your table and chairs ready for a picnic with your family.
Visit Forest Green Artificial Grass online store and start working on your dream backyard. You can also call us at (916) 474-5036 or fill out this form if you need free samples of our synthetic turf.
