Category: Landscaping

How to Lay Artificial Grass

Artificial grass has several advantages over natural grass, and the main are:

• Simple maintenance
• Easier to control
•  Can withstand even the harsh weathers
•  Possibility of being upgraded and replaced easily

These benefits have resulted in more people preferring artificial glass over the natural option in different places such as stadiums and lawns, where well-groomed glass is needed. To enjoy the benefits of this kind of grass, you have to start by knowing how to lay artificial grass.

1.     Remove the Old Lawn

The first step in understanding how to lay artificial grass is ensuring that the surface is flat, and you can do this by removing the lawn that was already there. This step is fundamental because you cannot place the new grass on top of the old one. The fresh grass also needs a surface where it can hold firmly.

As a further step of preparing the surface, you should also install the edging and weed membrane. The edgings provide barriers on the edge of your lawn, which is mandatory, especially if you do not have other types of obstacles on the lawn’s perimeter. Installing the weed membrane is also important because it ensures no weeds can grow beneath the newly installed artificial grass.

2.     Make the Surface Further Ready for the New Grass

The ideal way of making the surface ready is laying the sub-base where you should choose the materials to use and the depth depending on the lawn’s drainage ability.  You should then install the laying course, which is the granite dust that makes the surface smoother and more stable. It would help if you used a vibrating plate compactor to ensure that everything is compacted correctly and then install another layer of weed membrane to ensure no form of weed can penetrate the surface.

3.     Position the New Artificial Grass

In this step, you might need assistance from one or more people because it involves unrolling the artificial grass.  The primary determinant of this is size; if your lawn is relatively big, it will require more work. While unrolling the artificial lawn, you need to ensure you have positioned it to be easier to unroll.

4.     Do the Final Touches

After you have unrolled the grass, you should cut it into size to ensure it fits perfectly into your lawn. Use a sharp knife to cut it into the required shape, and then use galvanized nails to secure the perimeter as you cut. If you have done everything correctly, there will be no visible joints. But in case you can see some joints, you should ensure they are correctly secured. It would help if you used a joining tape to secure the joints since such tapes’ shiny side is usually on the lower invisible side.

The last thing you should do is to groom the newly installed artificial grass. Grooming includes removing any debris that might have been left on the surface while laying down the grass. Take good care of the artificial grass for it to remain in good condition for a long time. We can supply you with a various range of artificial grass to suit most budgets, plus we offer a full installation service if you would prefer. You can contact us here.

How To Prepare Your Garden For Artificial Grass

In this day and age, it would seem that artificial grass is becoming a fantastic alternative for homeowners. It looks just like the real thing, but you don’t have to worry about maintaining it half as much. If you want a nice garden and you don’t want the pressure of staying on top of it, then you can find out everything you need to know, here. In particular, how to prepare your garden for artificial grass laying.

Removing the Turf you Have Now

If you have turf in your garden then the first thing that you have to do is remove it all. You need to do this prior to laying down your artificial turf. If you are ready to proceed then you can use a huge range of tools to help you out. You can use a turf cutter, a spade or even a rotavator. You have to make sure that you dig the soil to around a depth of 2.5 inches if possible. Your artificial turf will need to sit around half an inch above your edging.

Protecting your Artificial Turf

Before you lay down any artificial turf, you have to make sure that it is protected from any weeds or plants that may grow through it. If you do not put down a protective layer then this can lead to weeds growing through the turf and this can cause buckling or general disfigurement. You can use a simple sheet of weed surpassing membrane if you want. This is placed on top of the lawn you have and it sits just beneath the artificial turf. You can usually buy this from any good hardware store, but you can also get it from the same place where you get your turf from if you want.

Allowing for Adequate Drainage

When you are laying artificial turf, you need to make sure that it is maintained properly. Before you lay down your turf, you need to lay down an aggregate layer of sand or grit. Crushed stone is another option you can use to go over the weed membrane. You can then compact this to give you a nice and solid base. You can create a sturdy drainage surface, and you can also smooth it out to create an even surface. Finally, you can lay down some shock-absorbent material as this will give your grass far more cushioning overall.

When you have done all of this, you will then be glad to know that your area is fully prepared for your new turf. When you start laying your turf, you need to align it to the corner or even a straight edge if possible. You also need to cut it to the appropriate size, before you nail it into place. You do this with each corner first, and then go through and add more nails accordingly. This is the best way for you to ensure that your grass looks the part when you have finished. 

If you need some help with your grass then make sure that you get in touch with us here at Elite. We can show you How To Prepare Your Garden For Artificial Grass and supply with you with your new astroturf or we can do the whole job from start to finish.