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Artificial Grass – HowTo

How to lay Artificial Grass on a soft Surface

1. Remove turf and soil

Do small areas by hand and for larger areas you can use a turf cutter. NB Don’t build your artificial grass base on loose topsoil.

2. Compact well

Use a vibrating plate or roller which can be hired at your nearesy tool hire centre.

3. Add a weed barrier

We recommend a Geotextile membrane which is typically is a poly-woven fabric that is strong enough to prevent weeds breaking through but allows drainage. Place the fabric over the entire area to be covered by artificial grass.

4. Add a sub base

We recommend a minimum layer of 50mm. If it is too dry, add a little wet sand and compact. Use sharp sand (also known as coarse or grit sand) for it’s drainage and levelling properties.

5. Top with a thin layer of clean building sand

This will help in the final levelling before laying the turf.

6. Add a non-decorative concrete border

Do this to secure the grass by applying mixture of cement and aggregated stone about 10mm wide around all the edges. NB Ensure that the edging is not higher than the synthetic turf to ensure adequate run-off of water from the grass.

7. Lay your Artificial Grass

Carefully roll the grass out taking care not to disturb the final levelling of the sub-base build. Note that the grass has a directional pile so ensure that it all faces the same way if you are doing any joining. We recommend you face the direction of the pile towards the house or main area for a more natural look.

8. Glue the joints

Do this by using a high quality joining tape and glue as per the manufacturer’s instructions by first laying the tape under the open join and then pouring the glue carefully onto one side at a time. Pull the edges firmly together and apply weight on the joint.

9. Carefully trim the edges

Use a sharp carpet knife to do this when you are satisfied that the grass has settled in properly.

10. Finally, brush the Artificial Grass

Do this against the direction of the pile to bring the grass to life.

How to lay artificial grass on a hard surface

1. Clean the surface thoroughly

Check carefully that the surface is level enough for the synthetic turf. If not, you will have to consider first laying a levelling screed.

2. Roll out the shock pad

Also referred to as a performance pad. We recommend the use of this under your artificial grass as it provides a cushion (like a carpet underlay) which is important for shock absorbtion, especially for romping kids. Glue the joints with joining tape and glue.

3. Lay the artificial turf

Roll out the grass allowing for a 50mm overlap over the edges of the hard surface for final trimming. Lay the grass with the pile in the direction of the house or main area for a more natural look.

4. Glue the joints

Follow step 8 in the soft surface laying guide. For a wooden surface like decking, you can use a combination of adhesive and carpet tacks.

5. Carefully trim the edges

Use a sharp carpet knife for this task after you are satisfied that the artificial grass has settled nicely and then brush it against the direction of the pile to bring it to life.

Finally we should mention that if it suits you better not to dot and dab glue to secure the turf, simply loose-lay it like a rug and weigh it down with objects like furniture or pot plants.

How to choose shock pad underlay

Popular shock Pad (Performance Pad) is mostly fully recycled combustion modified foam trim, the crumb foam being bonded together which puts a “bounce” in your artificial grass making it feel more like the real thing.

Depending on the quality you want and how much you want to spend, you can choose from a range of options. Speak to your local preferred installer for the right advice.

How to maintain and clean Artificial Grass

Artificial lawn cleaning and maintenance is very easy, so we do not have a specific cleaning guide. You can easily remove melted ice cream, soft drinks and other sweet beverages. Just make sure to rinse with clean water afterwards. If you have spilled some food, please remove that first. Then clean the area where the food was spilled and finally rinse it with water. Chewing gum is a little trickier. Carefully remove the chewing gum with a spoon. This is easier if you put some ice cubes on the spot first. The ice hardens the gum, making it easier to remove. Remember not to use only solvents, as these substances may harm your artificial grass.

There are several things you can do yourself to keep your grass looking pretty.

Cleaning: It is important to keep you artificial turf clean. Make sure you remove any leaves, weeds and other debris immediately.
Brushing: The grass fibers tend to become a bit flat after a while. Periodically raking or brushing the fibres will sort this out.
Blowing away leaves: Keep the artificial turf free of leaves with a normal leaf blower or leaf vacuum. Make sure the sand of the infill will not be blown away.
Weed control: If you keep your artificial lawn clean you will prevent weeds, moss and other unwanted natural foes from growing and taking over. Weeds can easily be removed by plucking, brushing or raking the lawn. Make sure you remove weeds before they root, especially along the sides. There are a number of environmentally friendly products available that kill algae, moss and weeds immediately. You can buy these products at your home improvement center or garden. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully so the artificial turf will not be damaged.
Chlorine: You should not use any chlorine products on artificial turf made from polyamide fibres (PA) as those products may discolour the fibers.

Courtesy Royal Grass Australia

Some more handy tips:

When brushing, finish off by brushing against the direction of the pile to keep the blades perky and give the grass life and if you don’t feel up to this, your local artificial grass installer will be happy to give your grass a Roll & Comb with a mechanical grass brush…for a fee of course.
Clean spillages or pets’ mess immediately with special cleaners available from your local turf installer or simply use dishwash detergent diluted in warm water and a garden hose.
Apply weed killer to unwelcome visitors of this variety.
Take care that there are no mirrors or glass positioned to burn the grass. Kids with magnifying glasses should also be cautioned.
Be careful with hot coals from BBQ’s and cigarette butts that will damage the grass.
Any mechanical tools with oil or grease should be kept off the turf. Caution garden maintenance or other contractors.

Planning for an Artificial Grass installation

Measure the area you want to grass and make a sketch.

Decide on what artificial grass you want and get samples.

Calculate the amount of grass you need, keeping in mind that most artificial grass comes standard in 2m and 4m rolls. Keep joints to a minimum with the grass lying in the same direction because of the directional pile.

If you have joints, measure them for your joining tape and glue.

Don’t forget to order your underlay for the type of surface you are covering.

Which is the right Turf for me?

Artificial turf is available in all sorts of types and qualities. This makes it fairly difficult for you to make a decision. What points are important to keep in mind to ensure and enjoy the longevity of your artificial lawn.

Price. Costs are always an important point when making a purchase like artificial grass. When visiting various websites, you will see that there are major differences in price between different types of artificial grass suppliers. Price differences are practically exclusively determined by the differences in quality.
Quality. Now, of course, you want to know how to recognize high quality artificial grass and distinguish yourself from the cheaper and thus lower quality artificial turf. There are several points that you can take care of to determine the quality. For example, ask the following questions to the supplier:
What about the safety of the product? One of the most important points is safety. An important factor to keep in mind when buying the artificial grass. You want you kids and pets to be able to play on a truly safe lawn. However, unfortunately, there are types available that contain harmful substances in high concentrations. Ask for certificates from independent labs to prove the safety if you are in any doubt.
Backing, single or double? If you want to enjoy your artificial lawn for many years, it’s important that your artificial lawn has a double backing. The cloth in which the synthetic grass fibers are interwoven, that is the backing. When a single backing is used, then it is less strong and stable, shrinks earlier and can fold faster. A single backing, even with a perfect installation, may cause that your lawn does not look as beautiful as it did right after installation.
Is the artificial grass wear-resistant? Of course, you want your artificial grass to look perfect after several years of use. That makes it important that you choose a wear-resistant quality. At first glance, this can not be seen, so it’s difficult to determine when you buy artificial grass. There are several ways in which the abrasion resistance can be investigated. For example, it is a good idea to ask for references from people who have this particular artificial grass in their garden for some time. You can also put a sample of artificial grass in a chlorine bath for a long time to see if it keeps its color. Another example is to put a heavy weight on the sample for a week to see if it the fibers are resilient enough to stand up by themselves.

Courtesy Royal Grass Australia

Benefits of Artificial Grass

Do you want a lawn that looks beautiful and green all year round with no maintenance? Artificial Grass is the solution to a perfect lawn and is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Water saving

There are many advantages of using Artificial Turf in gardens, on balconies, the playground and public areas. It requires no watering, weeding or mowing. A good quality grass is durable, soft and looks real.

Investment

Artificial Grass is an investment because you no longer need to spend time and money on lawn maintenance. For families with children, the artificial turf feels wonderfully soft and provides a safe flooring solution for play areas. For dog owners, the fake grass will not get muddy or wear out. For people with allergies such as hay fever, artificial grass is a blessing.

There are very few disadvantages of synthetic turf. A common argument is lack of realism, which is often seen in low quality fake grass.

Can I install Artificial Grass myself?

Yes, you can but you could probably also build a yacht or service your car. The question is, how well will you do it? Laying grass is a specialist job that comes with a warranty on labour and materials, but if you are going ahead anyway, here are some guidelines covered in more detail in our guide on “How to install Artificial Grass on soft and hard services”:

Make the surface is as smooth as a baby’s bum
Any unevenness, even the smallest stone, will be noticeable.
Make sure the sub-base is solid
The grass will be directly on the subbase in most cases, if the base is not solid, the carpet will not lay nice and flat.
Make sure the sub-base drains
The condition of the soil must be such that the water can easily drain. If you do not do that, you’ll risk flooding the artificial grass in heavy rainfall.
Make sure your joins are perfect
Making a good joint is a precise exercise. Take your time, as errors are difficult to fix.
Always cut the grass on the bottom side
This way you do not cut the grass fibres. Allow 2mm short at the edges. The grass may expand when the temperature rises and it may fold against your kerb.

Synthetic Turf sub-base

Synthetic turf Sub-base is the term used to describe the layers that lie directly underneath the artificial grass. It is most commonly made up of a sand/gravel mixture, although in some instances it consists of concrete, asphalt or even a wood base.

“Why do I need to install a sub-base?”

This is a frequently asked question. Why can’t I just install my artificial grass on top of dirt?” The answer is that native soil is expansive (particularly soil with clay in it) and when it gets wet, the soil expands; when it dries, the soil contracts. This expansion and contraction can result in wrinkles, dimples and/or soft spots and can create a very uneven surface. A sub-base is used to replace the expansive native soil with a non-expansive surface which will help to ensure that an artificial grass installation will continue to look good for the duration of its 15- to 20-year useful life.

Types of sub-base

The most common types of sub-base for synthetic turf is a crushed miscellaneous base (CMB), a Class II road base, or a decomposed granite (DG). CMB typically comes from recycled concrete and/or recycled asphalt and consists of a sand/gravel mixture of 8mm to fine. Class II road base is similar but is subject to more stringent testing which makes it more expensive, and in most artificial grass applications, it is not necessary. Decomposed granite is granite rock that has weathered to the point that it readily fractures into smaller pieces of weak rock and/or into mixtures of gravel, sand, and silt-size particles of clay.

CMB compacts better and is less expensive than DG which is why it is the more common choice for landscaping applications.

DG is more permeable and can be used to achieve a smoother finish than CMB, but it is substantially more expensive. This makes it more suitable for putting green applications.

To calculate how much you need = dimensions x 50mm of sub-base for your artificial grass.