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Installing Turf Grass

Installing Turf Grass

Installing turfgrass and creating artificial lawns have rapidly become one of the popular and preferred ways for achieving a beautiful landscape for many home and commercial property owners. Installing synthetic turfgrass offers numerous financial and environmental benefits including minimal time and energy spent on lawn maintenance, reduced water consumption, and a lush, green lawn throughout the year.

If you want to invest in artificial turf, you have the option to either hire a professional or to finish a DIY artificial turf installation. Installing turf grass yourself can make artificial lawns more affordable, but it has the risk of installing the turf improperly that can possibly ruin your investment. This article discusses the steps to install artificial turf grass, the most simple type of turf grass to install and the materials needed for any turf grass installation. Further, Edenapp shows how to get the ground ready for artificial grass and if turf grass is expensive to install or not.

How To Install a Turf Grass?

Turf grass can be installed by following 8 simple steps. They are listed below:

  1. Take out any remaining grass
  2. Prepare the base
  3. Lay out your new turf grass
  4. Make the necessary cuts
  5. Fix your artificial grass to the ground
  6. Spread infill
  7. Brush infill
  8. Enjoy your newly installed artificial grass

1.Take out any remaining grass

Clear your lawn out that has caused you the brown spots, water bills, mowing, and mud for so many years. Remove 4 inches of your existing lawn or base. Make sure you take the proper measurements to dispose of your existing lawn base correctly. The aim is to remove the grass and the root system. Remember, those older sections of grass harvested from your lawn can be recycled elsewhere, so nothing is going to waste.

2. Prepare the base

Use Gravel DG Mix or any suitable mixture to install the base material. Using an ideal mixture ensures proper drainage. Install 3 inches in depth. Install 3 inches in depth when installing for a non-pet landscape. Distribute and level the base appropriately. Proper base distribution and leveling is essential to ensure sloping away from living areas and towards the installed drainage area. The appropriate base installation also ensures the turf has a smooth level appearance at the completion of the project.

3. Lay out your new turf grass

Lay out your new artificial grass carefully by not dragging your turf across your freshly prepared base. It is best to let the turf get baked in the sun for half an hour to let it expand before installation. 

turf grass

If you are laying out multiple rolls, it is very important to make sure that the blade direction and stitch patterns are facing in the same direction. Crossing blade directions will lead to poor appearance. Carefully push and move your artificial grass into the proper position. Make sure to wear knee pads to protect your knees while arranging the turf. A carpet kicker will be useful to stretch and move the turf.

4. Make the necessary cuts

Now it is time to make the appropriate cuts as your turf is in the desired area. The best cutting devices are carpet cutters and razor knives. All cuts should be made from behind the artificial grass so you can see the stitch rows. When making the cuts leave 1/4’’ to 1/2’’ of turf over the edge of your border; this will help you give a finishing touch towards the end of your project.

If you are laying out multiple pieces of artificial grass, this is the perfect time to secure your seams with turf glue and tape. When seaming, make sure that the blades of your turf are laying in the same direction and the space between each stitch row matches to give you the best visual result. Place the red line of your seam tape at the center of the seam, and make an “S” pattern with glue on the seam tape. Place the turf properly and let the glue set for 15 minutes. On brushing the seam, it will disappear. Keep your infill bags uniformly on the seam to allow contact with the seam tape.

5. Fix your artificial grass to the ground

The next step is to secure your artificial grass to the ground. Do it by tucking the 1/4’’ to 1/2’’ edge you left into the border with a metal putty knife and hammer. You can use 5’’ non-galvanized turf nails or staples. 

Gently tap the nail or staple using a hammer until it pierces the backing. Disperse the turf blades with fingers and jab the nail or staple into the ground. Make sure to place a nail or staple every 6 inches along the outside perimeter and every 2 feet on the inside areas. Be sure to strengthen your seamed areas with some nails or staples. Remember to brush up the turf with a push or power broom before infilling. Brushing up will help to get the blade memory vertical.

6. Spread infill

The appearance, performance, and life span of your artificial grass depends on the proper infilling of the turf system you have purchased; therefore, it becomes essential to meet its requirements. Please ask your product specialist for infill requirements. Various types of suitable infill can be used: Crumb Rubber, Zeolite, Acrylic Coated Sand or Silica Sand. It is better to use a drop spreader to spread the proper amount of infill uniformly.

7. Brush infill

Once you are done with placing the infill, use a power broom or another stiff-bristled broom to brush the turf. Brushing will help the turf blades to stand upright to make your new artificial lawn look like freshly mowed grass. Repeat the process until your infill is brushed properly and the seams disappear. Brushing up your turf blades will be the only quarterly maintenance required along with proper sanitation if you have pets.

8. Enjoy your newly installed artificial grass

Lastly, water your artificial turf to let it set in place. As you have completed the installation of your artificial turf grass, now you can enjoy it!

Which type of turf grass is the most simple to install?

The most simple turf grass to install is Polyethylene turf grass. When homeowners look to install artificial grass in their homes, most opt for polyethylene products. This type of artificial grass looks beautiful with bright green colors and various textures and feels softer and more natural than other types of turf grass. It is usually used for landscaping and athletic fields such as football, soccer, and baseball.

When polyethylene turf grass is paired with a nylon secondary thatch, it will hold up to a lot of rough use without beginning to look worn-out or ragged. Compared to nylon artificial turf grass, polyethylene grass is non-porous and will not hold on to odors. This feature makes it suitable for pet owners who worry about the smell of their yards when the pets go outside. Moreover, all of the waste will easily wash down between the blades of this artificial grass and reduce the possibility of bacteria growing in your lawn.

What are the materials needed when installing turf grass?

As a homeowner, you may already have some of these tools. However, you may need to purchase some of them before starting the installation. Purchasing tools and accessories particularly designed for artificial turf will ensure its proper installation. Listed below are the materials you will need for artificial turf grass installation.

  1. Tape Measure: Starting with your project, you will need a simple tape measure to measure the area on which you want to install your artificial turf. It is better to add 12 to 24 inches to your measurements so you will have enough turf to work with at the time of your installation. It’s much easier to trim turf than adding turf to your desired dimensions. 
  2. Shovel: If you are installing artificial turf on a foundation of dirt, keep a shovel nearby to clear your area of branches, rocks, and other debris that may affect the surface area of your turf. Make sure to clear the area of anything that sticks out of the foundation and remove the dirt as needed.
  3. Pick: Having a strong pick with you will come handy in removing tree stumps or larger rocks. If you don’t have one of these, you can find a variety of picks at your local hardware store.
  4. Tamper Tool: A tamper tool will help you to pack the dirt into a firm foundation. This is an important step in the artificial turf installation process, as it ensures your foundation is read and balanced. You can use either a power-tool or a handheld tamper tool for this purpose.
  5. Gloves: Wearing gloves is important to protect your hands when working with rough materials and blades. Keep a pair of high-quality gloves for outdoor work as gloves help to avoid injury and keep your project on schedule. 
  6. Cutting Tool: Keep a solid box cutter and a razor blade for cutting turf grass. While a few people may prefer to use a different type of blade, such as a utility knife, using razor blades depends on how much turf you plan to cut. If you are trimming large areas of turf, you may notice that your blade dulls fast due to the material. Since razor blades are replaceable, you can replace them any time without worrying about dulling your blade or delaying the process of installation.
  7. Turf Infill: Turf infill is any product that is placed between the fibers/blades of artificial grass. It is applied directly to the turf once installed to create bounce. This is specifically important for playground installations, as the infill helps prevent injury from falling over and spills. It’s better to buy more than you need so you have surplus to apply for future years.
  8. Turf Nails: Turf nails are designed to keep your turf in the proper position and to connect two pieces of turf together, to create a seamless appearance. Similar to infill, you can keep some excess nails to use throughout the years. You may find it handy if a portion of your turf needs extra support.
  9. Hammer: With nails, it is obvious you will need a hammer to jab it. Try to choose a hammer with a longer handle, as you will need to hold it for hammering longer turf nails.
  10. Seam Tape: A seam tape is a waterproof tape used to hold down two pieces of turf that are laid next to each other. If a good seam tape is used, you will never be able to see the joints. 
  11. Turf Glue: Use turf glue to fix down turf to a surface. It’s a great way to attach turf to a patio where you are looking to have a more natural looking balcony or patio surface. You can use glue to apply turf directly to concrete in balcony or patio areas, where you may not be able to fix the turf using nails.
  12. Push Broom: A nice brush is the last tool that you will need to get the lawn looking natural and fresh, finishing off your installation. Use the brush for brushing up the blades of grass, especially over the seams. It is also used to brush infill into the turf. Keep it handy and brush your lawn as required to ensure your turf looks even all over the years.

How to prepare ground for artificial grass?

Follow these steps to prepare the ground for artificial turfgrass:

  1. Get rid of existing grass. It is best to use a glyphosate-based total weedkiller, for quick and effective results. Be sure to follow the instructions on it. 
  2. Turn the soil over from 5–10 cm depth, after having watered the soil. This will provide a stable foundation for the installation of your artificial turfgrass.
  3. Next, remove pebbles and debris, level the ground, cut off roots and break up clods.
  4. Make the ground uniform, and remove any uneven parts which would not look attractive after the turf has been spread out. You need to flatten bumps, fill in holes, and aim to get a surface with slight contours or a perfectly flat surface. 
  5. If the soil is getting very troublesome to work with, you can make it uniform by using a mixture of stone chippings and sand.
  6. Compact the soil using a wacker plate or garden roller. The ground has to be compacted to hold artificial turfgrass.

Is turfgrass expensive to install?

Yes, the initial installation of artificial turfgrass is a little expensive, but it is free for the next 15 to 25 years once it’s installed. The national average cost of artificial grass installation is $12.33 per square foot. The total costs may differ depending on your yard’s size and turf’s brand. This estimate includes installation and materials. Homeowners can be prepared for a price range between $5.50 and $18.75 per square foot. 

Artificial turfgrass

Artificial turfgrass is low-maintenance. It needs no fertilizer, watering, or mowing, which can help save you money in the long term. As opposed to sod, artificial grass gives you a green lawn throughout the year.

Edenapp makes sure your artificial turfgrass lasts longer. We provide services from installation to maintenance. Our certified landscape contractors are available all around the year to install, clean, repair, and remove or replace your artificial turfgrass. Contact Edenapp for more information on installing turfgrass and hire our professionals to install it appropriately for you.

From selecting the right seasonal plants to installing an outdoor kitchen, our landscaping services can do it all for you. Contact us today for a stunning landscape!