How to lay artificial grass

Artificial grass is an alternative to the real thing that costs less time and money to maintain and keeps it looking like new. It’s easy to lay too, provided you follow the guidelines.

How to lay

The surface on which the grass is installed needs to be level. This can be achieved with the addition of a sand layer. Use a small bit of wood to level it out.

Next, add a membrane layer over the sand to keep the weeds out. Roll out the artificial grass, making sure that the pile of each section leans one way, usually towards the house. Each roll should be next to each other with no blades caught. A craft knife can be used to trim the rolls, which are then fixed together with tape and adhesive.

Ground pins can be used to secure the edges. Brush the grass pile with a stiff brush then apply a thin silica sand layer.

Can you put artificial grass on dirt?

You can lay artificial grass on dirt, but you must first dig out the soil up to two and a half inches deep. This will also make sure that stones, leaves and other debris are removed. The ground needs to be levelled too.

Can you lay artificial grass on top of grass?

While it is possible to lay artificial grass on top of grass, it’s not recommended. Though you will save time by not removing existing turf, you may encounter problems. With real grass below the artificial grass, there is a good chance that weeds will grow through the artificial grass backing.

Consider too that there may be drainage issues with rainwater not running off the lawn. The existing grass will die and rot, and this may cause an uneven surface.

Laying artificial grass over existing grass saves you time and money on the initial installation, but in the long-term the lifespan of the grass will likely be shortened, ultimately making it a poor economic decision.

Why do you have to put sand on artificial grass?

Artificial grass can be laid without sand, but the lawn will benefit from a thin silica sand layer. This provides extra weight on the grass which adds to its stability and protects the turf, while also keeping the blades of grass erect.

Sand adds fire resistance too. This is especially important if you intend to have barbecues anywhere near the lawn.

The sand is heavy so that it will not blow away in high winds, and it can help drainage. It’s safe to use and is suitable for lawns where small children play, but make sure you are using silica sand specially formulated for artificial grass use.

What happens after the artificial grass is laid?

After the artificial lawn has been laid, there’s not a lot you need to do. Regular brushing will remove seeds, leaves and other dirt from the grass, and you should occasionally use a hose to clean it.

An artificial grass lawn installed correctly will last for many years.