I am a big fan of artificial grass. In the early days, it was pretty obvious that it was fake. Modern manufacturing methods and new technology mean that anybody can now have a luscious lawn that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It has advantages that you cannot ignore. The lack of maintenance is an important factor, and it will help those who are getting on in years and anybody who has reduced mobility. It stays green all year round and is durable enough to withstand heavy use.
Here is how to install artificial grass and give your garden a year-round wow factor.
Order the Grass
You must calculate the area that you wish to cover with artificial grass. The shape of the area is unimportant. First multiply the length of the lawn by the width to discover the area. Then divide that number by the amount of grass on a roll to find how many rolls you need.
The supplier might also sell an underfelt and weed barrier. Order the same number of those. You will also need plastic pegs to fix the grass in place.
Prepare The Ground
In this project, you will lay the product on sharp sand. You can buy it by the bag or have it brought to your home by the ton. If the area is extensive, I advise you to order it for delivery.
- Remove two or three inches of topsoil from the ground.
- Fill the area with sharp sand.
- Use a vibrating compactor to make the sand firm. Hire the compactor for the day. They are easy to use and do an incredible job. Work over the area as many times as you feel necessary until the sand is firm.
Install The Product
I always use a weed-resistant barrier to ensure that nothing will grow beneath the grass. Roll it out over the area and overlap the joints by several inches. If there is enough, add another layer. The more, the better in my opinion.
Next you must but the underfelt in place. It helps to make the surface soft when the project is complete.
Roll out the artificial grass and cut it at the ends. You must join them together wherever they meet. The supplier will probably sell a mastic adhesive and jointing tape.
- Roll back the grass and apply some adhesive to the edge of it.
- A apply the tape to the adhesive and put the grass back in place.
- Put more adhesive on the overhanging tape and lie the next piece of grass onto it.
Hopefully, the joints will be invisible. You must take your time on them because they can spoil the look of the lawn if they are not correct.
You must now trim the grass, felt, and weed-resistant barrier. Use either a sharp utility knife or scissors for the job. When the grass is the correct shape, and there are no lumps or bumps in it, peg it to the ground.
Now stand back and admire your work. Hopefully, you will be delighted with your garden and excited about never needing to cut the grass again. You are looking at the future, my friends.
