To answer this question succinctly, yes. Artificial turf is an excellent alternative to real grass when it comes to conserving water and boosting the value of your home. To be effective, however, placing fake grass on soil needs some preparation and knowledge of the whole turf installation procedure. U.S. Artificial Grass can assist you. Continue reading to learn more about grass installation, or visit our turf blogs for more information.
Can I install artificial grass on top of natural grass?
You must remove natural grass and all other organic matter, and lay a base before installing artificial turf on the soil. A base provides a stable surface for turf and allows for drainage. If grass were to continue to grow under the turf, it could poke through the turf backing.
How to Lay Artificial Grass on Soil
It’s best to learn how to prep the ground beforehand. Although laying artificial grass on soil isn’t a very difficult task, it does require some attention to detail.
Step 1. Gather Your Tools
You won’t need any tools you don’t already have to install fake grass, but you will need a few specialized items for the job:
- Shovel
- Sod cutter
- Rake
- Utility Knife
- Stiff bristle broom
- Lawn roller
- Garden hose
- Turf nails
- Seam tape
- Adhesive
- Hammer
- Wheelbarrow
- Measuring tape
- Chalk or paint
- Lawn spreader
Additionally, if you have a vast area to cover, renting a compactor may be beneficial. It is possible to stomp with a shovel or use a temper, but this takes more time.
Step 2. Remove the Topsoil
Cut away the grass, sod, and undesirable vegetation from the designated areas with a sod cutter, hoe, or shovel, taking care to eliminate big undesired pebbles or roots. The average depth of a sod cutter should be set at 2-3 inches; but, in colder parts of the nation, you may need to dig up to 4 inches to accommodate cold-weather ground expansion and contraction.
Step 3. Grade the Surface
You’ll need to grade the grass sections once the topsoil has been removed. Grade the application areas with a rake before softly watering them with a garden hose. Use a plate compactor or heavy drum roller to level off the soil if you’re really trying to be thorough; otherwise, you can just walk over it again and again. Continue passing over the project area until you’re satisfied with the level of compaction. Compaction should be between 80 and 90%.
Step 4. Base Application
With a 2″ base, a ton of rock base covers 100 sq ft of artificial grass yard. For a 4″ base, you’ll need to upgrade to 2 tons of rock. Spread it out as evenly as possible, and use a bow rake or similar instrument to help you pace yourself so you don’t injure yourself.
Step 5. Prepare the Turf
Roll out the artificial turf and compact it with the base material. Add another layer of base material if the base ends up being too low. Be sure to lay the turf out ahead of time to work out any misshapen spots so it can lay flat during installation.
Step 6. Place the Turf
Measure the area where the grass will be laid, as well as the length of each turf strip. Allow another person to assist you in stretching each grass panel, lifting it up, and placing it on the base. Always lift and carry panels of grass rather than dragging them onto the base, since this might cause the surface to become uneven.
Step 7. Cut the Turf & Attach
Make sure to pull back the blades of glass and be careful to cut the backing between them, not the fibers themselves. Cut panels of turf on the underside with a utility knife if necessary. Add weight down the length of the seam or use a heavy roller for added strength. The drying time for adhesives will vary, depending on the type of adhesive used.
Step 8. Brush the Turf Fibers
Brush or comb the turf with the instrument of your choice, such as a push broom, rake rear, or carpet comb. In the following phase, you’ll sweep the turf using a power broom in between each application of infill material.
Step 9. Spread the Infill
The infill serves to weigh down the grass while keeping the bristles erect. It also contributes to the surface’s cushioning. Black crumb rubber and washed silica sand are two regularly utilized materials.
At U.S. Artificial Grass, we are you to assist you in every step of the installation process. Contact us at (800) 674-TURF and we’ll have one of our artificial turf specialists assist you.
