When it comes to Astroturf lawn, you’ll find an endless list of advantages, the foremost being that you install it once and then-on, it’s a low-maintenance investment. You need to hose it down now and then, sprinkle silica sand, and brush it through, and that’s it.
SourceIt doesn’t need mowing, aerating, or fertilizing – those will become things of the past with Astroturf lawn. You can compare it to having a concrete floor, which is equally as low-maintenance. Yet, it doesn’t look as pleasing and environmentally-friendly as an artificial lawn.
Another great attribute that artificial lawns enjoy is their straightforward installation process and the availability of the needed materials. Today, we’ll teach you how to install Astroturf lawn on your own, or with the help of a few friends to save time.
1. Prepare the Area
To install an Astroturf lawn, you have to remove anything that was previously present in the area; that includes any grass, weeds, and the top layer of your soil.
SourceThis could take about two weeks for the weed killer to work. Just make sure that it’s a non-toxic one that won’t harm your soil. That’ll guarantee you a fresh start. Here are other measures you need to take in preparation.
Create an Adequate Drainage System
You’ll definitely be hosing down your artificial grass to clean it. Plus, there are so many ways water can end up on your grass, including rain. If you don’t have a proper drainage system, that’ll create a massive problem for you.
The solution here is to drill holes around 6 inches all over your newly lawned area. On the other hand, if an existing drain is close enough to the area, then creating a slight gradient will let excess water slide towards the drain.
Establish Boundaries
We’ll later speak about the law installation and the importance of having it packed tightly together. Yet, one thing you need to do to your area that’ll also have a significant impact on your lawn’s stability is creating boundaries using fences. These fences will be the last line of defence, stopping your lawn patches from spreading where they shouldn’t go.
Spray Weed-Defence
Don’t forget that weed can quickly grow back. That’s why, before laying anything on your freshly cleaned space, make sure to spread a layer of non-toxic weed killer thoroughly to ward off any unwanted weeds.
Place a Base Layer
The base layer placed underneath the Astroturf lawn can include a plethora of different materials, including stones, rocks, granite, gravel stone, and short sand. All of that is present to help with drainage and create a sense of firmness and durability to your new lawn.
Nevertheless, don’t forget that you have to thoroughly compact and flatten this layer to achieve that goal. Otherwise, it’ll be bumpy and create water puddles everywhere. You can use a plate compactor, a vibratory plate compactor, or even a plank of wood.
This will reduce the original thickness to more than half. Additionally, if you find any places that need additional stones, gravel, or sand, don’t hesitate to fill that and level again to reach the best results possible. Lastly, moisten your base layer but without drowning it.
2. Lawn Preparation
Check the Measurements
Now that you have your lawn rolled out, all you have to do is make sure that all your measurements are correct and start cutting your artificial lawn accordingly.
Cleaning and Dry the Surface
Clean your surface one last time, either using a power washer or scrubbing it to remove any elevations or dirt. Also, make sure that the surface is completely dry before beginning to place any Astroturf lawn pieces.
SourcePosition the Lawn
Remember to place all of your pieces facing the same direction to give it a natural look and make sure that all the pieces fit snugly together to avoid gaps between them.
One thing that can incredibly help you well positioning your turf is to use a carpet stretcher to help flatten the seams and have them stay where they should be until all of the glue dries. This will also help with turf wrinkles and eliminate the effect of temperature on your lawn.
Tape and Glue the Pieces
To have everything stick together, start by laying the pieces next to each other and place your tape tightly where the seam would go. For extra security, you can nail the tape down using 6-inch nails.
Next, add the specific glue and spread it evenly to provide full coverage without seeping into the grass itself. Our last step is stitching. Be sure to be as precise as possible to stitch the pieces tightly together without having them bend.
For additional assurance, apply as much pressure as you can to the pieces’ edges and wait a few hours before walking on the newly laid grass.
Secure the Edges
To ensure that your edges will not stick out or bend, it’s advised to use 4-6 inches galvanized stakes to keep the boundaries down where they should be. Try to place the steaks as uniformly as possible all around the newly lawned area.
Apply Silica Sand
Silica sand fills in all of the net gaps to which the roots of the grass are attached. The preferred ratio of silica sand to a square meter is 5 kg to 1 m². Just make sure that you brush it around evenly to achieve the best results possible.
Final Thoughts
SourceAs you can see, installing Astroturf lawn isn’t at all a complicated process. You just need to make a checklist of everything you could possibly need in the process, and it can be finished within a day. Astroturf lawn combines the effortlessness of concrete with the beauty of grass lawn, and that’s why it’s so popular and worth it!
Mary shares a passion for gardening with her husband John, though she is more focused on growing veg on their allotment at St. Margaret’s Allotments, Durham. Mary also works in the lawn care industry and manages the lawns for the Durham University campus.