Artificial grass, lawn, astroturf or whatever you may call it isn’t always simple to install, which is why we recommend using a professional installer to lay artificial grass for you. However, if you find yourself scratching your head and thinking “how do I lay artificial grass?”, then this is the guide for you.
Unfortunately, laying artificial grass isn’t as simple as just laying the astro turf down. However, the following tools will make the installing artificial grass a whole lot easier:
To perfectly lay your artificial grass onto an existing hard base such as concrete or tarmac, we recommend installing a layer of Lazy Foam underlay beneath the artificial grass.
Before you lay the foam pad down, be sure to clean the surface beneath it. The foam underlay padding will provide extra cushioning and drainage to ensure your artificial grass is of a great standard all year round.
Unfortunately, laying your artificial grass down directly on a soil base is not recommended. This is because soil can become a victim of weather-induced wear and tear quite easily – leaving you with a base that is compromised.
Ultimately, this will ruin your artificial grass, so it is imperative to lay your artificial grass on a stronger base – a combination of MOT type 1 and granite stone 6mm dust.
Artificial grass can be laid on top of concrete as long as it is even and is able to drain water correctly.
However, regardless of whether the concrete is even or not, we recommend using an underlay to properly make sure your artificial grass is looked after in the best way possible.
The short answer is yes. However, as with concrete, you need to take the right precautions before doing so. You must make sure the wood is strong and fresh – not weak and/or mouldy.
When installing artificial grass on decking, you must also be sure to use some sort of underlay and weed membrane to make sure your artificial grass remains in tip-top shape.
To keep things simple, you can lay artificial grass by using the required tools listed above and by following our 6 easy steps below:
1. Plan and clear the area
2. Create an edge
3. Lay the base
4. Apply weed membrane
5. Lay the artificial grass and trim edges
6. Add finishing touches
Read on below for information on each step and learn how to install artificial grass.
Before starting your project, plan out the area to be covered. Ensure that cables and water pipes are below the digging depth.
Remove the turf to a depth of 2″ using a turf cutter or spade and remove any large stones, bricks, or other obstructions. Lay down a type 1 stone base.
Once the base is compacted, apply a weed membrane to the area and secure it in position with 6″ galvanised steel nails every 0.75m around the perimeter. This will prevent weed growth whilst allowing water drainage.
Trim off any waste membrane from the edges. If any joining is needed, overlap the edges then attach them with gaffer tape.
Unroll the artificial turf over the area, being careful to not move the weed membrane. Having the pile direction running toward the house will give the best look from the windows of the house.
Once positioned, trim the excess artificial grass. VertEdge gives you a useful edge to run your knife around. We recommend changing blades every 3-5 metres to ensure the blade stays sharp enough.
To finish, apply kiln sand to the turf. This can be done using a blower and stiff brush or a lawn fertiliser spreader. We recommend 6-8kg of sand per square metre of product. This step is vital to ensure the most natural-looking finish.
For the best results, we recommend brushing the pile before, during and after. This sand infill dressing should be done on a dry day and the same day as the lawn installation.
If you have any questions about fitting your own LazyLawn, our head office team are happy to help with any technical queries. Call us to talk through any tricky aspects on 0800 023 2343.
For more information on laying artificial grass, please view our other installation guides or read this blog post containing important fitting advice about how to install artificial grass.
We have a nationwide network of LazyLawn licensees who have been verified by Which? Trusted Traders, ensuring the best possible finish for your artificial lawn.
