How to install artificial grass in your garden
A garden with grass is very attractive, but sometimes the climate, the location of the home, or a lack of time prevent us from enjoying it as we would like. For this reason, more and more people are opting for artificial or synthetic grass, a product whose quality and variety have improved enormously over the years and which we can also install ourselves quickly and easily.
Natural grass is the main element that makes a garden require extensive maintenance. It needs to be mowed weekly during the growing season to keep it looking good and watered so that you can enjoy its green color. Both requirements make it a luxury, since the cost of labor and irrigation water is very high and unsustainable. Fertilizing, treating weeds, pests, and diseases is an endless task. As always, the irrigation system breaks down at the most inconvenient moment, leaving us with dry areas; the garden looks beautiful all year, and after a few hot days, it is completely ruined.
With artificial grass, there is no maintenance, it stays green all year round, and your water bill will certainly decrease. If you employ gardeners, you can replace that expensive weekly or biweekly service contract with a more basic and sufficient once-a-month maintenance visit, with less noise and disturbance for your neighbors, who will appreciate it. The only thing you should know is that during the hottest weather, artificial grass can burn your feet if you walk barefoot, so it is advisable to hose it down occasionally to cool it.
HOW TO INSTALL IT
STEP 1: PREPARE THE GROUND
The first step in installing artificial grass on a soil or grass surface is preparing the ground. To do this, we must remove all the weeds using a tiller or, failing that, a hoe. Next, we will spray the entire area with herbicide to prevent these plants from growing back once the artificial grass has been installed.
The surface must be covered with the necessary sand or gravel to level the ground and create a flat, even surface, so that the final appearance is optimal and there are no hollows beneath the artificial grass.
Finally, water the surface thoroughly and run a roller over it to compact the soil. This leaves the surface firm and ready for the installation of the artificial grass.
STEP 2: LAY THE WEED-BARRIER FABRIC
In addition to preventing weeds from growing back, weed-barrier fabric promotes drainage for the artificial grass, making it an essential material for this type of installation.
Therefore, the next step is to lay out the weed-barrier fabric and secure it with nails every meter so that it does not move. At the edges, fold it over and make sure it is firmly secured to the ground. For proper installation, it is advisable to overlap the strips of weed-barrier fabric.
STEP 3: PLAN THE LAYOUT OF THE ARTIFICIAL GRASS
It is very important to measure the surface accurately and plan the layout of the cuts before making them. Therefore, start by spreading the rolls of grass over the fabric, making sure that all the rolls are placed with the fibers facing in the same direction. If the grass is not laid in the same direction, the final result will not look good at all, since it will be obvious that the strips have been positioned incorrectly and the grass will not look realistic.
Before permanently joining the pieces, it is advisable to trim the edges by cutting off a row of tufts on each side (approximately 0.5 cm), eliminating any imperfections so that the seams are perfect. Next, position the pieces with a gap of between 0.1 and 0.5 cm, depending on the model, and brush the joint to check that it is effectively invisible, since the joins between the pieces should not be noticeable. This will ensure that the seams cannot be seen, as the grass fibers will cover them.
To cut around obstacles, mark the cut with a utility knife every 30 cm and, if possible, use a support to cut straight. It is essential to measure before cutting difficult areas, such as around trees.
STEP 4: INSTALL THE ARTIFICIAL GRASS OVER THE WEED-BARRIER FABRIC
Before placing the joining tape, we must make sure that the seams of our artificial grass are positioned next to each other. In this regard, we must prevent one from overlapping the other or leaving even a slight gap between them. If either of these things happened, the seams of our artificial grass would be visible. For this reason, it is essential to devote enough time to this step to ensure that the gap between the seams of our synthetic grass cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Once this step has been completed, the next thing is to place the synthetic grass over the joining tape. To do this, separate the seams, place the joining tape on the ground, apply the adhesive, and then join the seams over the tape (it is important to carry out this step using a zipper effect). This will make the installation look as though it were a single piece of artificial grass. At this stage, it is also important to secure the joining tape with nails. Watch the video to see how the artificial-grass installer does it.
Nail down the grass surface every meter, paying special attention to the joining areas and edges. This will ensure that the artificial grass is firmly fixed to the surface, preventing it from separating or coming loose.
STEP 5: FINAL INSTALLATION TOUCHES
Spread silica sand over the entire surface and brush it with a traditional stiff-bristle brush (or an electric one, like the one in the photograph) against the direction of the fibers, as this lifts the artificial grass fibers and distributes the sand evenly.
Covering the surface with silica sand is optional, although it does increase the comfort of the artificial grass, making footsteps more pleasant. It also provides greater support for the grass, keeping the fibers upright. Finally, silica sand prevents the grass from becoming as hot in summer, keeping it cooler for longer, especially when watered.
I hope this guide has been helpful! At Brikum, you will find everything for Gardening, DIY and home!
