How To Prepare For Artificial Grass

There are some jobs where you can get away with doing yourself – and then there are some where perhaps we should stop and think again before we leap into the project. If we choose to tackle things ourselves, we’re probably accepting the fact that it may not get done to quite the same standard, and sometimes that’s ok, but sometimes the quality of the finish matters more.

When it comes to your lawn and installing artificial grass for a low-maintenance option, it’s always recommended to let the experts handle it. On that note, let’s take a look at what’s involved when it comes to even just preparing for some artificial grass to be laid, just to give you an idea of the time and effort that’s involved.

1 Remove what’s there

Before you do anything, you’ve got to take out the existing turf and dispose of it. You cannot just lay the artificial grass on top of the real stuff – the grass will soon die, unevenly, and you’ll be left with a bumpy new lawn. Next, about 40-50mm worth of soil and turf needs to be dug out to allow for the combined height of everything that’s going together to create your new artificial lawn.

2 Assess existing drainage

If you’re aware that parts of the lawn are often boggy and prone to puddles, you’ll need to sort that out now by digging a soakaway (a pit filled with rubble) in that area. This is just for major drainage issues.

3 Sort out the weeds

You should already have dug most of the existing weeds out, but they always find a way. And because artificial lawns allow for drainage, the conditions below your lawn will allow them to grow back again. This means you need a precisely cut and laid membrane to prevent them ruining your artificial lawn.

4 Put in the subbase

The way we prepare a base is to put in a layer of aggregate called granno (which is 6mm granite to dust). Once it’s down, it needs to be compact to make sure there is a solid foundation for the next layer you need to put in. There are other methods available, but this is our preferred method for most installs

5 Put in the actual base

On top of the aggregate, you now need to add a good thick layer of sharp sand, about 2cm deep. Once that’s in, you want to make sure that the surface is as smooth and level as you can possibly make it for the artificial grass to be laid evenly.

6 Lay your grass!

Now, at long last, the artificial lawn can go down, cut to precise size and joined with careful attention to blend sections together. If you’ve skipped any of the previous steps, or you’ve not done them with the required care and attention to detail, then chances are that you’ll end up with an uneven or messy finish. This can often mean you’ll start to spot mistakes and there’s a very real possibility that it will not last as long as it should, meaning you’ll need to go through the whole process again.

Why not use the experts?

If all of the above seems a little too time and labour-intensive, then why not look to the professionals? You could save yourself a lot of hassle, and possibly money, this way as it will only need to be done once!

At Easigrass, we have 30+ years of experience and RHS award-winning artificial grass to call on. We also have the skills and knowledge to make sure that everything that goes into creating the perfect artificial lawn is done in a professional way that will give you years of enjoyment, because only by taking your time and making sure you do every stage properly will you get the right result.

To find out more about our artificial grass installation and maintenance services, get in touch with our friendly team today.