Artificial grass has been gaining ground and a reputation for being eco-friendly because it doesn’t need water, fertilizer, or to be mowed. Plus, the newest generation of artificial grass often looks good enough to fool us into thinking its real.
A true outdoor carpet, artificial grass directly addresses the primary environmental concerns of real turf. It requires no watering, no mowing, and no feeding. Some manufacturers use recycled materials, such as old tires or plastic bottles. And, while expensive, the life expectancy of artificial turf can be upwards of 25 years, making it a less costly alternative to real turf over its life span.
Artificial grass has come a long way in recent years, and manufacturers have developed a number of ways of making artificial turf look more like the real thing.
There are different heights and different colors, so it looks much more natural. However, it’s not right for every situation. Learn more about when to choose artificial turf.
Because no water, mowing, fertilizer, or pest control is required, the long-term costs associated with artificial turf are low. All you need to do is occasionally use a blower to remove any debris.
Artificial turf won’t develop spots or bare patches due to pet urine, and is less susceptible to digging or damage from dogs. In addition, cleaning up pet messes is a simple matter on artificial turf since it drains well and can be washed easily.
Trees can easily be planted within artificial turf. Though you’ll need to create a tree ring with irrigation and no base rock, trees will grow beautifully surrounded by artificial grass. By contrast, trees can pose a challenge to the health of living turf grass.
The installation process for artificial turf is similar to that of a sod lawn, with just a few key differences.
Begin by lowering the existing grade to about 4 inches below your desired finished grade, such as the level of your patio.
Install edging materials such as brick, steel, concrete curbing, or plastic bender board.
Its uses a 4 inch layer of crushed rock or road base underneath artificial turf. Tamp it down firmly for the most even surface.
Roll out artificial turf on the prepared surface.
Connect any seams using the specially-designed tape meant for that purpose. When joining two strips of artificial turf, make sure the blades of grass are standing in the same direction.
Pull the turf taut and secure it around the edges using 8 inch galvanized nails every 6 inches. This is called “spiking it in”.
If desired, add infill materials such as rubber pellets or sand. Rubber pellets feel nice to walk on in areas with high foot traffic, while sand looks nice because it obscures the weave of the artificial turf. However, the choice to use infill is primarily an aesthetic one, and it’s not necessary.
Use a gas-powered broom to brush the nap into an upright position and give it a natural appearance.
