Installing your Own Synthetic Turf Lawn

With today’s emphasis on water conservation, it’s no wonder that many homeowners across the country are turning to artificial turf lawns. They also require less maintenance, thereby greatly reduce the amount of time you’ll spend working on your lawn every weekend.

Instead, you can simply sit back and enjoy the greenest, most lush lawn in the neighborhood – no sweat involved!

Although artificial grass can be quite costly – about 10 times the cost of an average lawn – many homeowners see it as an investment because of its water and time-saving qualities. You can, however, save yourself a considerable amount of money on your synthetic lawn by installing it yourself.  It will take quite a bit of elbow grease and precision, but it can be done if you follow these few, simple tips:

·         Ask your local neighborhood or homeowner’s association if there are any restrictions regarding artificial lawns in your neighborhood.

·         Determine your layout and make a sketch of the area where the artificial lawn will go. Use it as a guide and measure the total area to determine how much turf you will need to purchase.

·         Once you have ordered your artificial turf, you’ll need to remove the old sod from your lawn. You can do this by hand or through the use of a sod cutter, which you can rent from your local rental company.

·         Remove as many roots and weeds as you can after the sod has been removed. Your goal is to make the area as flat as possible. Don’t forget to cap off any sprinkler heads, as well.

·         You may also want to compact the soil at this time.

·         Next, put down a layer of crushed granite over the dirt, and smooth it out to reduce bumps and dips. Once again, you’ll need to make it as smooth as possible.

·         Use a cement roller to compact the gravel. You can rent a cement roller from your local rental company.

·         Water the crushed granite down and compact it again.

·         Roll the artificial grass onto the area. Artificial turf comes in rolls, which makes it easy to simply roll out like carpeting.

·         Trim around trees, sidewalks, patios, etc.

·         Anchor the turf down using the appropriate anchors. Concentrate on anchoring the corners down, as well.

·         You may also want to use seam tape under each of the edges of the turf if your yard is frequently used.

·         After your artificial turf has been positioned into place and anchored down, you’ll want to add a layer of white sand over the grass. Smooth the sand out using a standard house broom. The white sand will seal the lawn and act as a stabilizer for the grass blades.

·         Water you synthetic turf into place and your lawn is ready to go!

You can blow off your artificial turf about once a week using an air blower or leaf blower. You can also water it down to keep it clean or to wash away pet urine.