How to Install Artificial Grass

Synthetic Grass Products & Installation – How to Install Artificial Grass

Needed Tools

Artificial grass material cut to your dimensions
(15’ width min/ 60 sq. ft. min orders).

Utility knife
Shovel/rake
Tape measure
Stiff bristled push broom
Stamper
Sand infill (at least 30 grit)
Landscape stakes/Recommended or Fabric stakes
Golf: Flag, pole & cup
Seaming Tape and adhesive

Design Phase

A. Drainage: Will the existing drainage system be adequate? Will the artificial grass installation area require additional drains or modified drains, grading, or sloping?

B. Soil Condition: Will you need to wet or soften the ground or use a jackhammer to remove large rocks? Rain-soaked soil may need to dry a few days before artificial grass work begins.

C. Irrigation: Are there sprinklers or bubblers for the remaining trees and plants or does irrigation need to be finished first? Identify all irrigation lines, electrical conduits, etc. below ground that could be damaged during the synthetic grass installation.

D. Preventing Future Damage: Determine if additional supplies are needed to prevent damage from rodents or ground animals. Rodent wire (similar to chicken wire) may be appropriate. Is there a dog that could pull up the artificial grass? If so, secure the entire perimeter to prevent the synthetic grass from being pulled up or damaged.

E. Existing Design Elements: Is there a concrete border? is it smooth? Will you need to nail into concrete footings? If you are using curbing, edging, or border materials, install them prior to cutting the synthetic grass, as this will give you a more accurate measurement of the fake grass.

F. Measurements: To reduce labor, measure the project area carefully and design the layout to minimize the number of seams in the artificial lawn.

G. Design Application Tips: All synthetic grass products have a grain direction that must be taken into account. Note the grain direction and install all sections of fake grass in the same grain pattern. Installing synthetic grass in opposing grain patterns may result in noticeable seams.

Ground Preparation

A. Underground Hazards: Irrigation and electrical lines may be located just under the surface of the project area. Before laying synthetic grass, locate all irrigation/sprinkler heads. Cap off or remove all unwanted irrigation/sprinkler heads. Turn on irrigation to verify everything works correctly before you start. Do the same with any existing electrical features.

B. Existing Material Removal: Utilize a sod cutter, shovel, and pickaxes to remove all unwanted grass, sod, and vegetation. Remove all unwanted tree roots, mulch, and large rocks. Grade the sub-base.

C. Base Preparation: Installing the base surface under the artificial lawn is critical to maintaining the stability and integrity of the artificial grass system. Spread a layer of 3/8” crushed stone (also called Class 2 Road Base, Decomposed Granite, or Chat) evenly over the area. A general rule of thumb is one yard of crushed rock per 100 square feet of synthetic grass to be installed, provided that 3-4 inches of existing landscaping is removed.

D. Spread the base material evenly. Grade and level to meet design and drainage requirements. Shape to desired appearance – flat, slight roll, mounded.

E. Lightly wet the project area and compact the base material with a roller compactor or plate compactor. Continual passes over the project area are required until a compaction rate of 90% or greater is achieved. When dry, the project area should be smooth and firm to eliminate unwanted bumps under the artificial grass system.

F. After the base is installed, the top of the artificial grass blade must be ½” above any surrounding hardscape. Add the height of the blade to the depth of the compacted base material to calculate how much material needs to be removed at these edges. The project area does not need to be flat. The area can have a slight grade, taking into account any drainage requirements.

G. If required, install rodent wire at this time. Install wire over the entire sub-base area, with one square overlap. Secure wire to ground with landscape staples.

H. If required, install Polyboard or treated lumber along the perimeter.

Artificial Grass Installation

A. Unroll the synthetic grass and stretch across the top of the prepared base. Do not drag fake grass across the prepared base. If the synthetic grass has wrinkles, lay it flat on a flat surface in the sun. Be sure to have the grain direction of each artificial grass roll facing the same direction.

B. Cut the artificial grass to fit the project area with a razor knife or carpet cutter. To see the stitch rows, all cuts must be made from the backside of synthetic grass. Complete cutting before any seaming.

C. When cutting curved edges, cut in small increments to match the design. Draw lines using a silver marker on the backside of the artificial grass.

D. If seaming two synthetic grass rolls is required, trim the edge of each piece so that they are very straight. Once the edges of each roll are straight, lay them adjacent to each other on the base in the desired position. Make sure that the stitch lines match. If the cuts are straight and the tuft lines match, the seams will be virtually invisible.

E. Place both ends of the artificial grass edges together, line up the stitch lines and fold back the edges of the synthetic grass sections to lay the 6” seeming material underneath the fake sections. Apply weather-resistant adhesive (UltimateBond or EZ-Seam) using a zigzag pattern. Fold the two sections of artificial grass down together over seaming material to form one seamless piece of synthetic grass.

F. Secure the artificial grass around the seam with 6” or 7” landscape staples. When determining how far apart to place them, alternate sides every 6” rather than placing them directly across from each other. Place the weight on the seam to hold the synthetic grass in place while the glue is drying.

G. Attaching the artificial grass to the border:

i. If there is treated lumber around the border, nail the grass to treated lumber every 3” to 6” with 20D or 40D nails.

ii. If using Polyboard around the border, use an air gun to attach the synthetic grass.

H. If perimeter material has not been used, nail 6” or 7” stakes to secure the synthetic grass at the edges. Space the stakes along the perimeter edges approximately 12” apart.

I. Turn on irrigation to check that all desired sprinkler heads are capped and pipes have not been punctured. Check all electrical lighting. Prior to infilling the artificial grass, all repair work must be completed.

Artificial Grass Infill

A. Proper infill installation is critical to maintaining your artificial grass system. A chart has been provided below showing the amount of infill material for each type of fake grass. The materials (Options include: Washed Sand and Cryogenic Rubber or Acrylic Coated Sand, Washed Sand) used to infill the artificial grass help to protect the synthetic grass from the elements while maintaining the blade structure and level design. Spread the infill material evenly. Use a drop spreader (the type commonly used to spread grass seed, fertilizer, lime, etc.). Do not “dump” the infill in large quantities on the fake grass as it will be very difficult to evenly distribute.

B. Do not attempt to install the infill material while the synthetic grass or the infill material is wet. The infill will clump.

C. Place the infill material into the drop spreader and set the dispenser gauge on 5 or Medium. Distribute the infill material liberally, but evenly over the artificial grass. Always install sand products first. Spread ½ pounds of infill material per pass.

D. In between spreading the layers of infill material, brush the synthetic grass fibers upright with a stiff-bristled industrial broom, Grandi Groom, carpet rake, or a power broom.

E. Repeat the infill process until the infill material is evenly spread and no more than ¾” of synthetic grass fibers or ½ of the blades are exposed above the top of the grass.

F. When the infill process is complete, water the entire area evenly with a hose to settle the material. Adjust the infill again after it is dry.

Clean Up

Sweep all infill material from the surrounding hardscape and clean up planter areas and swimming pools. Wash or sweep tear out and base material from the surrounding hardscape and clean up planter areas and swimming pools. Wash or sweep tear out and base material from staging areas.

Care and Maintenance

Routine Maintenance

• Whenever possible, use a leaf blower to remove organic materials from the surface. Remove heavier objects with a rake; however, a leaf blower is an ideal tool for general upkeep. Use a stiff natural bristle broom to “bloom” high-traffic areas. We recommend the Harper brand model #6924A.
• Use a shop-vac for dry spills. Be sure to hold the suction end of the hose up off the surface to avoid removing the infill material along with the debris.
• Check edges for weeds. Remove and/or use pre or post-emergent to control growth (such as RoundUp).
• If the infill is disturbed after heavy rain, let the area dry, remove the surface debris and fluff the area with a broom. This will redistribute the surface infill.

Spot Cleaning or Disinfecting

• Rinse sticky spills thoroughly to keep dirt from sticking. If necessary, use commercial disinfectants; however, be sure to rinse afterward in order to soak the disinfectant through the grass and away from pets and family members.
• Promptly remove food waste to avoid attracting pests.
• Remove paint with paint thinner or other suitable paint removing products. Be sure to rinse afterward.
• Use ice to remove gum from the surface.

Pet Artificial Grass Clean-Up

• Remove solid waste normally. Wash off the remaining waste. In order to avoid disturbing the infill, do not aim the stream directly at the grass.
• To clean away waste and eliminate odors during dry weather, dampen the area that your pets use with water (or a combination of water and enzyme-based cleaners like Nature’s MiracleTM).

Putting Green Installation Highlights

• A backyard putting green installation process, including proprietary “TourFringe,” a true apron cut, providing the distinctive “3-cut” putting green look like real greens.
• Home putting green installation process including moguls, tiers, bulkheads, and bunkering reminiscent of real course designs of Palmer, Nicklaus, Dye, and Doak.
• A “contoured elevation” practice putting green synthetic turf installation resulting in spectacular and realistic aesthetics, with “flow” and “subtleties.”
• Pure and “tight” professional putting surface with conditions replicating tour greens.

As an artificial grass company, we are here to provide you with all the information you need on synthetic grass products and their installation. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions about the EasyTurf artificial grass installation process.