Artificial turf installation can be overwhelming at first glance. Some people tend to hold off getting artificial grass for their lawn because they think it comes with too many complicated issues. However, that could not be less true as artificial grass is more straightforward to maintain than a traditional lawn.
As with any landscaping project, some issues can be unavoidable depending on your planning process and artificial grass installation. With that, here are some of the common problems that can occur with turf installation and how to fix them.
Choosing the wrong type of artificial grass
It matters that you choose which one is right for your landscaping project for synthetic grass installation. You certainly want to opt for high-quality artificial grass that looks aesthetically appealing. All synthetic turf is not created equally, and you would need to consider what you will be using the turf for and how it looks before going on with the installation process.
Each type of artificial grass is designed for a particular purpose, especially when considering its qualities that respond to specific needs. It is common for first-timers to overlook their choices as they choose the right type of turf for their lawn or yard. Consider more durable options that are soft yet can withstand heavy use if you want to use your artificial turf as a play area for children or pets.
Weed Growth
Weeds can grow on your artificial grass. However, the amount of weeds is not nearly as much as you would get with a natural grass traditional lawn. However, some people do not experience weed growth on their grounds, likely because they have an excellent weed-suppressing membrane.
If your artificial lawn does not have a weed-suppressing membrane, you could also go the route of using a weed killer or pulling it up from its roots. However, it would be best to be careful with the chemicals you use around pets and children. Along with this, you should also always maintain the cleanliness of your artificial lawn.
Moss buildup
The fake grass itself does not encourage the growth of moss or algae. However, there are also instances wherein organic matter or debris trapped in the artificial grass can lead to moss or algae growth. It is tricky to remove as it usually entails rinsing and scrubbing the grass by hand to get rid of moisture that facilitates moss growth.
The best course of action is to prevent it before it happens. Every once in a while, it is helpful to go over your artificial lawn with a leaf blower or a brush to remove all organic matter that can facilitate moss growth. You must not use any brush with stiff bristles as it can cause damage to your grass.
Flattening Over Time
Your artificial grass lawn will see a lot of foot traffic over time. Having guests, kids, or pets can play a part in flattening your artificial grass, which is not a significant issue. However, flattened grass can make your lawn a little less vibrant.
It is helpful to brush your artificial grass and give it a slight sweep to fluff up the grass and make it look fresh again. You can also eliminate loose leaves and debris to maintain its vibrant look.
It is also crucial to keep in mind that you should sweep against the grain of the grass or the technique called cross-brushing that could help make your artificial grass stand up more. Brushing along with the grain of the grass will make it flatter.
Lifting edges
Lifting edges of artificial grass is a common problem that people tend to face. When you get your artificial lawn installed with the help of a professional, its edges should be secured down with pins or a timber frame. However, if it is lifting along the edges, it means that your artificial grass is not installed correctly or something has come loose.
Lifted edges can become a hazard as people can trip over them, or your artificial grass could lift off the ground amid strong winds and storms. However, it is an easy fix, as you can buy some fixing pins online. Fixing pins are very easy to install, and they can also instantly take care of the problem.
If you are thinking about updating the look of your yard or lawn, you might also want to consider getting an edge restraint installed around the artificial grass. Edge restraint can keep your sub-base fixed in place, and it ensures that your grass does not sink at the edges. It also enables you to anchor and secure the grass around its perimeter.
Foul odour
This problem is easy to identify, primarily if your pets use your artificial grass as their restroom. Another concern during synthetic turf installation is the smell of adhesives. It is helpful to use a deodorizer to neutralize any odour before it becomes a massive problem in the long run. Expert installers could also recommend one infill over another to help keep bad smells away from your lawn.
To maintain your lawn and prevent foul odours, it is always best to immediately clean up any messes. It will keep your turf looking and smelling its best, especially during the warmest months of the year.
Visible Joint Lines
Aesthetics is one of the main reasons why homeowners opt for fake grass. After all the money and time spent on perfecting your landscaping project, a line that runs across the turf is the last thing you want to see in your lawn or garden. Visible joint lines in artificial grass are caused by light bouncing off the grass blades that are pushed together.
The best thing you can do to prevent this from happening is hire an experienced professional to do it. A good contractor can help ensure that your artificial lawn is appropriately installed in the first place.
You can always choose and rely on Easy Turf for more crucial information on premium synthetic grass solutions for your yard or lawn. We offer quality and life-like turf suitable to Australia’s harsh climate conditions. It can also provide quality artificial grass installation for commercial, sporting, and residential landscapes. If you want more details, you can contact us at 1300 475 498 or 1300 475 498 or visit our website at www.easyturf.com.au to learn more about our products and services.
Commonly asked Artificial Turf Questions
Why should you go with Easy Turf for your artificial turf?
We are an industry leading supplier and installer of high quality artificial grass in Australia. As industry experts we can give you the best advice for when you are laying your synthetic grass. Installing artificial turf can provide a rewarding experience to your family and household as it frees you from the hassles and expense of owning a traditional lawn.
If you have any questions on artificial grass, we are happy to help answer any of your questions around the installation of your synthetic grass. How to get in contact? Reach us on 1300 475 499 or, at https://www.easyturf.com.au/contact-us.
We have a step by step guide on laying your synthetic grass into simple steps. The guide will run you through:
- Getting ready – your checklist
- Measuring up for synthetic grass
- Choosing the right grass for you
- Preparing the ground for your synthetic grass
- Rolling and pegging out your grass
Expert tips for natural-looking artificial grass
Why you should double check your Artificial Turf measurements
When measuring up for artificial grass installation it’s crucial to know exactly how much artificial turf you are going to need for your project. Just imagine being short a few square metres on your project or you have massively over-ordered your artificial turf. Double check your measurements and also ensure you order slightly more artificial turf than you think in case there is miscalculation or errors.
How do you prepare the ground for synthetic grass?
Preparing the base so that it is rubble-free, smooth and flat is essential to the success of your DIY turf-laying project. Skip a step and you risk unwanted lumps and bumps.
Remove any existing turf and soil including any stones, pebbles and debris. We suggest you dig to around 7.5cm deep.
- To prevent any regrowth from weeds and unwanted plants, place a plastic membrane over the entire cleared area.
- Apply a thin layer of crushed stone over the top of the plastic membrane.
- Use planks of wood to create a new layer over the top of the crushed stone.
- If you are laying your artificial grass over the top of concrete or paving stones, it’s essential to check that it is level. If not, you will need to use a spirit level and create extra height with additional concrete or other materials. You will also need to make sure that there is adequate drainage close by to handle excess rain and water.
- We recommend that you use a foam underlay on the top of the concrete to create a more comfortable feel underfoot. Easy Turf suggests using 5mm of foam underlay on top of concrete and pavers to give some softness.
- Use a compactor where necessary to ensure a level and robust finish to your foundations.
How to roll out and peg your synthetic grass
Once you have the foundations in place, it is time to peg out your turf, a crucial step before you permanently fix it into position. Follow these steps to ensure the best results.
Slowly unroll your synthetic turf over the carefully prepared foundations.
Use your nails and/or pegs and place at even intervals along the turf but about 30-40cm from the edge to hold it in place (the space between the nail and the edge of the grass will be held down by the adhesive tape used in step D).
If you are using artificial grass on concrete, paving stone or hard floor, use industrial-strength synthetic turf glue instead of nails. As before, leave a gap of approximately 30-40cm to the edge of the grass to allow for the use of tape.
Add the next strip of artificial grass and use the same principles, either nailing/pegging or glueing in place and leaving the space to allow for taping.
As you lay the consecutive strips, be careful to ensure that the pile of the grass is running in the same direction (if the fibres are pointing in alternate ways you will have an uneven stripe in your grass). If in doubt, use your hand to feel which way the threads are pointing.
Once you have covered all your area with synthetic turf you are ready for the next step. Use your industrial strength tape to connect adjoining grass strips. Apply tape along the entire length of one piece of grass and then ‘connect’ the section next to it by laying that on top of the remaining tape. Flatten and ensure that it is a tight fit without any gaps or unstuck areas.
What is the purpose of sand on artificial grass?
- The sand helps the ‘roots’ of the synthetic grass to stay upright, regardless of use; this avoids the grass appearing to flatten on high traffic areas.
- As the sand helps the grass to remain upright it does create a variation on the angle that they point which resembles the blades of real grass.
- Sand helps to prevent a flattening of the blades in high traffic areas.
- Using the correct type of sand (only use artificial turf white sand) allows for excellent drainage without washing away the sand or soaking up excess water.
- The sand remains within the turf and doesn’t rub off on clothing or on kids and pets who choose to roll on the grass.
No time for DIY?
We understand that even though you might prefer to install your artificial grass you don’t have the time. We understand if, due to time constraints (or you don’t like DIY), that you’d prefer that the other experts (us) did the job and you get to spend the weekend trying out your new lawn. No worries.
Easy Turf is happy to provide installation and supplier services and take away yet another hassle. As well as supplying samples of our range of artificial grass, we can also provide quotes and have a register of approved installers of our artificial grass in Australia. Select your State and you will see a list of our recommended suppliers and installers.
Contact EasyTurf today and let us help you choose from the best artificial grass in Australia. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service with honest and reliable advice. Contact us for a quote or more information sales@easyturf.com.au
What supplies do you need to lay Artificial turf?
In order to have a hassle free synthetic lawn installation you need to make sure you’ve done the prep work. Here is a handy checklist to make sure you have all the things you need:
- Grass – Choosing the right grass for your yard is important for your enjoyment. We offer a wide range of synthetic grasses that are designed to look & feel just like real grass.
- Pegs and nails to hold down the grass and prevent movement
- Industrial gloves – to protect your hands
- Peel and stick tape – to join synthetic grass together and provide a neat finish
- Industrial strength synthetic grass glue – ideal if you are putting your lawn on top of concrete, pavers or other hard surfaces
- Artificial grass sand and fine rock – for a reliable base and for finishing off the prep
- Foam underlay – if you are using grass on hard surfaces such as concrete and pavers
- Wooden planks – to help flatten the earth
- Compactor (either manual or machine-driven) – to flatten the ground and ensure a professional finish
- Standard tools such as a broom, rake, hammer, spirit level, hose, retractable tape measure, nails, quality retractable or fixed blade knife
How to choose the right synthetic grass for you?
Once you have the correct measurements for your artificial grass, you need to select which type of synthetic grass will be best for your project. Easy Turf has a wide range of fake grass available that is suitable for residential, educational, sports, and commercial applications. We offer free samples and also partner with local wholesalers.
Can I Lay Fake Grass On Dirt
It’s not advisable to lay fake grass on topsoil or any sort of soil. This will leave you with an uneven finish for your freshly installed artificial grass, and also have weeds slowly grow in over time.
For the best results follow our DIY Guide for installing fake grass.
How To Lay Artificial Grass On Sand
Artificial grass cannot be placed only on sand, as you need to use crushed rock to assist with the drainage and ensure that the synthetic grass stays level.
For the best results follow our DIY Guide for installing fake grass.
Why use silicon sand with your artificial grass?
Once you’ve laid your artificial grass you have two options in your next steps. You can either leave the grass as is or add sand to make it appear more natural.
Adding sand to the grass can help it appear more natural as it helps keep the grass upright. To add the proper amount of sand ee recommend that you allow for approximately 10-15kg per sqm for coverage. Using a rake or a broom, sprinkle the sand on top of the grass and walk it in to make sure that it falls deep down into the pile and settles at the base. Then, water the lawn to help the sand settle down within the grass.
