Artificial grass is growing in popularity and has become a fast alternative to natural grass in many garden and interior locations.
So why are people installing artificial grass? Artificial grasses are extremely durable and require virtually zero maintenance once in place. It can offer a lush appearance forms an attractive surface for all the family to use.
Benefits of Artificial Grass
Low Maintenance And Stain Free
The lawnmower can be safely put away - forever. As no longer will routine grass cutting, edging, and fertilizing infringe on your weekend. Once laid, artificial grass requires minimal maintenance, just sweep off any debris now and again. Hot water and household detergent will remove all but the most stubborn stains.
Easy To Install
Just ensure that the base area is compact, solid, level, and free draining. It's almost like laying down a carpet, but outdoors!
Realistic, Long-Lasting And Stabilized
Artificial grass is similar to natural turf when walked on and can be mistaken for real grass. The springy tufts of grass spring back after stepping on it and the colour shades used are designed to create a life-like appearance without any of that plastic look-ing reflective finish. The lifespan of branded artificial grass is estimated at between 10 - 15 years but if used on the patio it will be slightly less. The grass is also resistant to UV light, so any colour fading is negligible.
Hardwearing
Ideal for children to play on all day. Read how new mom Michelle created a play area for her daughter and friends, they can now enjoy the swings, slide and Wendy house at any time for as long as they like, there are no worries about the grass wearing out or flattening.
Cut To Any Shape
For odd-shaped areas, all you need is a sharp knife and straight edge, if done properly fraying should be minimal.
Can be Layed Onto Multi-surfaces
Artificial grass can be laid on wooden decking, gravel, concrete etc, even your roof, using all-weather adhesive and/or dressing sand.
All Year Use
When rain reduces your neighbor's garden to a muddy damp patch or is covered in frost or snow, you'll be glad that your table and chairs, practice putting surface or children's play equipment are located on pristine artificial grass. Provided the base is free draining, it will not become waterlogged or muddy!
Versatile
Suitable for most indoor and outdoor activities, there are various types and colours for different applications such as patios, balconies, swimming pool surrounds, high traffic areas, sports etc. Barbecues won't set fire to it, and cars can drive over it.
Safe For Children
Clean and durable, our artificial grass is designed with non-abrasive soft polyethylene. It is perfect for home gardens where children often play, or even for nurseries and creches.
Pet Friendly
Artificial grass is warm and inviting for pets. It doesn't stain and any mess can be washed away or easily removed without leaving any smell. With all the benefits of natural grass, and none of the drawbacks, artificial grass can offer all these advantages, so that over time it will be a very worthwhile alternative.
How to Lay Artificial Grass
How Much Grass Do I Need?
The different types of artificial grass are generally manufactured in rolls of 2-metres (6 feet 6 inches) or 4-metres (13 feet) wide and are supplied in lengths to suit your requirements. To minimise wastage it's necessary to carefully work out the lengths and widths you will require, and it may help to map out your requirements on squared paper. Verde artificial grasses are easily joined and, due to the long pile, carefully made seams are invisible.
For simple-shaped areas, it is relatively easy to calculate your requirements. For more complicated areas it would be advisable to draw an accurate plan of the area to be covered. Send your plan to your supplier who will advise on your requirements.
How Do I Make Joins?
Joins are made by sticking the underside of the artificial grass to a special seaming tape by means of polyurethane adhesive. The edges to be joined should be trimmed carefully, removing any excess "selvedge" material. Adjacent panels with straight edges should be butted close together (fig 1).
As all grasses have a directional pile, check and ensure all panels are running in the same direction. The edges are then folded back and the seaming tape laid, plastic side down, centrally along the joint (fig 2).
The adhesive is applied from a cartridge gun to the top surface of the seaming tape, two "worms" of adhesive being applied to each side of the joint, one close to the point where the edges will meet and the other about half way between the join and the edge of the tape. The edges are now folded back and pressed down to spread the adhesive (fig 3).
The strength of the join will be improved if the seam can be weighed down during the curing time of the adhesive. Seaming tape and adhesive cartridges may be ordered when purchasing the grass. Each cartridge of adhesive is sufficient for 3 metres of seam.
What Sort Of Base Do I Require?
The grass may be laid on a wide variety of bases areas such as concrete, tarmac, wood or a compacted surface, but it is very important that there is ample natural drainage for rain water.
All artificial grasses may be laid directly onto any suitable hard sub-surface. If a new sub-surface is being constructed to take artificial grass a slight fall (1:200 is ideal) should be incorporated to assist drainage. Porous (open textured) macadam is particularly suitable as a subbase for all types of Verde artificial grass. Paving slabs are not satisfactory, since after a period of time the pattern of the slabs will show on the surface of the grass. The slabs should be removed or covered with a thick layer of coarse sand.
Well-compacted unbound aggregate (stone) bases are ideal for artificial grasses and if an artificial lawn were to be built from scratch, this type of base would be our recommendation. Any unbound surface, which drains and is stable and reasonably level however, is perfectly satisfactory. If the surface is too rough it may be covered with coarse sharp sand prior to laying the grass.
Artificial grass isn't recommended to be laid directly onto an existing lawn, even if drainage is satisfactory, the natural grass will die off and the roots will decay, causing unevenness in the surface. Removal of the real grass first and compaction of the resulting soil base will overcome this problem, particularly if the soil is covered with a layer of compacted gritty sand (building sand is not suitable).
How Is The Grass Held In Place?
Fixing the grass down can be completed to suit your preference and project, however, is usually completed with the use of either grass adhesive (available as accessories on our artificial grass product pages) and spot adhered when laying onto smooth surfaces. Otherwise, the use of a sand topping, which weighs the grass down to hold it into place is most common for compacted surfaces.Alternatively, a combination of both adhesive and sand makes for a most reliable and long-term installation option, with a light sand dressing being brushed into the grass after the adhesive has dried, as this will also help to protect the tufts, assisting with the longevity of the pile staying upright and bouncy.
For the sand; dry, coarse sand such as block paving sand is excellent. However, builder's sand is not recommended. Between 8kg and 25kg of sand dressing per square metre can be used. This will differ depending on if you are using adhesive or not. No adhesive would mean using more sand, around 15-25kg per sqm to hold the grass down and in place, while if you do plan on using adhesive, less sand approx 8-10kg per sqm brushed into the grass would be perfect.
Fixing artificial grass onto raised surfaces such as walls, ceilings and signs, Verde's grass adhesive should be used, without any sand dressing.
How Do I Form/Lay Edges?
Laying artificial grass around edges can be completed in a variety of ways depending on the type of edge:
- By butting against an existing wall or upstanding kerb.
- By fixing to an edge board - tanalized timber 100mm x 25mm located by wooden pegs 50mm x 50mm x 300mm is ideal.
- By placing the edge of the grass under paving stones or similar fence.
- By burying the grass edge under adjacent natural turf.
Artificial Grass Maintenance
Artificial grass is a low maintenance but not a complete no-maintenance surface. The rules are simple - remove debris, particularly leaves or pet droppings, otherwise, these will compost into the surface and allow moss to grow. Debris can be removed by sweeping or by using a domestic vacuum cleaner in dry conditions. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clear sand filled grass - your machine will fill with sand!
If moss does form in the pile, it should be treated with a proprietary moss killer and swept thoroughly to remove the dead material. A bass broom or similar stiff brush is best for maintaining a 'fresh' appearance. Odd weeds which may seed themselves in the surface may be removed by hand or spot-sprayed with a general weedkiller.