What is the best way to prepare for an artificial lawn?

So, you’ve eventually decided to have artificial grass planted in your garden. But, how do you get your lawn ready for grass? Below is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for installation so that it goes as smoothly as possible. It’s not as difficult as you might imagine!

1. Get rid of the old grass in the garden.

It’s crucial to remember to remove any old turf before starting the installation process if you have natural grass in your garden. You might be able to get away with using a spade depending on the size of the area. A larger Astro Turf garden may necessitate the use of a turf cutter. To account for the height of your new synthetic grass, spade the soil down to around 40mm – 50mm.

2. Clean up your act!

To make things easier for installers, trim back any overgrown plants and remove any long shards of actual grass that may have remained to ensure that the allocated area where your new lawn will be installed is clear.

3. Base layer and edging

The next step is to add your initial foundation layer and insert your timber edging. Once your artificial lawn is installed, you’ll need the timber edging to keep it secure. We recommend 19mm x 38mm (2” x 1”) for normal perimeter edged and 19mm x 97mm (4” x 1”) for flower bed borders. After that, you’ll need to lay down the type 1 crushed limestone base. This aids drainage and aids in the formation of a stable foundation.

The type 1 sub-base should be laid to a thickness of 30/40 mm for best performance.

Note that one cubic bulk bag of type 1 sub-base should cover 15 to 18 square meters.

4. Place your sharp sand on the floor

After the old turf has been removed, the space has been prepared, a timber edging has been built, and your initial base has been set, the following step is to spread a batch of sharp sand. This serves as the foundation for your artificial grass. Using a heavy hammer, builder’s plank, or whacker plate, make sure it’s leveled, compressed, and smooth. The smoother the surface, the better the artificial grass rolls will lay.

The sand sub-base should be laid to a thickness of 10/15mm for best results.

Note that one cubic bulk bag of sand should cover around 20/25 square meters.

5. Apply a layer of protection

It’s critical to protect your new grass from weeds and other plants that may sprout up from beneath it before you set it down. Adding a protective layer of membrane to the new turf will prevent wildflowers from growing up through it and injuring it.

6. Installation

You’re all set to lay down your grass! Here’s where you can learn how to set up your artificial grass!