Back in the 1960s, you could only get one type of turf; AstroTurf. But in these modern times, artificial turf is distributed by a great many brands and each brand has quite a few different lawn types to choose from. With so many different shades, grades, heights, and textures to choose from, it can be hard to decide on the right one for your home.
In this guide, we hope to make it a little bit easier for you to choose a quality turf that will stay in great shape through many years of exposure to natural elements because we are going to share the most important features to look for when you are choosing the right lawn.
Yarn Type
Artificial grass is a lot like a carpet or rug since it is also made from a special type of yarn. Three different yarn types are usually used for making these grassy green rugs
Polyethylene
This is the most common artificial turf material because it is available in many shades, it is durable, offers a realistic look and the fibres are nice and soft.
Polypropylene
This material is often used for putting greens but is also used as a thatch layer for landscape grass
Nylon
This type of yarn is the most expensive but it is the softest and most realistic looking. Nylon grass is ideal to absorb up to 200 degrees Celsius and can be used to prevent most UV magnifying issues
Density
The density is extremely important if you want a lawn that looks full, lush, and realistic. Density refers to the stitch count or the number of grass blades per square meter. Turfs with a higher density count are usually higher-quality turf that will last longer.
Pile Height
Another important feature is the pile height. Turfs with an extremely low pile height are usually noticeably fake. On the other hand, if the pile is too long, you will need to brush your lawn often to keep the blades from falling flat.
A pile height of 30mm to 35mm is usually recommended for high traffic areas, yards with pets, schools, and pre-schools because these shorter leaf blades will stay upright for longer despite the heavy traffic.
Artificial sports turf with pile height between 40mm to 60mm ideal for sports fields (FIFA soccer fields). If you want a more natural and luxurious-looking lawn then you should however opt for something with a longer blade height of 40mm to 50mm. The longer pile height with high density offers a bouncier and softer feel and gives your garden a more realistic look.
Thatch
Your lawn colour is important but the thatch is even more important. The thatch is additional fibre included in the lawn that is different in texture and hue to the overall grass fibres. By adding these odd hues and textures, the grass gets a more realistic look since natural turf has plenty of dead and crushed leaves in between the fresh leaves.
Turf with tatch that includes brown, yellowish, or odd green hues is much more realistic looking compared to turf that doesn’t have any thatch at all.
Infill with Cool Effect
It is always best to choose turf that is designed for infill. The infill is great for keeping the grass piles upright so your lawn won’t become flat and matted. Also it will give the weight to the carpet and minimise the ripples on grass. The infill can be made from various materials like silica sand,crumb rubber, coconut shells, cork etc. However adding ZeoFill as an infill can reduce the grass heat and will absorb dog urine smell.
Antimicrobial Cool Turf
If you have pets then it is very important to get turf with antimicrobial or anti-odor properties. This type of turf will keep your lawn from developing urine odours and are easier to maintain since you don’t have to rinse it quite as often. It is ideal to use Antimicrobial turf with ZeoFill infill and spray Enzyme to flush ZeoFill granules. Our P-Terminator Enzyme spray is 100% organic and ideal for any pet areas.
Backing
Quality artificial turf usually has two backings. A primary backing in which the grass yarn is woven and a secondary backing that coats the primary backing and gives it a springier and shock absorbent feel. It is important to get turf with good backing if you want a lawn that will last and offer lots of cushioning.
We have four backing types. Latex backing is for normal landscaping installations, K9 Heavy Duty ERET, K9 DrainPro and PU backing ideal for any pet friendly installations.
Still not sure what lawn to get? Premier Grass has professionals who can help you choose the right lawn based on your location, lifestyle, and need. Contact their office to get the perfect lawn or to get professional installation consultation.
What You Need For Your Artificial Grass Installation
Before you start the installation process, make sure that you have the following tools and equipment ready:
Artificial Turf Products
General Tools
- Hammer
- Broom or rake
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- Protective gloves
Step One: Measure The Space
Before anything else, you have to assess how much artificial turf you need for your garden or yard. Measure the size of the area and always include a little bit extra in case of emergency. Once you have your dimensions, speak to the experts at Premier Grass about the type of artificial turf you want. They will have it delivered to your property when requested.
Step Two: How To Lay Artificial Fake Grass On A Solid Foundation
Before you start rolling out your artificial grass, you are going to need to establish a levelled foundation first. This approach will vary depending on the type of foundation you plan to roll out your grass on. When it comes to price, our installation cost might vary depending on your base.
Below, we have broken down how to lay out your artificial turf on the most common bases, in three or less easy steps.
How To Lay Fake Grass On Dirt
1. In the cases of dirt, you are going to have to dig out all the existing turf, roughly about two and a half inches deep.
2. From here, place a layer of plastic membrane to stop weeds from finding their way through, before outlying crushed stone over it.
3. Finally, layer out planks of wood for that even surface.
How To Lay Synthetic Grass On Soil
1. Similar to the dirt example above, you have to create an even layer to install synthetic grass over the soil. Dig up the soil and apply a thick layer of crushed stone, before installing the plastic membrane – this will stop weeds from poking through your new turf.
2. Then, finish off by laying out planks of wood over the top, before rolling out your synthetic grass.
How To Install Artificial Turf On Concrete
1. When it comes to concrete floors, you need to make sure:
- There is drainage nearby so that water can be filtered through, and
- You need to make sure the concrete is even.
2. Now, look towards levelling out your concrete or installing a drain before anything else.
3. When completed, add 5mm of foam underlay (making it softer under your floor), before rolling out the synthetic grass over it.
How To Install Synthetic Grass Over Pavers
Although concrete and pavers are considered to be different, the same approach of laying turf works for both surfaces. Follow the above steps under “How To Install Artificial Turf On Concrete” when it comes to pavers, and you will end up with the same pleasant results.
How To Lay Artificial Grass On Sand
1. Remove and scoop out all the existing sand from the area. This will provide you with a new space in which you can outlay your grass.
2. You can now apply a layer of crushed stone over it, and follow the same steps used to apply both dirt and soil foundations. See above: “How To Lay Fake Grass On Dirt”.
Step Three: How To Install Artificial Lawn (Or Roll Out)
Slowly lay out your artificial turf over the newly formed foundation. Collect and hammer down your pegs into the ground evenly along the edge and leaving around 300mm – 400mm of space in between.
If you have concrete floors, use super concrete based glue, instead of turf pegs.
Don’t nail down the pegs all the way, or glue too close to the edges, as you will need space for the adhesive joining tape (more on that below).
Slowly roll the next layer of synthetic turf by Premier Grass in Brisbane next to it, and nail it down again. Don’t leave any spaces between the turfs, and ensure that the grass fibres all point in the same direction so that it maintains a smooth flow. Your artificial lawn in Brisbane will now be a secured feature of your yard.
Step Four: Secure It Together
Lift up the edges of the synthetic turf and roll out the adhesive joining tape, with the sticky side facing upwards. Make sure the tape is spread evenly along all the edges between the slabs of artificial grass in Sydney.
When you’re happy with this, lift the adhesive off the tape and tightly press down the first slab of synthetic grass over it. Follow the same steps with the next piece of grass until all turfs are connected tightly.
Step Five: Apply Sand To Give A Realistic Look
If you like the fake grass look, then you can stop at this step. However, if you want to give your artificial grass that realistic look and feel, bring out your white sand for this step. You will need roughly 10 to 15 kgs of sand for every square metre, as it will give you good coverage.
Pour the sand over the turf and use your broom (or rake) to spread the sand and embed it into the lawn evenly. You can now slightly water it to get rid of that fake grass feeling and make your synthetic turf look more realistic.
Struggling With Your Synthetic Grass Installation? Premier Grass Can Help You With Our Unique Service! Reach Out To Our Team Today!
Take It From The Experts
Having the perfect turf installation sometimes requires that experienced touch. This is what Premier Grass can provide you: a comprehensive service where we send one of our professionals to install the artificial grass, leaving you with the perfect lawn.
Our service is available throughout Australia and our installation cost is affordable. For more information on our range of artificial turf call us today on 1300 705 806.
You are also welcome to visit our showrooms.
Our Different Grass Types & Locations:
Pet Friendly | Sports Turf | Artificial Grass Sydney | Artificial Grass Melbourne | Artificial Grass Brisbane