Everything You Need for a Before Starting Your DIY Artificial Grass Installation

An artificial grass installation could be the best decision you make this summer. It replaces your highly water-dependent grass with an attractive synthetic lawn that’s practically maintenance-free. And the best part? You can install it all by yourself.

From finding the right tools to advanced artificial grass installation tips, here’s everything you need before you tear up your current lawn.

The Tools for the Job

You’ll need more than just your hands for an artificial turf installation. You’ll actually need quite a few tools to get the job done. The good news is you can usually find them at your local home improvement store to either buy or rent.

Sod Cutter – Use this to remove your current sod or any unwanted vegetation in the area. You can opt to use a shovel or hoe instead, but the cutter allows you to roll up sod in neat piles rather than messy chunks, making turf removal easier and cleaner.

Tamper – You’ll need to use a hand tamper several times to compact layers of dirt, infill, and turf. This will make everything nice and flat for a smooth installation of the various necessary materials.

Carpet Cutter – Trims the edges of your turf straight, so they fit together seamlessly.

Staples – Bigger than the kind you see in an office, artificial turf staples are 6” long and anchor the turf to the ground.

There are many more tools you’ll need (please consult our installation guide), but the ones mentioned are absolutely essential to the artificial turf installation process. Don’t start your project without them!

High Quality Artificial Grass Turf

Artificial grass comes in many shapes and forms. You’ll need to choose the type that fits your needs best, whether that’s fulfilling the function of your old lawn or for a whole new purpose. For example, you can use residential turf to enhance your home’s appearance, or you can use pet turf to add protection against pet messes.

Most types of artificial turf have unique fiber sizes and styles. Residential turf will often be more vibrant to look exceptionally beautiful on your front lawn, while sports turf will incorporate softer materials to cushion players when they slide across it.

Proper Guidance and Plenty of Patience

An artificial turf installation can be a real challenge; you’ll need to flex your handyman skills to their limits to see the job through to the end. Luckily, most advice from any construction project applies here—“measure twice, cut once,” that sort of thing. But a fake grass installation is also a good practice in patience. Between waiting for dry conditions to begin, waiting for the turf to bond together, and a number of other options, the entire process takes time—but the wait will be worth it.

A lot goes into installing artificial grass. Be sure to follow all the necessary steps, and you’ll have a lawn that lasts for years and years. Be sure to visit our installation guide so you don’t miss anything critical!