How Does Artificial Grass Stay in Place?
With the growing popularity of artificial grass, homeowners have lots of questions about the installation process, how long synthetic lawns last, and how they look, feel and function when compared to natural grass.
One question we are often asked is: How does artificial grass stay down?
Since this is a common question, we thought it might be time to address it here to help people become informed consumers as they consider this low-maintenance landscaping option.
How Does Artificial Grass Stay in Place?
If you are considering synthetic turf but wondering, “What holds down artificial grass?,” this will help you better understand what installers use to make manufactured lawns stay down.
After your turf has been measured, cut, rolled out and trimmed to perfectly fit your lawn area, spots where different pieces of grass come together will need to be seamed. Your installer will decide which seaming process is best for your project, which might include using seam tape and adhesive to attach the pieces, creating a seam by sewing the pieces together, or using tacks and nails to ensure the seams are secure and well attached to the ground.
After the seams are secured, your installer will begin the process of securing the border of your artificial lawn, which is most commonly accomplished by using nails (aka lawn spikes) to hold your lawn securely in place.
It should be noted that fake grass installed on top of concrete, asphalt or other hardscapes are typically held in place with glue.
The edging that you choose for your lawn can also help your artificial grass stay in place. Talk to your installer about edging options to determine the best choice for your project.
If you have chosen a fake lawn product that requires infill, your installer will add the infill to your lawn after it has been secured with a combination of seam take, glue and nails. If you are installing your lawn yourself, you can use a seed spreader to spread the infill.
Infill serves several functions, one of which is to help hold artificial turf down by adding weight on top of the backing material.
Most homeowners opt for infill synthetic turf products, because this is part of what makes your lawn feel more like natural grass when you walk on it. It also helps your lawn to look more like a natural lawn by helping to keep the blades erect. Depending on the infill you use for your project, it can also keep your lawn cooler.
If you choose a non-infill fake grass product, you will not have the benefit of the additional weight the infill adds to hold your artificial grass in place. This means that it will be even more important to properly secure your lawn with seam tape, glue and lawn spikes to ensure proper installation and a satisfactory end result.