Synthetic grass is perfect when property owners want a natural-looking lawn that is easy to maintain throughout the year. However, there are a few things that must be considered to make sure you complete a job to a professional standard.

One key tip is to check for batch matching before installation. Artificial grass is manufactured in dye batches, and slight colour variations can occur between them. To achieve a consistent finish across the whole lawn, always ensure that all rolls of turf come from the same batch. This simple step helps maintain a uniform appearance and avoids mismatched patches that can be noticeable once laid.

How to lay artificial turf onto different surfaces

We have a great step-by-step guide on how to lay an artificial lawn, but do you know how to approach installing synthetic grass onto grass compared to concrete, decking and other types of outdoor surfaces?

Let us provide you with some pointers on getting started, no matter which exterior surroundings you are tasked with improving:

Can you lay artificial turf on grass?

While it is possible to lay artificial grass on top of existing grass, this technique should be avoided.

An artificial lawn needs to be held in place with a smooth base, otherwise, there is the risk that the turf will become unstuck when it gets muddy or during wet weather.

Natural grass will also aim to survive when synthetic turf is placed over it. This is usually seen when the natural grass works its way through the holes designed into artificial grass for water drainage purposes. Bumps and ridges across a lawn will be the unfortunate and unsightly result.

Before installing any artificial grass then, aim to remove any natural grass present on a lawn using a sod cutter or sod stripper.

Can you lay artificial grass on soil?

Artificial grass should not be installed directly on top of any form of soil. Doing so causes an uneven finish and will result in weeds gradually appearing.

Topsoil will be needed when laying synthetic turf, but this should never be the top layer of the surface underneath the fake grass – the structure directly underneath an artificial lawn must be solid.

Can you lay artificial grass on sand?

It is possible to lay artificial turf onto a sand bed of paving sand that is between ten and 15 centimetres thick.

However, make sure to follow these steps before installing the synthetic grass onto a sand bed:

1. Make sure the sand has settled by expelling all air through watering the sand bed.

2. Compacting and levelling the sand bed will be required once it has settled.

Just be aware that a layer of sand underneath an artificial lawn will naturally subside quicker than a foundation made of a robust material like cement or crushed rock.

Can you lay artificial grass on concrete?

Installing artificial grass on top of concrete is indeed achievable and is a popular way to brighten up a tired-looking outdoor space.

With concrete, you will already have a solid sub-base in place to fit synthetic grass onto. However, it’s important to ensure that the concrete surface has a fall of at least 1.5% to allow for proper drainage. Without adequate drainage, water can pool beneath the turf, potentially affecting its longevity and performance.

You may find you are getting numerous requests to fit artificial grass over concrete by property owners with young families or with those in a household with less mobility, too.

This is because concrete can become slippery when covered with moss or freeze when the weather turns cold. Fortunately, artificial grass provides a garden with a non-slip surface.

Can you put artificial grass on decking?

While it is possible to lay artificial grass over decking, this approach is generally not recommended unless certain conditions are met. Gaps between decking boards and uneven surfaces can cause the artificial turf to sag or develop visible ridges, which will affect both appearance and performance.

Just bear the following points in mind before you start installing a synthetic lawn over decking boards:

Avoid placing artificial grass over decking boards which have gaps between them of over 1cm – fake turf will sag into these gaps, so they will need to be filled in before putting down the lawn.
Decking which is rotten or has become uneven will need to be repaired or replaced with new decking boards before you start fitting artificial lawn over it.
Check that the weed membrane is still intact underneath the decking before putting artificial grass over it, repairing and replacing it as a solution to avoid weeds where necessary.

Keep getting inspired when it comes to professional gardening and landscaping work, no matter the size of your next project, by reading more of our garden ideas and advice guides.

How To Install Artificial Grass: Tips For The Trade