Artificial Turf Sub-base

It is extremely important to create a strong artificial turf subbase to ensure your artificial lawn lasts for many years to come. This blog post will answer the question,W’hat Goes Under Artificial Grass’. We will also discuss different techniques to get the best results when installing artificial grass.

What Goes Under Artificial Grass depends on the existing surface. For best results and a longer lasting artificial lawn we would recommend stripping the surface back to a level, soil base. You will then use specific materials to create a strong and suffice subbase for your artificial turf to be laid on top of.

Creating a Strong Hardcore Base

Once you have removed the existing turf or other surface material, you should use a quality hardcore such as limestone to create a sturdy base. This should be laid all over the area to create a level surface, the amount you use will depend on the existing garden levels. More material should be used in areas to create a level surface. The hardcore base should then be compacted using a Wacka plate for best results. Not properly compacting the hardcore can lead to an uneven lawn that will cause movement, eventually ruining the artificial lawn. This process will create a solid and sturdy base ready for the drainage system to be installed.

Drainage System

Creating a high-quality drainage system that is suitable for artificial grass is crucial in ensuring the longevity of your lawn. The drainage system is the most important aspect of the question ‘what goes under artificial grass’. Installing a bad drainage system or not creating one at all can lead to an unusable artificial lawn. We recommend using a material called Granite Dust to create your drainage system. This specialist material is strong yet porous, allowing moisture to flow through more freely. The grano dust should be laid to a depth of approximately 25mm, depending on site conditions. It should also be compacted using a Wacka plate to create a strong, sturdy surface.

Creating a suitable drainage system is extremely important if your artificial lawn is going to be used by pets, especially dogs. Not installing a drainage system or using an alternative material such as sand, can cause a build up of moisture which when produced by pets can lead to harmful bacteria being produced on the artificial grass. This can become very harmful to your pets and to other family members who use the lawn.

Weed Membrane

What goes under artificial grass also depends on the site condition and what has been there before. If the area is prone to weed growth or you just want to prevent pesky weeds from pushing up through your artificial lawn, we recommend using a weed membrane. A quality weed membrane will help to prevent weeds from growing and ruining your artificial lawn. The membrane can be installed either underneath the subbase or on top of the grano dust. Both methods gives the same results. If you are installing a pet friendly artificial grass to be used frequently by pets, do not use a weed membrane as it can slow down the flow of moisture. You can use a water-based weed killer on top of your artificial lawn regularly once laid to help prevent weeds from coming through.

Astro Cushion

If you are installing artificial grass on top of a hard surface such as patio or concrete you may want to consider installing Astro Cushion first. Our specialist Astro Cushion will help create a softer surface which is ideal if going to be used by young children. Our Astro Cushion is completely porous, allowing moisture to flow through as normal which is crucial for an artificial lawn. The cushion is 10mm thick and if being installed in a school/playground with our artificial grass range. This conforms, particularly to the required critical fall height in the UK. We would not recommend installing artificial grass on top of a hard surface if going to be used by pets. A suitable drainage system needs to be installed for the artificial lawn to be pet friendly.

We hope this blog post has answered the question of ‘what goes under artificial grass’. Our team of artificial grass experts are always available to answer any installation questions you may have. Whether you are a trade customer or a domestic customer we are happy to help.

If you are looking for artificial grass for your property, book a Free Consultation with LawnKing Gardens!