Laying the foundations: How to prepare the ground for an artificial grass installation

As the appeal of a low maintenance artificial lawn grows among UK families, being familiar with exactly what needs to be done to install that new patch of artificial grass is vital. Often, the way in which the ground is prepared before the new lawn is laid is just as important as the installation itself, yet these steps can often be forgotten.

So what are the key steps towards ensuring your ground is fully prepared for a new artificial grass installation?

1. Identify the ground type

Identifying the ground conditions and soil type of the patch of land you’re working on will help to determine how well it will drain, and in turn, the type of sand or stone aggregate that will need to be added. Making this assessment at an early stage is vital, as it will ultimately determine the extent of the work required.

2. Remove existing organic

After surveying the area, the next step is to remove any existing organics. For a standard base construction, you are required to remove the organics to a depth of 50mm, which will require the use of a turf cutter. The turf cutter will make light work of extracting the existing layer of natural turf, as well as any root materials underneath.

3. Add sand or stone

If the ground is made up of largely sand-based soils and therefore offers free drainage, a standard base construction comprising 50mm of sharp sand will be required. As a rough guide, this will usually require around 80kg of sharp sand per square metre. If, however, the soil conditions are more clay-based and drainage is restricted, it may be necessary to add an additional stone layer subbase. This will consist of a standard, type 1 stone, with a depth of 50-100mm.

4. Compact the surface

With the sharp sand now laid, the surface needs to be compacted to create a stable base for the lawn. An electric compaction plate will do the job perfectly. If any creases are present however, a straight piece of timber is the only tool you should need to level the surface.

5. Add the geotextile layer

By now, the ground will be suitably infilled and level, but we still need to consider how to prevent the turf from being penetrated by any organic growth. A geotextile layer installed either above, or underneath, the 50mm layer of sharp sand should do the trick.

Once your ground is suitably prepared, you’re all set to lay the new addition to your garden. Look no further than the latest artificial grassoptions to decide which one is best for your project.