Artificial Grass Between Pavers
The ambition of every homeowner is to have a lush, green lawn. However, the fact is that it necessitates a significant amount of effort. To maintain a natural grass looking vibrant and beautiful, it takes a lot of frequent maintenance. Artificial grass is a terrific option, offering many of the same benefits but requiring far less upkeep.
Laying them in between pavers is the hard part. We’re going to teach you how to do it right now. Our staff has installed artificial lawns in hundreds of homes across the world, and now we’re teaching you how to do it yourself.
Installing an artificial lawn instead of a natural one might drastically transform your perspective on lawn maintenance. While installation may be a little challenging, your grass will survive for many years with no upkeep.
It’s also a terrific choice because it’s non-slip, ecologically friendly, and safe for the entire family. There’s a lot of flexibility in how and where you may lay it because of its superb looks and practical qualities.
It’s simple to lay fake grass between pavers provided you understand the basics. Simply follow the instructions in this article and you’ll have a beautiful paver lawn in no time!
How To Install Artificial Grass Between Pavers
As previously said, installing fake grass between pavers is more difficult than it appears. It takes more measuring and care to combine fake grass with pavers, but the end effect is well worth the effort.
Artificial grass may be installed between pavers in two ways. Alternatively, you may cut around the pavers or use the strip approach. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these.
Step 1: Prepare The Ground For Drainage
The first step is to see how effectively water drains between the pavers. To avoid puddles and floods down the road, good drainage is essential in any form of artificial grass installation. Examine the type of ground between the pavers. If all you have is ground or dirt, you may lay a sub-base like any other application. Manual compacting using a hand tamp that fits between the pavers is required.
If the ground between the pavers is made of concrete, cement, or rock, you must first inspect the grading. This is a tiny incline placed into the earth during construction to allow water to drain off freely and avoid gathering in one location. If the grading is insufficient, you must either grade the concrete layer first or drill drainage holes through it.
In any case, spraying water over the ground is the greatest technique to double-check drainage capabilities. Check for any pools or puddles that may have formed – these are the locations where drainage holes should be placed. Before continuing, gently fill any drainage holes produced with pea shingle.
Step 2: Install Sub-Base
Whether your pavers are set in concrete or soil, a sub-base layer is still necessary for proper drainage and performance. It’s difficult to lay and compress sub-base between pavers: In most cases, a plate compactor will not fit between the pavers, and a manual tamp will not provide enough compaction.
Instead, we recommend manually compacting it with a brick: Fit the brick between the pavers, and compact the sub-base underneath by striking it with a heavy hammer.
Step 3: Roll Out And Lay The Artificial Grass
Roll out the fake grass on top of the pavers once the ground has been prepped. Allow at least 4 hours for the fibers to stand up again and the grass backing to mold and form around the pavers before putting it on a sunny day. You may also walk between the pavers to aid the grass backing in conforming to the paver’s contour. This will make the installation process much easier in the future.
The fibers should naturally point towards the house for the best viewing angle. Each part’s fibers should be aligned and orientated in the same direction as well. We recommend leaving a good amount of space between your panels to allow for mistakes while putting them together.
Step 4: Nail The Grass Down
It’s time to secure the grass to the ground once it’s been set out and rested. You may accomplish this by nailing the grass down 1 inch apart, centered in between the pavers.
This prevents the grass from moving when you’re cutting it. Because these nails are only temporary and will have to be removed later, avoid hammering them all the way down. You can skip this step if you’re working with tougher materials like concrete or stone. Instead, use your own weight to keep the grass down and avoid shifting the turf.
Step 5: Cut Around The Pavers
The most crucial phase in terms of the final appearance is now complete. Your yard will have a stunning clean-cut look if you trim between the pavers appropriately. If you do it incorrectly, though, you may wind up with uneven and unsightly gaps between your bricks.
Begin by making a shallow incision along the paver’s edge. The trick to cutting around pavers is to keep the blade’s tip pushed against the paver’s hard edge while cutting the grass around the perimeter. Make sure you chop in little chunks. To prevent injuring the grass fibers, keep the excess grass coiled and dragged backward with your empty hand, and cut using a “up and back” motion.
For this task, a regular utility blade or box cutter will suffice. However, you should replace the blades on your knife on a regular basis to maintain it sharp and new. A little space of around 1/8 inch between the paver and the grass is the perfect end result. The grass blades will naturally fill in the space.
Make sure the spacing isn’t too narrow, since this may cause the grass to condense and bunch up along the paver border. If the space between the fake grass and the pavers is too large, however, it will be apparent, making the lawn seem uneven and unprofessional.
Step 6: Secure The Artificial Grass
After the fake grass has been cut, it’s time to properly bind it to the ground. Nails are the ideal way to do this since they allow for adequate drainage through the grass backing.
5-inch galvanized nails should be used in the corners of each paver, and 3 12-inch galvanized nails should be used in the middle of the pavers, spaced 4 inches apart. After that, you may take away the temporary spikes from Step 3.
Glue will be required to fix the grass on hard surfaces such as concrete and stone. Make sure the surface is clean before applying the glue, which should be produced particularly for fake grass. In these circumstances, we recommend applying the adhesive sparingly to avoid clogging the ground’s drainage system.
Step 7: Trim And Make The Joins
Finally, go back and make any required connections between the artificial grass panels. Joins are an important component of your lawn, and they must be properly constructed to ensure a solid seam. When the installation is complete, they must likewise stay undetectable.
Trimming the grass and prepping the joints should come first. To achieve an unnoticeable connection, at least three rows of grass blades should be eliminated from each side. You want them near enough to make a smooth union, but not so close that the grass fibers bunch up. Using joining tape and glue to fix the seams is the best option. After that, let the adhesive cure completely before going on to the next step.
Step 8: Install Infill And Brush
All that’s left now is to install the infill and add some finishing touches once all of the cutting, fastening, trimming, and connecting have been completed. The infill is made up of a fine silt of various materials such as sand, rubber, or cork. Infill has several functions, including keeping grass blades erect, cooling the lawn, and ensuring proper drainage. Infill is essential for artificial grass upkeep and lifespan.
Because the grass strips are thinner than in a usual installation, it’s vital to add the infill carefully by hand. After that, you may conclude the operation by giving the grass a thorough brushing to fluff up the grass fibers.
Have Questions?
If you’re needing more information on how to install artificial grass between pavers or how to care for turf on hard surfaces, contact us at Turf Pros Solutions today!