Ditch your high maintenance, struggling grass patch!!
I walk you through installing your own artificial turf. Please Subscribe.
You can save about 50% or more by installing your own artificial grass. Artificial turf is low maintenance - but It's very labor intensive to install. But if your body can handle it - or you have help - it can be done. The most technical part is cutting the edges accurately - and making seams. But if you are careful and attentive - you can do this. Artificial grass does get VERY HOT in the sun - so much so that pets and people would likely not want to walk on it when it's 80 degrees or warmer out in full sun.
I bought my artificial grass, nails & seam kit from Ewing Irrigation (links below). But you can get turf from Home Depot, Lowes, or even Amazon! (links below). Visit the links below that support my channel - then below the link section is a basic process with materials outline. Watch the whole video - and post comments if you want. I address a lot of the tips, variations, & concerns myself in the video - so if you post a comment that I've already covered - I may not post the comment. They are moderated.
Supplies links (I'm an Amazon affiliate- but not a Ewing affiliate).....
Ewing Irrigation Supplies (artificial turf): www.ewingirrigation.com/
Bio-Enzyme Turf Cleaner: amzn.to/3OeqHND
Artificial Turf/Grass Specials: amzn.to/3Pyqshl
Artificial Grass Adhesive & Seams: amzn.to/3zcA0ct
Box Knife (Turf Cutter): amzn.to/3cipUhi
Turf Nails 6": amzn.to/3INRvDq
Infill: amzn.to/3zeWXfq
Phase 1. Initial Sod Removal & Rock Materials Install Tools:
Dump Trailer (preferred) or just a trailer.
Shovels
Sod Cutter (or just shovels)
Wheel Barrow(s)
Hand Compactor
Powered Vibrating Compactor
Pipe materials for sprinkler deletion (if needed)
Phase 2. Turf Install Tools:
Artificial Turf/Grass: amzn.to/3Pyqshl
Turf Adhesive & Seams: amzn.to/3zcA0ct
Box Knife (Turf Cutter): amzn.to/3cipUhi
Carpet Stretcher: amzn.to/3obaG0k
Turf Nails 6": amzn.to/3INRvDq
Infill (usually sand): amzn.to/3zeWXfq (it's 3x more expensive online because it's heavy to ship. So, this is better purchased locally - but the money you save doing it yourself will allow the budget).
Stiff Shop Broom or Power Broom.
The Entire Process:
1. Mark existing sprinklers and dig down around them to expose them carefully so you can plan whether you want to keep them or delete them. Keeping them IS a good idea if you have pets in your yard. You have to wash down turf to get rid of pet urine regularly. Or you can use a hose (what I do).
2. Remove existing grass/sod - either manually with a flat shovel - or with a sod cutter and shovel. It's heavy - so you will need a trailer. A full trailer can weigh between 2,500-5,000 lbs on average.
3. Remove dirt after the sod is gone- enough so you will have room for 3" to 4" of crushed rock as your base, while allowing about an inch for your new artificial grass.
4. Take care of your sprinkler prep - either removal - or just making them stable with crushed rock.
5. Lay down between 3" to 4" (or more!) of crushed 1/4" minus rock. Here's a calculator link: concalculator.com/landscape-c...
6. Spread and level the crushed rock using a wide landscapers rake - and I used long 2x4's as well.
7. Compact the crushed rock using a gas powered vibratory compactor - and/or hand tamper compactor.
8. When you unroll new turf, the blades will be laying down one direction. It looks best if you roll it out so that the blades are pointing at you (like bowing down toward the area you will be viewing the yard from the majority of the time). Otherwise, the yard will look shiny & fake.
9. Do an initial trim of the turf in the shape you desire - but leave about a foot extra in case you make an error.
10. Walk around and eyeball the area and think ahead of issues. Make sure the turf blades are laying the right way & both pieces (if more than one piece is used) are laying the same direction.
11. Make your final cuts accurately.
12. Use your Turf Nails to secure one edge every 8" to 10". Pull the turf tight (best done on a hot day so it can expand and flex). Spread the turf blades between turf blade rows, & tap the nail heads down flush with the black base of the turf. Don't sink them down farther or you will see every nail indent. Do this process for every edge while occasionally stretching the material (using hands - or a carpet stretcher).
13. Apply 1.5 to 2 lbs of infill evenly across the entire surface & broom it or power broom so the infill will settle down into the base of the turf material. Try to broom so that you're pushing the blades up (against the way they were laying).
DONE!! You saved THOUSANDS!!
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE.. THANKS. I'm an Amazon affiliate so using the links above helps support my channel until I reach 1,000 subscribers.
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Another Time