How to Lay Astro Turf
Astro Turf is an artificial ground cover that simulates grass. The material comes in strips or squares and can be placed in areas where grass finds it difficult to grow or where maintenance needs require a grass alternative. After installation of the Astro Turf, maintaining the ground cover is only a matter of removing dirt and debris, and can be performed with a push broom or leaf blower in a fraction of the time required for maintaining a grass field. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Lawn flags
- Spade
- Shovel
- Sand
- Pea stone
- Compactor
- Astro Turf
- Utility knife
- Six-inch steel landscaping pins
- Outside turf adhesive
- 300 mm seaming tape
- Notched trowel
Instructions
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1
Mark the area where you will be placing the Astro turf, placing a series of lawn flags in the ground to mark the boundaries.
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2
Remove the existing grass using a spade to cut the grass into squares. Remove and dispose of the squares.
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3
Remove the topsoil from the area you're placing the turf. Dig through the top soil using the spade until you reach the layer of subsoil beneath. Excavate the entire marked area to this level, creating a hole with a level bottom.
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4
Create a mixture of sand and pea stone to act as a sub-base for the turf and provide drainage for the turf. The mix should be about half sand to half stone. Pour the mixture into the open hole, filling it to ground level.
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5
Compact the sand and stone mixture in the entire marked area with a powered compactor until the surface is solid. You can rent compactors at a home improvement store or equipment rental shop.
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6
Cut the turf to size and then roll the turf onto the sand and stone drainage mixture, securing it into place with six-inch steel landscaping pins every two feet. Make certain the turf is laid so that the fibers all run in the same direction in order to simplify cleaning.
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7
Bind the seams of adjacent turf together by trimming the two adjoining pieces so that the sides fit together evenly and the seam between the pieces cannot be seen. Peel back the pieces and place sealing tape beneath the two pieces. Brush a layer of adhesive to the tape and replace the pieces, hiding the seam. Walk over the seam to press the turf firmly into the adhesive.
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Continue to lay the turf until the entire surface has been covered.
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Tips & Warnings
If installing Astro Turf on a hot day, allow the turf to sit under the sun for two hours prior to installing to make the material more pliable and easier to handle.
When placing the sub-base layer, include a slight slope away from structures to aid in draining.
Check for the presence of underground wiring or pipes before excavating.
