How to Install Artificial Turf On Dirt

Organic grass might look nice, but it takes time and effort to maintain. Summer periods and droughts make it impossible for your lawn to look perfect. You could also have children and pets running around and ruining the grass.

It’s wise to find an easier and better alternative, and that’s an artificial lawn. You can install this grass over different surfaces, including dirt. This guide has everything you need to know for placing the fake lawn over that surface. Here is how to install artificial turf on dirt and ensure it looks flawless!

Can You Put Artificial Turf Over Dirt?

The short answer is yes, but it’s essential to keep reading for an explanation. Dirt is an uneven surface, so it’s necessary to flatten and prepare it first. That will ensure optimal drainage and minimize the risk of tears and other damage. If you do the turf preparation task well, your fake lawn will look impressive for years!

How to Install Fake Grass on Dirt

Before you learn how to install artificial turf on dirt, you need to prepare the necessary material. Apart from the actual fake grass and infill, you’ll need some adhesive, joining tape, and a broom to brush the surface. Check out the steps you’ll do during the installation!

Measure the Area

The first thing you want to do is measure the area you want to be covered with artificial grass. It ensures you identify the right lawn size to acquire. Additionally, you’ll know the exact surface that requires preparation.

The dimensions are your call, and aesthetics should be the primary consideration. Do you plan fake grass to be the only thing to put above the dirt surface? Perhaps you have a plan for a pathway, fountain, or other fixtures? It’s essential to have a comprehensive landscaping plan. Once that’s ready, you can keep reading our guide on how to install fake grass on dirt.

Prepare the Surface

It might be mostly dirt, but you’ll surely notice some weeds and plants on pieces of turf. You want to remove everything because you don’t want natural vegetation to ruin your fake grass appearance. It will make it look uneven and visually unattractive, so do a thorough job here. If the climate is warm, don’t hesitate to use herbicide, especially if the heat stays over 65 degrees during the night.

Why would I want artificial grass installed

Remove Debris and Natural Turf

It’s not time for turf installation yet. You need to perform another check of the pre-existing soil. It’s necessary to remove the inner layers of the old soil. In other words, you’ll need to dig up to several inches into the ground. Remove the natural grass and any debris you might encounter.

Remove Top Soil

Apart from removing natural grass, it’s necessary to ensure it won’t grow again. So, if you find any plants, remove any roots you encounter. The roots are in the ground, so you need to dig as much as necessary. Pulling plants from the soil without removing the roots won’t be worth much because those herbs can grow again.

Add Subbase Material

If you are installing turf on dirt, it’s now necessary to prepare the subbase material. You can put artificial lawns directly on the surface. Now that you’ve removed all vegetation, you have native soil. It will probably include clay, which expands and contracts throughout the year.

Native soil can lead to uneven surfaces and soft spots. If you want to avoid that happening, it’s necessary to have a subbase material. Decomposed granite is the most common material because it makes an excellent base for artificial lawns. It keeps the soil together and provides a perfect foundation.

Make the Dirt Surface Flat

Begin by adding about 0.25 inches of decomposed granite to the surface. It will act as a foundation. The next step is putting another inch of this material. You want to add granite an inch at a time. Once you place it on the surface, make it wet and use a sod roller to roll the material. The recommendation is that the granite should be level to your grass deck. It reduces the risk of mishaps when someone steps off the lawn.

lay artificial grass

Cut the Fake Grass to Size

All steps until now were preparation, and now it’s time to learn how to install artificial turf on dirt. Lay the grass and cut it to the desired size. The entire idea is that you don’t want it to go on top of the deck. Overlapping isn’t visually attractive, so cutting the fake turf to the desired dimensions is essential.

Layout the Synthetic Grass and Trim the Edges

You are now ready to unroll your artificial grass. You need to check the edges and make the necessary adjustments. You can use a joining tape to connect multiple grass segments together, and don’t forget the importance of an adhesive.

Now, put the infill created of small granules to extend the grass’ longevity. Silica sand or durafill are some common choices for artificial lawns, but you can also use rubber infill. You might need to use a pet waste absorbent as the infill if you have cats or dogs.

Brush the New Turf

The final step is to ensure the infill settles. You’ll need a broom to brush everything properly. It shouldn’t be difficult since you only need to go back and forth.

Artificial turf installations aren’t complex, and they require minimal effort. You also need little time maintaining fake lawns, making them a wise long-term solution. If that like the perfect option for your yard, don’t hesitate to contact us and get the best-quality fake grass in the area!