How to choose high quality and beautiful artificial grass?

Artificial grass is an alternative to natural vegetation. It can be placed anywhere, it can be used to decorate floors, furniture, interiors and recreation areas, as well as sports arenas. The synthetic turf is not trampled down and remains attractive for a long time, and most importantly - safe.

The first artificial turf was invented in order to decorate sports stadiums. After all, as you know, living grass, being subjected to constant physical stress, is not able to maintain its original appearance, freshness and integrity. And often it is simply trampled down and it is necessary to fill the formed "bald spots" on the lawn.

Earlier, before the creation of synthetic vegetation, a special, more resilient grass was grown, which, however, could not withstand all the hardships of sports events. In addition, it required special expensive care, and cultivation took a lot of effort and was extremely laborious.

However, 50 years ago, they found a solution to this problem in the form of nylon, the lawn of which was very much like a carpet. Now the installation of rolls was not difficult and could be carried out both in closed and open arenas. And most importantly, in areas where real grass simply cannot survive. It is not surprising that landscape designers drew attention to this coating, because it was not possible to carry out natural gardening everywhere. For example, where children or pets are constantly playing, as well as in shady places.

Modern artificial grass is made from polyethylene and polypropylene. These are fairly stable types of plastics that can withstand heavy loads. It is worth considering that the device of the lawn from various brands is not identical, although outwardly they practically do not differ from each other.

As the popularity of synthetic flooring has grown, its scope has expanded significantly:

1. Decorating greenhouses and greenhouses: it turns out a kind of green path.
2. As a finishing floor covering on terraces or balconies.
3. Green area around the pools.
4. Creation of a safe play area near children's playgrounds or playgrounds.
5. Decorating shop windows, summer areas in cafes and restaurants, as well as at various exhibitions.
6. Decorating unsightly areas within a residential building.

Since the artificial grass was originally intended specifically for football fields, it has a number of undoubted technical advantages. It does not require any special care and is resistant to dirt, earth and direct UV rays. Depending on the purpose for which the lawn was laid, it has the following positive qualities.

Decoration of children's playgrounds:

1. You can play all day without time limit. A live lawn implies no more than two hours of games or sports activities according to the rules of operation.
2. With the correct installation of the coating, moisture does not linger in it. Changes in air temperature also do not affect the condition of the grass. In other words, the carpet does not depend on the weather or the season.
3. The springy layer plays a cushioning function and reduces the load on the musculoskeletal system. It is less traumatic when falling on it and does not leave abrasions when sliding.
4. The surface is always even and smooth, as if the field is slightly damp.This makes it possible to comfortably play active games and go in for sports.

When decorating the territory of residential areas and landscape design:

1. The registration process takes very little time. Growing a good lawn requires sowing, fertilizing, watering, and other maintenance procedures. This takes both time and financial costs. Synthetics do not need all this.
2. You can cover areas where plants are difficult to grow or do not survive at all. Also, in just a couple of days, you can carry out any landscape project and "grow" a beautiful lawn.
3. There is no need for regular lawn mowing, watering, etc.
4. The material is absolutely safe for children and pets. It does not emit any harmful substances or odors and can be easily cleaned with water.

Finally, the artificial turf is durable. It does not crumple, retains its shape and color. Some manufacturers promise a maximum service life of 20 years without critical damage to the material.

Man is everywhere surrounded by structures made of metal, glass and concrete, so many people prefer real, living vegetation.

Plastic grass also has the following negative qualities:

1. The more expensive the material and the more complicated the installation method, the more money you will have to pay. The savings from laying the maintenance-free grass will show up, but only after a while.
2. The quality directly depends on the cost. You should not expect that a cheap material will have an excellent appearance, durability and safety for others.
3. The heating. Although the fibers do not fade when exposed to direct sunlight, they are susceptible to heat. Some wearers report that the temperature of the canvas can rise up to 60 degrees and cause discomfort.
4. False lawns cannot always be recycled. In this case, they pollute the environment. Therefore, before buying, you need to ask the manufacturer about the methods of processing and disposal of the goods.

Artificial turf differs in design, method of operation and functional purpose. Therefore, when choosing it, it is necessary to consider for what purposes the coating will serve.

There are several types of coatings:

1. Unsolicited. It is used as an exclusively decorative element for landscape decoration, as similar as possible to the grass cover. If you actively walk on such a lawn, then the blades of grass are crumpled, sometimes pulled out, which violates the aesthetic appearance of the coating.
2. Semi-filled. Such a coating has a backing with plastic filaments. During installation, they are covered with quartz sand. Due to the rubber base of the backing, water does not accumulate in the coating. Most often it is used for finishing playgrounds, summer cottages, for flooring in sports complexes or recreation areas.
3. Backfill. This view is intended for crowded places or football fields. This is because rubber chips and sand are located between the villi, which reduce the friction force and extend the life of the web. The villi themselves are made of dense polypropylene. The lawn filler consists of foamed polymers.

Also, the grass differs in the height of the blades of grass and the purpose. The lawn is decorative and special. The first is used in landscape design, decorations and for camouflage. The special one is intended for sports arenas and grounds. For different sports, it differs in the density of the canvas and the height of the grass.

For the correct choice, follow these tips:

• You can buy artificial grass online, directly from the manufacturer or in a specialized store. Both methods have their advantages. When purchasing a product in stores, the product can be viewed and touched. But to view the entire assortment, most likely, you will have to visit several stores.There is a wide range of products in the online store, but you can only look closely at them upon delivery. There is a risk of being deceived. Therefore, before making a purchase, you must familiarize yourself with the guarantee and methods of refund.

• Modern technologies make it possible to create grass that is almost completely identical to natural vegetation. When choosing between foreign and domestic manufacturers, one should rely on certificates and customer reviews. Because both of them are not inferior to each other in the quality of manufactured products.

• Before purchasing a lawn, it is imperative to review all the models available in the range. You should definitely pay attention to how the carpet looks and what it is made of. A hard-to-touch and shiny lawn is most likely a cheap brand and most appropriate for decoration.

• We look at how high and thick the flooring is. And also what kind of filler is used: sand or rubber granules. Long and fluffy pile is suitable for repairing any defects. But, the longer the grass, the greater its value.

When making a purchase, you should ask the seller to show the quality certificate and issue a guarantee. In order not to be deceived and not to buy a low-quality product. Popular artificial turf models:

1. Vanilla Grass.
2. Pennisetum.
3. "Papyrus".
4. "Fox's tail".
5. "Lime".

The technology for mounting a roll of artificial grass is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. In order for it to serve for a long time, the styling must be correct, especially if the decision is made to lay the canvas with your own hands.

The main thing is to thoroughly prepare the surface on which the material will be attached. Before starting work, you need to accurately calculate the area and determine the shape, and then transfer the results to a roll. Thus, the minimum amount of seams and waste is achieved.

There are several basic requirements for the basis:

1. Lack of rubbish.
2. Smooth surface.
3. If this is the earth, then it must be dense, eliminate the looseness.

Thus, we begin the work with a complete cleaning of the site. We remove weeds and other unnecessary vegetation by mechanical or chemical means. It is important to remove all debris that could damage the integrity of the coating. If the base is earthen, then at the same time we level the surface, fill up the potholes, fill the holes with soil. After all these manipulations, we compact the ground.

It is advisable to check the levelness of the base using a laser level. Optimal value: from 3 to 6 mm slope per 1 running meter. This value is especially important when placing the roll on concrete. If there is sand on the territory, then it must be removed. Then compact the opened layer and place a drainage layer on it.

To protect the surface of the lawn from the accumulation of liquid, for example, during rain or snow, it is necessary to ensure its outflow. The liquid can drain and linger directly under the canvas. To avoid such an outcome, arrange drainage at a sufficient depth.

This task is perfectly handled by a lawn substrate made of small and medium gravel. Before starting to lay the bale with grass, fill this area with water to identify the places of soil subsidence. If any are found, then earth should be added to this place.

For each base, its own substrate is made, consisting of a different number of layers.

Concrete base:

1. Artificial turf.
2. Geosynthetic material.
3. Reinforced concrete.
4. Crushed stone 20 and 40 mm.
5. Geotextile.
6. Sand.
7. Geotextile.
8. Pre-compacted soil layer.

Crushed stone and sand base:

1. Artificial turf.
2. Granite screenings 1 and 5 mm.
3. Crushed stone 5 and 20 mm.
4. Geotextile.
5. Sand.
6. Geotextile.
7. Pre-compacted soil layer.

Crushed stone base:

1. Synthetic turf.
2. Rubber cushioning pad.
3. Fine granite screenings.
4. Large crushed stone.
5. Geotextile.
6. Pre-compacted soil layer.

These examples are given for professional decorative work or sports field decoration. The number of layers can be reduced if the load on the lawn is low.

1. We take a roll and unwind in one direction. So that the villi are literally tilted to one side.
2. We lay the canvas exactly butt joint, but if the edges are curved, then we make an overlap of up to 10 cm.
3. Let the material lie down for one day so that it is completely straightened out and minor defects in the grass disappear.
4. It is necessary to cut the roll in the middle of the overlap with a clerical knife or scissors using a ruler and chalk.
5. Pulling the edges of the two canvases, we check how tightly they fit together. The gap between them should not be more than 1 mm.
6. After that, we connect the edges of the lawn canvases with a tension stapler or a connecting tape. The instructions should indicate the connection method.

Helpful hints to make your job easier:

1. It is better to apply the two-component adhesive to the connecting tape with a notched trowel (3-5 mm). In this case, the excess glue will not protrude on the canvas.
2. In the process of work, do not allow dust to settle on the tape, leaves and waste (trimmings) adhere.
3. A heavy object should be placed on fresh docked edges so that they grip better.
4. It is better to distribute sand and granules with a rake, broom or seeder.

Correct installation is important, but proper maintenance of the coating is equally important.

Special tools are not needed here, and the process itself will take a little time:

• Once every seven days, you need to brush the lawn, a brush will help with this. This is necessary so that the filler is evenly distributed, and the pile remains fluffy and raised.
• In the autumn, it is necessary to remove fallen leaves with a lightweight rake daily so that the quality of the grass does not deteriorate.
• Weeds rarely grow through the lawn, as textiles hinder it. However, sometimes it can break through between tiles, through the floor itself, or closer to the wall. Therefore, the perimeter must be framed with a plinth. If, nevertheless, weeds are noticed, they must be removed.
• Sharp objects, chewing gums, cigarette butts can significantly damage the integrity of the coating.
• Do not walk on the surface with footwear contaminated with soil or natural grass. Shoes with spikes are also prohibited.

• On children's playgrounds or places where pets walk, the coating can be treated with special approved bactericidal substances.
• Snow or ice can be removed only with a broom or other safe tools. It is better to clean them when the air becomes warmer and the snow and ice melt so as not to damage the pile.
• In hot and dry weather, the lawn should be moistened with water.
• At least once every six months, you need to add fresh filler to avoid deformation of the structure.
• Artificial turf doesn't need a mowing.

Many buyers are concerned about the environmental friendliness of such products. However, at the moment there are models that can be recycled. You need to clarify this point when buying.

In general, buyers are satisfied with the quality of the coating. The money spent on the purchase and installation pays off. Often there are options when artificial grass is combined with live plants.

Due to its characteristics, artificial grass is widely used in various directions. Especially often it can be found in such a field as landscape design.

Also, the grass is used for decoration: children's playgrounds, recreation areas (parks), football and sports grounds.

• Football fields. For a long time, natural grass in the fields was the only option. However, caring for it was difficult, and in the process of operation, the coating inevitably deformed. Therefore, it was decided to replace natural grass with alternative synthetic fibers. This was how the first nylon lawn was created, which had excellent characteristics, it completely covered the ground, thereby isolating it. It was replaced by simpler and cheaper polyethylene materials to manufacture. This plastic takes root well in the Russian climate and has a long service life and high wear resistance.

• Interior. When decorating rooms and buildings, they use a special carpet. It can have a wide variety of colors. Such a carpet fits perfectly into almost any interior and is unpretentious. The coating has a natural green color.

• Country cottage area. When purchasing a lawn for a summer cottage, you need to focus not only on cost, but also on softness and elasticity. For example, propylene material. It can be used to easily decorate stairs, but it is not recyclable. When choosing a color, it is better to opt for products with a matte and natural shade. They will last a very long time. Blades of grass 7 mm high, roll length 25 m, standard green color. It can be laid like a decorative rug, but is subject to intense heat.

• Landscaping. Synthetic grass is just a godsend for designers, because there is no need to take into account the specificity of the terrain and type of soil. In addition, such models can be of a variety of colors, which allows you to safely experiment with them. Pile height 20 cm, roll length 25 cm. The color can be pink, red or other.

• Finishing floor covering. This carpet can mimic the structure of a natural lawn and helps to create your own green area or place for games (for example, golf) in the house. Pile height 5 mm, roll length 25 cm. Color natural, green. Safe for allergy sufferers, non-slip.

The plastic lawn is the brainchild of human hands. Despite some disadvantages, in general it is a great option for a wide variety of purposes. It also makes it possible to create unusual interior solutions that would be impossible with living grass.

For information on how to choose artificial grass, see the next video.

For information on how the process of laying artificial grass takes place, see the next video.