Artificial Turf Installation is a popular choice for home and sports fields because it can stand up to harsh New York weather. But it’s important to do the work right to ensure a long-lasting, durable, and beautiful lawn. The key to a successful project is the base preparation, which is critical for drainage and a smooth surface. If the ground is not prepped correctly, you will end up with many small bumps and depressions in the turf. It’s also recommended to lay a layer of gopher wire during base preparation. This is a must to prevent gophers from chewing through the turf and creating holes underneath.

To get started, remove any existing grass or weeds from the area where you plan to install your artificial turf. This is best done in autumn prior to the leaves falling or spring, though if you live somewhere that experiences snow and cold winters, it’s okay to do this at any time of year. After that, it’s a good idea to lay down a landscape fabric to reduce the chances of weeds growing up through your turf.

Depending on the size of the area you need to cover, the base materials for your new synthetic lawn can vary. But you should always start with a minimum of three inches of class-2 road base rock or similar material. Once that is put down, it’s a good idea to use a hand tamper or a plate compactor to achieve 90% compaction. Then, lay a layer of decomposed granite or path fines on top. This is another layer that should be tamped and compacted to 90% to create a solid, smooth underlay for the turf.

When laying out your Artificial Turf Installation, make sure that all the blades are facing the same direction. This will give your yard a more natural look and will also make it easier to trim the edges later on. You will also want to nail down the turf with 7-inch lawn spikes every four feet, and be sure to use a sharp utility knife when trimming the edges. It’s also a good idea to brush the turf with a coarse broom once it is installed. This will help fluff up the blades and hide any nails that may have gone astray during installation.

Once your turf is laid, it’s a good idea to hose it down and rake it out to remove any loose fibers or debris. You should also firmly press down on any areas that need extra support with a hand or power tamper. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, it’s also a good idea to install an overflow drain system underneath the turf, as well as a sump pump in case the ground becomes saturated with water.

Finally, it’s a good idea to spread infill over the turf and brush it into place with a broom, again to fluff up the blades. The infill should be a high-quality product that has been treated with Microban or other antimicrobial protection. This will help reduce bacteria that cause staining and odors on your turf.