Doggy Turf How-to

A great alternative to laying sod and caring for real grass is artificial grass, or turf. Before you discredit it, think about the prospect of never having to water, fertilize, or mow your grass. Plus, when your pet does their business, it won’t leave spots and stains—turf has antibacterial agents, allows urine to filter right through into the ground, and can be cleaned with most household cleaning agents. Dogs can’t dig through it, it feels and looks just like grass, keeps your pets and as a result your house cleaner, and is relatively easy to install. Next time you get discouraged about a weedy, dry, patchy yard, consider looking into installing some turf.

Here are some recommendations for installation:

Ground Prep: Make sure that the ground you’ll be laying the turf on is free of debris and is smooth, firm, and level. Add a base of crushed rock—you’ll want about 2 tons of crushed rock per 100 square feet—then level it with a rake, spray with water, and compact it.

Turf Installation: You’re going to want to unroll and lay out the turf during which time you’ll line up the edges and cut off the ends. If you have to lay more than one section next to each other, make sure that the grain is going the same way. Next you’re going to fold the turf back and roll out seam tape in the middle of the pieces. Then lay the turf back down making certain to keep the sections lined up.

Infill: Brush the fibers so they’re standing up as straight as possible. Spread the infill (oftentimes sand or rubber pellets) evenly with a drop spreader, similar as you would to spread fertilizer. Use a broom to brush the infill between the fibers—a depth of 1/2” to 3/4” is recommended—down to the artificial grass backing to make the grass fibers stand on end.

And that’s it! Installation procedure will vary depending on the brand and type of artificial grass you decide on, but that’s the general idea. Let us help you and it’ll be even easier! Give us a call if you need any help installing your turf or if you’re interested in adding it to your landscape design.