More and more Sacramento homeowners are swapping out their natural grass for artificial turf. Modern synthetic turf is incredibly lifelike, so it’s easy to see why it’s becoming one of the most popular drought-tolerant landscaping materials.

Many choose to hire an artificial grass installation contractor, but choosing to install synthetic turf yourself is also an option. DIYing your yard can save you some money – just make sure you do your research to avoid the pitfalls people tend to fall into when installing artificial turf themselves.

To help you nail your artificial turf installation, we’ve listed five of the most common mistakes we’ve seen from folks who install their own synthetic grass lawns.

1. Not Getting the Groundwork Right

Properly excavating the ground where your artificial turf will lay is essential. Installing synthetic turf directly over existing soil or natural turf will leave you with an uneven, inorganic-looking lawn.

You’ll want to remove a minimum of three inches off the top of your lawn. We highly recommend using a turf cutter; it’ll make the excavation process go by much easier.

Make sure to excavate any soft spots – these are areas where the ground sinks under the weight of your feet. Neglecting these areas is a common mistake that can lead to sinking areas of your finished yard.

2. Skipping the Weed Membrane

Many DIY’ers neglect to install a weed membrane underneath their synthetic turf. As a result, they’re left fighting an uphill battle against the weeds that keep popping up throughout their turf.

3. Installing Over an Uneven Surface

Taking the extra time to ensure your laying course is completely flat and smooth will pay off greatly in the finished result.

If you run a plate compactor where you will install your turf, you’ll be left with indentations that will show up on the surface of your artificial grass. To fix this, run a plastic float over your soil to remove any dents and ridges.

4. Not Giving Your Artificial Turf Time to Acclimatize

Artificial turf is stored and shipped in tightly-bound rolls on cardboard cores. Naturally, it won’t be entirely flat or smooth when it’s first unrolled.

Letting your grass acclimatize for around 24 hours after it arrives will make installation much easier and improve your end result.

5. Picking the Wrong Artificial Turf

Today’s artificial grass technology is incredibly advanced – don’t settle for a distributor that cuts corners on quality. Investing in quality synthetic turf will pay off, as your lawn will last far longer and look better than those with subpar materials.

Synthetic Grass Warehouse Sacramento engineers the industry’s most durable, lifelike artificial turf products. We proudly carry the largest selection of synthetic grass in the nation, so you’re guaranteed to find a variety that’s perfect for your next installation project. We’re more than happy to answer any questions, comments or concerns that come up during your installation – simply give us a call at (916) 797-0682 or contact us online to connect with a member of our team.