Because remnants vary in size and shape, the applications for these products are endless. In the past, customers have displayed their creativity by using remnants as table runners, mudroom mats, wall art, outdoor chess boards, shoe trays, rugs, coasters, doormats, and pet mats. Larger remnants are perfect for event centerpieces, mini soccer fields, gym areas, roof/deck applications, and mini-putting areas. Find out more about some spectacular DIY (Do It Yourself) remnant projects here or watch our remnant video below!
If your decking is damaged or discoloured, you can restore it by using artificial grass. By installing synthetic grass on your deck, you are eliminating the need to fix, treat and seal your deck forever. Your new grass just needs an occasional hoover, or a quick scrub to remove any dirt. This is ideal for families or pet owners.
Astro Turf on Decking
You will also save money on the maintenance of your outdoor space. Deck paint and sealant can be expensive, and it’s a time consuming process. Brighten up your outdoor area with some artificial turf and you can enjoy spending time in your garden, without all the hard work!
How to Lay Artificial Grass on Decking
Step 1: Start by laying down some boards. This will prevent the grass forming ridges and falling into the gaps between the decking panels.
Step 2: Lay down an underlay product – such as our performance pad – and secure it well.
Step 3: Lay the grass onto the now clean and level area you are covering. Allow around 50mm of grass on each side of the area to trim off to ensure a perfect edge. Leave the grass overnight to settle, which will stop it wrinkling or creasing.
Step 4: Cut and trim your artificial grass, using a sharp Stanley knife. Ensure that you cut the grass neatly to the edges of the decking.
Step 5: To make the joins, use a high-quality outdoor tape and glue. Follow the instructions on the products. For decking, you can use a combination of adhesive and carpet tacks to fix the grass down.
Artificial grass is perfect for laying over decking. It’s easy to lay, looks great and solves a lot of problems for busy families. Hayley Leitch found it very useful for transforming her garden and reducing the hassle of natural grass. She solved the problems of mud, maintenance and marks with artificial grass, and is saving money to boot.
Is your decking looking a little tired and worn after winter? You could spend hours cleaning, treating and staining your decking. Or, you can lay artificial grass on your decking. It’s a durable, high quality solution that looks great. We have outlined the process below and answered your burning questions.
Can You Lay Artificial Grass on Decking?
Yes, you can lay artificial grass on decking. It’s a popular option for families and retired couples. It also works really well for families with dogs or other pets.
It does need an underlay and some preparation but it still works as an attractive and affordable landscaping option.
Below, Hayley Leitch talks about how artificial grass works for her family. She’s the star of Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, and her own Youtube channel, Hayley’s Help.
It can be difficult to encourage children to get out in the great outdoors during the Spring/Summer months with so many obstructions online. With the weather starting to warm up in the UK, there’s no reason to not take advantage of the wonderful weather.
We’ve put together some garden activity ideas for kids this Summer to help them get creative and to create memorable experiences together as a family.
DIY Birdhouses
With recycling and up-cycling being at the heart of many UK households, we can utilise existing items and transform them into beautiful garden creations. Looking at your recycling materials before throwing them in the bin, could you utilise any finished and clean juice cartons, milk bottles, plastic boxes to create a birdhouse or feeder.
Get out various craft accessories, such as paint, coloured pens, stickers or natural items discovered in the garden to decorate. Let the kids help decide where to place the homemade bird feeder and note down the chippy friends as they enter the garden!
Garden Sketching
All you’ll need is a pen and paper for this activity. See what interests your child the most in the garden, whether that be a plant, flowers, birds, insects or your household pet and let your little artist draw to their heart’s content.
If your child is a frequent drawer or enjoys it, why not start a scrapbook? Not only is it great to keep all their artwork in one place, but also is a great way to reminisce when they’re all grown up.
If you’re choosing paint, over sketching, why not suggest it on a sunnier day so their masterpieces will dry much quicker?
Nature Art
Grab an old bedsheet or piece of fabric for the background let your little ones head on a scavenger hunt for natural materials in the garden to create a perfect picture.
Encourage your children to pick up objects around the garden, such as: stones, sticks, leaves, flowers (if permitted) to create their own story.
Rainbow Arts & Crafts
With the rainbow becoming the symbol of solidarity with NHS workers on the frontline, why not getting creative with your children to show your support? This could be painted, drawn, chalked on the pavement, paper plates, finger painting, using coloured paper as a collage – anything!
Place these showpieces when your neighbours and members of your community can see and to showcase your child’s work.
Following the preparation stage, you should now look to apply a non-oil-based moss killer onto the artificial grass/lawn. However, for the best results, we recommend doing so when the moss is actively growing and only when weather conditions are dry and no moisture is present/anticipated for several hours.
It is also vitally important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as not all moss killers are the same. Following this, you should look to thoroughly rinse off the moss killer (if the manufacturer states). Once the moss has dried out and died, you will need to sweep/rake it to one side to make collecting and binning it easier.
And that’s it – for now at least! We do recommend that you reapply the moss killer once every few weeks if you continue to see moss growth.
If you need any further advice on artificial grass maintenance, get in touch with our friendly team.
First, let’s go over why you need a base layer. The base layer creates a level platform and provides drainage for artificial turf. When installing a synthetic grass base layer, excavate 3 to 4 inches of topsoil. The best materials for the base layer are 3 inches of class II road base followed by an inch of decomposed granite (also known as granite dust).
You can lay weed barrier fabric under the base layer, over the base layer, or both.
Lay the landscaping fabric under the base layer to prevent contamination and provide a ground stabilization membrane.
If the native soil is hard (as opposed to clay-like), there is no need to install weed barrier fabric under the base material. Simply lay the weed suppressant membrane over the base.
Wondering why you should invest in a weed barrier? A weed barrier:
1. Blocks Weed Growth
The fabric blocks sunlight from reaching the soil. Weeds need sunlight to grow. Even if a stubborn weed pops its head out of the ground beneath your artificial grass, the weed barrier cloth physically stops the weed from reaching the artificial turf. As its name suggests, it acts as a barrier between the weed and the synthetic turf.
2. Prevents Soil Aeration
When soil is aerated, more oxygen gets into the soil, promoting weed growth. One of the most significant natural sources of soil aeration is the earthworm, eating its way through the soil, loosening it up, and leaving tunnels for water, nutrients, and air to reach weed seeds buried in the dirt.
The more earthworms in your soil, the more likely it is that weeds will be able to grow and thrive. Landscape cloth for synthetic turf is a barrier that will keep the earthworms at bay. They won’t want to live where they can’t reach the surface. With fewer earthworms, weeds will have a more challenging time reaching your turf.
3. Provides Ground Stabilization
You want a solid base for your artificial turf. If there is loose or rocky soil beneath your artificial turf, you could end up with bumps and dips that make it less comfortable to walk on. Weed barrier fabric adds stability, especially if it is a woven weed barrier. It provides an extra layer of firmness and helps prevent soil erosion, so you don’t have to worry about the elements destroying the base of your artificial turf.
4. Protects Synthetic Grass
Besides stabilizing the ground beneath the artificial grass, the weed barrier cloth cushions the artificial turf from whatever is in the soil beneath it. Sharp debris, such as pebbles and rocks, can puncture your artificial grass (if there is no base layer). A layer of weed barrier cloth under your turf adds protection. You want to avoid punctures in your synthetic grass because they can weaken the turf and make it susceptible to more damage.
5. Prevents Base Contamination
Weed barrier can separate the native soil from the base layer (also known as the sub-base layer). If contaminants are in your native soil, you could also get impurities in the base layer unless weed barrier fabric is in place. A weed barrier helps keep the base layer clean.
Weed barrier for artificial grass is a geo-textile fabric that is installed as a synthetic turf underlayment. It is also known as weed barrier cloth, weed block fabric, and landscaping fabric. Weed barrier is typically made from polyester or polypropylene. It comes in woven or non-woven styles.
Low-quality artificial turf installation or damage to the sub-base layer can cause serious issues that can’t be fixed without professional attention. These problems include:
Poor drainage causing mold and mildew.
Debris buildup under the surface causing unevenness, bumps, and pooling water.
Compaction and uneven surfaces affecting the appearance and lifespan of the turf.
Soil erosion (poorly installed artificial turf can’t control soil erosion).
If you encounter serious artificial turf issues, quick DIY fixes won’t help. It’s best to let professionals handle the problem since it may require digging up the synthetic turf to fix the sub-base layer.
Some types of damage could cause your artificial turf to lose color. Meanwhile, some pieces of used synthetic grass may not be perfectly uniform in color. Instead of fixing artificial grass with patches, you can use color-matching turf paint.
Spray-painting discolored or faded blades can give your used grass a fresh new look.
What To Do After Initial Repairs
Once you finish minor artificial grass repairs, you need to:
Blend the repair – use a soft-bristled brush or broom to brush the fibers of the repaired area and the surrounding turf together.
Inspect the repair – make sure the repaired area is secure and well-blended.
With the right approach, minor repairs remain invisible and don’t interfere with day-to-day use.