Artificial Turf Installation in Florida: What to Expect Before, During, and After
Some surprises are good, like if you get a large fry in your fast food bag instead of the small one you ordered, or if your teenager cleans his room.
But if a truck pulls up in front of your house and guys start digging up your lawn, you want to be prepared for that.
So if you’re considering getting artificial turf, what’s the artificial grass installation process? It starts with figuring out what type you want, moves on to a few days of installation, and wraps up with some education about the care it needs.
Final step: you never have to mow your lawn again. That calls for a large fry.
Let’s learn more about Florida artificial turf installation, including:
What to Expect Before Turf Installation
Before you can have artificial turf installed, you need to choose what kind you want. The bad news? About 50 different manufacturers make artificial turf. If you start trying to compare them all, you’ll quickly give up in frustration and duck out for an order of fries.
The good news? We’ve got you. We’ll help you narrow down the choices, based on your lifestyle, your preferences and where it will be installed. (If you’re installing artificial turf by your pool, for example, you’ll need turf designed for pool areas, with excellent drainage, UV protection, and resistance to pool chemicals.)
Too many perplexing choices takes the fun out of the artificial grass installation process, so we’ll show you two or three options we recommend, but let you know there are more options if you need them.
Let’s make it a multi-sensory experience: you’ll get to see real turf samples, feel the softness, see the color, and get a sense of how the turf will look and feel in your yard. Go ahead, wiggle your bare toes in it.
We’ll ask you some questions, too, as we hone in on the right options. Do you want a longer, lush grass that feels great on your feet? Or do you love a shorter putting green vibe that will look great with your favorite golf shirt?
How much activity will your new lawn get? Frolicking kids or grandkids? A rambunctious dog? Or just you and your lounge chair, sipping iced tea and happily surveying your perfect green lawn?
Whatever your lifestyle, we’ll pick the perfect turf for you and your property so you can head worry free into your artificial turf installation process.
What to Expect During Turf Installation
Here’s where it starts to feel real: installation time!
First, what exactly will your turf installers be working with out there? It’s kind of fun to watch.
Artificial turf consists of synthetic grass; its backing material; the infill materials that help the blades stand up straight; the tape that joins the seams; and nails that secure the edges. The turf comes in big rolls. These guys don’t exactly travel light.
Your installers will show up with tools you’ll recognize like shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows plus more specialized equipment like a plate compactor and seaming tape.
Florida artificial turf installation requires careful ground preparation and skilled execution to ensure proper drainage, stability, and a natural look. This is a job best left to the pros.
Here’s what to expect during artificial turf installation:
- Crews will excavate your lawn area, removing several inches of sod and dirt.
- They’ll create an appropriate slope for proper drainage, add several inches of a sand and gravel base and then compact it so it’s nice and firm. Skilled drainage work is really important. Without proper water flow, artificial turf lawns can develop puddles of standing water; bacteria; mold; or smelly odors.
- They’ll unroll the artificial turf, cut it to fit and use seam tape on the bottom side of the turf to expertly join the seams so they don’t show. Skilled crews work extra hard to make sure you have invisible seams. If you can see the seams between the sections of your artificial turf, or they start coming apart, your lawn won’t look like real grass.
- Good installers pay special attention to the turf’s “nap” during the artificial grass installation process, too. This is the natural direction the synthetic fibers run, similar to carpet. It’s really important to lay artificial grass with the nap running the same way and toward the main viewing angle for a consistent, lush green look.
- Crews will fasten the turf around the perimeter with heavy-duty staples to poly “bender boards” to secure it, stretching it tight along the way. Because we’re picky, we don’t do this the way most other companies do. Many artificial turf installation companies fold the turf over the boards and staple it. We don’t like the way that looks. Tropical Gardens crews cut the turf and staple it on top of the boards, so the turf ends in a natural-looking edge, just like real grass.
- Then Installers spread infill material evenly across the turf and use a power broom to work it down into the base, so the grass blades stand up nicely. Infill is the granular material that keeps artificial grass blades standing upright and adds weight to secure the turf, preventing wrinkles and movement.
A Quick Word About Infill
Infill might just look like an afterthought as crews sprinkle it into your new artificial turf, but it’s actually a really important component of the artificial turf installation process.
Here at Tropical Gardens we use Envirofill, little green beads that are non-toxic, inhibit mold and are cooler underfoot than other infill options. They’re also the best option if you have a dog.
Anti-microbial protection is infused into Envirofill during the manufacturing process to help prevent the growth of bacteria and microbes that can cause stains and odors.
What to Expect After Turf Installation
Complete peace of mind, right? No more mowing. No more weeds. No more fertilizing. The only watering you have to do is occasional spraying of your artificial turf to cool it down. (It does get hotter in the sun than real grass.)
While artificial turf needs much less maintenance than natural grass, it does need occasional attention. You’re not totally off the hook.
Here’s a look at what to expect after artificial turf installation:
- Rinse your artificial turf occasionally with water to keep it clean. Use a blower or rake to remove any debris, including fallen leaves.
- Brush your turf occasionally with a plastic leaf rake, a power broom or a push broom with stiff bristles. Brush the blades in the opposite direction of the turf to help keep the blades standing up straight.
- Clean up spills quickly. Grab a clean cloth and clean up as much of the spill as possible. Follow up with water and a mild detergent and give the soiled area a good scrub.
- Plan to replenish your infill every 3-5 years. Infill settles and wears down over time. If you power broom your artificial turf and it still doesn’t stand up nice and straight, it probably needs more infill.
- Have a dog? Artificial turf maintenance involves a few more steps if you’re sharing the grass with a furry friend. Hose down your turf with a water hose or your irrigation system weekly, then treat it with bleach, vinegar, or Simple Green, a multi-purpose cleaner that works great on dog odors and for cleaning artificial grass surfaces. It’s a water-based, biodegradable alternative to harsher chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Artificial Turf Installation
Q: How long does artificial turf installation take?
A: Here at Tropical Gardens Landscape, we can usually start on your yard within three weeks of you signing the contract, then the actual artificial grass installation takes 5-7 days.
Q: How long does artificial turf last?
A: Expect artificial grass in a residential yard to last 15-20 years, depending on how much it’s used, its exposure to sunlight and how well it’s maintained with brushing, cleaning and infill replenishment.
Q: How much does artificial turf cost?
A: Artificial turf costs $14-$18 per square foot, including the materials, delivery and installation.
So a 15-by-20-foot area of artificial grass in Florida will cost about $5,500.
Yes, that’s quite a bit more than real grass, but keep in mind the cost of real grass doesn’t end with installation. You pay for mowing; irrigation; fertilizer; weed control; pesticides; occasional fungicides.
Q: What’s the warranty on artificial turf?
A: A 25-year warranty is standard for Sarasota artificial turf installation. A 5-year warranty is a red flag. That means the company is installing cheap turf they don’t expect to last.
What to Expect With Artificial Turf Installation in Florida? Talk to Us
If you partner with us for your Sarasota artificial turf services, expect a smooth and impressive process, start to finish.
At Tropical Gardens Landscape, we make things easy from the very beginning. We sit down with you, not with 50 turf samples and confusing choices, but with a few solid options we know you’ll love, because we’ve taken the time to discover your needs and learn about your outdoor lifestyle.
Then, we handle everything, from preparing your yard, to expertly installing your artificial turf to cleaning up afterwards.
We’ll even leave you with artificial turf maintenance tips so you can keep your new lawn looking great for years to come.
Bonus: we’re a full-service Sarasota landscaping company — not just artificial turf experts. That means we can help with all your landscaping needs, from designing your outdoor space to installing and maintaining tropical plants to building a pergola or outdoor kitchen.
Give us a call or fill out our form today! Our team of Sarasota landscaping pros can’t wait to transform your yard into a beautiful, green oasis.
And we’re happy to split that order of large fries.
