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How do I install artificial grass if I have trees in my garden that I want to keep

By Blog

Trees are beautiful things. In summer, they provide much needed shade and, as the seasons change, there is nothing more fascinating than watching the life-cycle of a tree and the different colours they bring into our gardens.

If you have a tree in your garden, you may be wondering if it is possible to have artificial grass installed, or if an artificial lawn may be detrimental to your tree. Read on to see some frequently asked (and answered!) questions about trees and artificial grass.

Q: Will an artificial lawn kill my trees?

A: Put simply, no. Artificial grass is designed in such a way that rainwater will drain through the perforated holes. This means that your tree is guaranteed to get all the nutrients it needs, as water will penetrate under the lawn and straight to the root. In fact, the absence of natural turf will mean that your tree isn’t competing for the water and will take the lion’s share all year round!

 

Q: Can artificial grass be installed around an existing tree?

A: Absolutely! There are two ways of doing this and we can advise which is the best for you and your garden.

If you have a tree with very shallow roots, it may not be advisable to lay artificial grass right up to the trunk. In some cases, we recommend creating a non-grass bed, or a well, around the tree trunk. This can be made up using gravel, or mulch, and will disguise any shallow roots without smothering them. Another added bonus of doing this is it looks much neater than dusty, patchy natural turf that is often found around tree roots.

 

Q: Will artificial turf cause tree roots to ‘overheat’ in summer?

A: Artificial grass can get warmer than natural grass, particularly in the height of summer. That being said, this won’t have a detrimental impact upon any trees that are growing in your garden, particularly if they make their own shade.

That being said, if we do experience a hotter-than-average summer, it may be advisable to give your artificial lawn a hose down to cool it off.

 

Q: Can you use a rake on artificial lawn?

A: If you have trees in your garden, you most certainly will have leaves on or around your lawn, particularly in autumn. These leaves can cause surface weeds to sprout up and generally can make your garden look untidy. So what can you do about them?

For a quick and easy solution, we recommend using a leaf blower to remove leaves, however if this isn’t available, of course you can use a rake or a brush.

Artificial Grass With Trees And Border

 

Do you have a burning question about artificial lawns that we haven’t answered? Then get in touch! A member of our friendly team will be more than happy to chat with you about your requirements, answer any questions, and even arrange a free-site visit and quotation!

March 18, 2020

Maintenance Tips For Artificial Grass

By Blog

Artificial lawns are a great, low-maintenance solution for any garden. By following these helpful maintenance tips, you can ditch your lawn mower, hoes, and spades forever and spend more of your free-time enjoying your garden.

How To Clean Artificial Grass

Like any other part of your house, your artificial lawn will benefit from being cleaned regularly. Don’t let dirt build up for long periods of time; little and often is a technique many of our customers use to keep their lawns looking like new.

We recommend cleaning your artificial grass with your garden hose, or a bucket of warm, soapy water, at least once a week. This will wash away dust, debris and dirt and prevent any airborne seeds from germinating and producing surface weeds. If you have pets, rainwater will do an adequate job of cleaning your lawn of any urine, however a concentrated clean more regularly will eliminate unpleasant odours.

If you’re feeling fancy, there are a number of artificial grass cleaners on the market which can leave your grass smelling sweet, however good, old fashioned water is a perfectly adequate solution. You can even add a little bit of vinegar for a low-cost solution to neutralise smells that may build up over time.

How To Brush Your Artificial Grass

Even the highest quality artificial turf will start to look a bit flat over time, particularly if it endures regular footfall. To ensure your grass stays perky, we recommend brushing it once a month with a brush made of synthetic bristles.

Like washing your lawn, brushing it will help to remove any dirt that may have built up between the blades of grass. It will also revitalise the lawn, bringing the blades of grass upright again and preventing matting, which can happen if a lawn isn’t cared for over time.

You want to be brushing against the pile of the lawn i.e. you want to brush away from your property if artificial grass is installed in your back garden. If it’s installed in your front garden, you would want to brush towards to property as this will mean the pile will stand upright correctly.

Weed It

Occasionally, you may find surface weeds growing in your lawn. These are easily removed by gently pulling them up. To minimise weeds, it is important to remove leaves and other natural debris from your lawn as often as you can. This can be done with a stiff brush, or a leaf blower.

You can also use a pet-friendly weed killer on your lawn. It’s a quick and easy solution and, after application, the weeds can simply be removed by hand or brushed away. This will improve the appearance of your lawn and keep it healthy and weed-free.

Stop Stains

Accidents happen, particularly around children and pets. It is important to treat your artificial lawn like you would the carpet in your house. Whilst most spills are easily cleaned up by hosing the lawn down with hot, soapy water, some like oil or adhesives  are much harder to clean up and may stain.

In these cases, prevention is much better than cure. Keep any petrol-powered garden tools or vehicles away from the lawn to eliminate the risk of staining and to keep your lawn pristine. Furthermore, it is always a good idea to keep barbeques and other sources of fire away from you artificial lawn to prevent it getting burned or scorched. We wholly recommend keeping a barbeque on a patio area and making sure no hot ashes can reach the grass.

 

By following these simple maintenance tips, you can be sure your Newlawn looks immaculate however you choose to use your garden. If you have any questions, or would like to speak to someone about getting an artificial lawn installed in your garden, then get in touch today!

March 18, 2020

Grass Alternatives – Artificial Grass

By Blog

They say that there is nothing better than the smell of freshly cut grass, but here at New Lawn we like to go one better. We think there’s nothing better than enjoying all of the benefits of a natural lawn with none of the hassle.

Plumping for a grass alternative in your garden may well be the best thing you’ve ever done for a number of reasons. Here are our top 3 top reasons why you need a New Lawn artificial lawn in your garden.

Pet & Child Friendly

Kids and animals love the great outdoors, and it’s important that they have a safe space to play. All of our artificial turf is made Grass Alternaitvewith plastic that is often used in food packaging, so you can be sure your loved ones are well cared for when playing on your New Lawn.

Artificial grass also has many benefits for pet-owners. Many animals find digging up natural lawns a great sport, however with artificial grass the temptation is greatly reduced. This means that, no matter the wear, your lawn will look immaculate all year around and you don’t have to worry about Fido digging for bones!

 

Low Maintenance

We all enjoy lounging on our lawns in summer, but many of us can’t stand the chore that comes with a natural lawn. Mowing, weeding, feeding and hoeing are just a few of the regular maintenance jobs required on a regular basis (sometimes weekly) for a natural lawn.

Artificial grass takes all the hassle out of your lawn and maximises the enjoyment. All you will have to do is give your New Lawn a once over with the garden hose and a stiff brush to keep it looking great every single day. With an artificial turf you can ditch your lawn mower for good but still reap all the benefits of a natural lawn.

 

Year Round Perfection

When it rains, natural lawns can become muddy and boggy, and this can become even worse if the lawn has lots of footfall during this time. With an artificial lawn, you never have to worry about muddy footprints being tracked into your house, or not being able to enjoy your garden due to the weather. Water and moisture simply drain through the perforated holes in artificial grass, meaning it dries quickly and you aren’t left with any muddy puddles!

Not only this, but artificial lawn never changes in appearance. During drier periods natural lawns can become dry and turn yellow, like hay. This can be unsightly, uncomfortable and spoil our enjoyment of the garden. With artificial grass you can be sure your lawn will look lush and pristine all year around, so you’re sure to be the envy of your neighbours when the next hosepipe ban is put into place!

There are so many reasons why an artificial lawn is the right choice for you garden. New Lawn artificial turf provides a low maintenance, attractive solution for any garden no matter the size or how it is used. If you’d like to find out more about New Lawn Artificial Grass then contact us today for more information. Alternatively, you can request a sample to see for yourself just how good our artificial grass is!

March 18, 2020

How To Lay Artificial Grass

By Blog

How To Lay Artificial Grass – New Lawn Artificial Grass Ltd Explain In A Step By Step Guide.

At New Lawn, we not only provide high quality artificial grass, we provide a full installation service as standard. A lot of our clients have questions about the process of installing an artificial lawn, so here we’ll give you a full rundown of the process, from start to finish.

Site Visit

The first step on your journey to a brand new artificial lawn is a site visit. Every site visit is carried out by one of our professional and friendly installers, and allows us to gain more information about your existing lawn and discern the level of groundwork required for installation. During this visit, we will also discuss your requirements to fully understand your needs and to make recommendations as to the best artificial grass for you.

How to install artificial grass

 

Removal of Existing Lawn and Excavation

When you decide to go ahead with New Lawn, we will move quickly to get work underway on your garden. In order to provide a good foundation for your New Lawn we will remove your existing lawn to a depth of 70mm. This part of the process ensures the ground is flat, and removes any existing surface weeds.

 

Edging

Following removal of your existing lawn, we edge the entire perimeter of the area using tanalised timber or cement haunching against a hard edge, such as concrete slabs. This ensures the material that lies under your lawn is thoroughly supported, and your lawn will keep its shape once it has been laid.

 

Foundations

Once the edging is complete, we install type 1 limestone to a depth of 40mm. This is then compacted using a whacker plate. A layer of sharp sand is then placed on top of the type 1 limestone and, once again, the whacker plate is utilised to ensure a smooth surface. By carrying out both of these steps, we are left with a flat surface that is prepped for the next stage of the process.

 

Weed Membrane

We don’t want weeds spoiling your enjoyment of your New Lawn. So, to prevent them from growing through the holes in your artificial lawn, we install a weed resistant membrane.

 

Installation of Artificial Grass

Once the base is complete, the artificial grass is ready to be rolled into position. At New Lawn, all of our professional installers dedicate themselves to ensuring the grass is perfectly aligned. The seams are then secured with adhesive and the edges of the artificial turf are pinned, or glued depending on the type of edging used earlier on in the process.

Eclipse Artificial Grass - Namgrass

And, relax!

Once the above work is complete, your artificial lawn will be ready for you to enjoy straight away! All you have to do is grab a cuppa and admire the job well done!

So, there you have it. That is the step-by-step guide to our installation process. If you have any questions, need clarification on any part of the process, or would like to arrange a free site visit to get the ball rolling, then please get in touch today!

March 18, 2020

Our Top Artificial Grass FAQs

By Blog

As one of the top artificial grass companies in the South of England, the team here at New Lawn regularly fields all kinds of common questions. Whether you are wondering if you need to water your artificial grass (seriously, people ask!) or just want to know how to keep your investment looking its best, here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions.

 

  • Is artificial grass expensive?

Artificial grass is a very cost effective solution, it is a lot more affordable than you might think. When the initial costs are in the past, you will actually start saving a lot of money. You will no longer need to splash out on seed, fertiliser, and lawn care, not to mention all the time you spend on cutting the lawn!

 

  • What is artificial grass made from?

Artificial grass is usually made from a combination of a few completely safe materials. These are polyethylene, nylon and polypropylene, materials that are often used in food packaging and storage.

  • How can I care for my artificial grass?

It is incredibly easy to keep your artificial grass looking its best. In order to care for your lawn, regularly brush it in the direction of the natural pile. Use a leaf blower or brush to remove fallen leaves, and always rotate heavy items to different places in your garden in order to prevent flattening over time. Having a BBQ? Make sure that heat and ashes stay away from your lawn (put the BBQ on a patio) in order to prevent melting.

  • Do I need to water my artificial grass?

You do not need to water your artificial turf, but if your dog or cat relieves themselves on its surface it is a good idea to rinse it down on a regular basis!

  • Will my artificial grass be ok in the rain?

As we are located in the South of England, this is an incredibly common question! People always want to know if their artificial grass will be able to handle a downpour, or many days of sustained showers. It is absolutely fine, the groundwork we complete will be able to drain the water to ensure it does not sit on top of the grass.

 

  • Will snow and ice ruin my artificial grass?

While we don’t get too much snow in the South of England, it can get very chilly here. A few flurries are not uncommon, and waking up to a sheet of frost and ice is common throughout the winter months. Thankfully, snow and ice will not ruin your artificial grass.

 

Do you have any questions that we have covered in the list above? If so please do get in contact with a member of the New Lawn Artificial Grass Ltd team.

March 18, 2020