Artificial Grass in Alabama

Finding Grass

• Although artificial grass is used often in putting greens, golf courses, playing fields and some commercial housing developments, it is still gaining popularity in the home lawn market. Still, Alabama contractors, such as Southwest Greens of Birmingham, offer a range of synthetic grass options as well as professional installation of the product. Those looking for a more customizable experience may try one of the several national companies that manufacture artificial grass and ship nationwide. These companies, such as NewGrass, SynLawn and Discount Turf, do not offer professional installation but do offer a wide variety of grasses, from the very small centipede used in golf courses to the luxurious and soft St. Augustine, fescue and rye grasses. For do-it-yourselfers looking to stay away from mail ordering, retailers such as Costco also offer synthetic grass in Alabama.

Installation

• Alabama has no special climate conditions that would prevent the normal installation of a synthetic lawn in an average home. Begin by clearing the planned coverage area of any natural grass and grading the soil down to a flat plane. Apply a layer of fine crushed gravel about 3 inches thick. This layer of gravel will ensure proper drainage of the artificial lawn even in a heavy rain. When the layer of gravel has been evenly spread, compact the gravel using a plate tamper until the gravel is flattened. Finally, lay down the carpet of artificial grass, and trim pieces to fit the size and shape of your lawn. Fasten the carpet to the ground as directed by the manufacturer of your artificial grass.

Maintenance

• The maintenance of a synthetic lawn is far less labor intensive or costly than that of a natural lawn but just as crucial. Alabama occasionally experiences strong rain storms with high winds. Inspect the artificial lawn after these storms to ensure no stagnant pools are left on the lawn. Also, brush or rake the lawn clean of dead leaves or other organic debris, which can be a haven for bacteria, allergens, mildew or fungus.