Artificial Grass in Minnesota

Getting Grass

• While artificial grass can save the homeowner time and money on both maintenance and water consumption, finding artificial grass can be a challenge. Fortunately, several local contractors in Minnesota can install a range of artificial grass options. Companies such as ForeverLawn Minnesota Inc. in Lakeville and Rhino Sports near St. Paul offer artificial grass for installation all over the state. These contractors use synthetic grasses from large companies such as DuPont and are capable of installing a variety of grasses for aesthetic or practical purposes. Many of these contractors not only install artificial turf in the home, but also in sports arenas, putting greens and fitness facilities.

Installation

• Although Minnesota can get cold in the winter, this does not present any problem for those who want to install and keep artificial grass on their lawn, and normal installation should be possible. Most artificial grass comes in squares of material, while some come in rolls. Either way, the ground should be cleared and graded down to a flat surface to make an even and solid base. Install a 3-inch layer of crushed fine gravel, which will provide the drainage necessary to keep the grass from rotting or becoming damaged after a storm or snowfall. Use a plate tamper to compact the base and gravel layers. Lay the grass over the area you wish to cover, and secure with galvanized landscape spikes. From here, grass is either secured either by a process of gluing or through mechanical bonding, depending on the type of artificial grass.

Maintenance

• Minnesota experiences frequent snows, freezes and storms in the winter and dry spells throughout the summer, all of which can damage an artificial lawn. During the winter, inspect the lawn occasionally to ensure proper drainage of water after snow or rain. In the fall, rake the synthetic grass as you would normal grass to free it from leaves and other stagnating organic material, which can breed mildew or fungus. To clean animal droppings or excessive foot traffic from the lawn, simply spray it down with a hose.