As landscape contractors, often we see homeowners and designers making critical design mistakes during backyard remodels that can end up removing functionality and...
Renovate your backyard with artificial grass! Transform your unusable space into a clean and aesthetically pleasing area to spend time with your family and entertain. Keep reading below to find popular ways to incorporate synthetic turf into your backyard renovation and learn how you can use hardscape, pavers, and live plants in your design to elevate the look of your lawn.
- Create a Modern Landscape Design with Artificial Grass
- How to Choose the Right Style of Artificial Grass
- The Most Attractive Landscape Designs Have Variety!
- Ways to Make a Synthetic Lawn Multi-Functional
Create a Modern Landscape Design with Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is rapidly gaining popularity as a more cost-effective and low-maintenance alternative to natural sod. While the initial investment for artificial turf may be higher than for sod, the long-term savings and benefits make it a wise choice for many homeowners.
Artificial turf offers a stress-free landscape without consistent upkeep. Natural grass requires the right amount of watering - not too much or too little, and often even gardeners struggle to keep natural lawns thriving and healthy. Artificial turf does not require watering, sunlight, mowing, or fertilizing. It's also environmentally friendly and holds up to wear and tear making it an obvious choice.
How to Choose the Right Style of Artificial Grass
Intended Use or Type of Turf Application
To find the best artificial grass, your selection should be based on your needs and preferences. For example, if you have pets, you may want to choose grass that has anti-microbial technology. Or, if you are installing a playground, you may want to choose grass with carbon fibers to reduce the build-up of static electricity. There are many options available, so be sure to select the best one for your needs.
Expected Foot Traffic in the Artificial Turf Area
It is vital to take into account the amount of foot traffic the site is likely to receive. This will dictate the minimum performance requirements for the turf, such as the type of grass, blade shape, pile height, and density. Areas with high foot traffic will need a shorter and more durable blade. Unless you are confident that foot traffic will be light or non-existent, this step will help to narrow down your options.
Style/Color Artificial Grass Preference
Artificial grasses are available in a wide range of colors, textures, and sheens. Some products even feature four different colors. This variety allows you to create the perfect look for your home. As a pro tip, compare your samples to natural lawns in your neighborhood to see how realistic they'll turn out!
The Most Attractive Landscape Designs Have Variety!
One of the largest benefits of synthetic turf is its versatility. There are really no limitations when incorporating artificial grass into backyard landscape designs. If anything, installing fake grass opens you up to more possibilities because it can fit any shape and requires no sunlight to look green and healthy.
Professionals suggest incorporating curved lines on the perimeter of landscapes rather than straight ones. You can line the perimeter with wood chips or pebbles to create smooth transitions from your lawn. Adding shrubs and planters can help achieve balance and add some color. You can even install artificial turf AROUND trees! Pairing fake turf with other hardscapes will also create a multi-functional space.
Install Artificial Grass Around Stepping Stones
Pairing artificial grass with stepping stones is a simple way to elevate the look of your backyard during lawn renovations. Not only will stepping stones make your lawn design more elegant, but they will provide a pathway for foot traffic and deviate people from walking directly on the grass. This can help lengthen the life of your artificial grass because turf with lower foot traffic tends to look freshly installed for much longer.
Pair Fake Turf with Hardscape
Artificial grass looks great with any hardscape! Whether you're considering laying a concrete patio, building a deck, or using pavers for a fire pit, synthetic turf can be installed in conjunction. The clean lines won't spill over onto your patio or deck and you'll never have to worry about trimming the edges! Artificial grass won't catch on fire but can melt from hot embers. For this reason, we always recommend placing fire pits, torches, and grills on a hardscape rather than directly on the surface of your new synthetic lawn.
Artificial grass even works great around pools! With permeable backing and advanced drainage, no need to worry about a slick surface or water pooling.
Install Artificial Grass Between Concrete Slabs
Installing turf stripes is a great way to add some greenery to your concrete patio or walkway. They can be installed so that they are flush with the concrete, or you can choose to have them slightly higher so that they have a fluffy overspill on the edges. Either way, they are sure to add some life to your space!
Artificial grass between concrete slabs gives can provide your newly renovated backyard with the perfect combination of elegance and comfort. The concrete slabs provide a sophisticated feel, while the layer of grass offers a touch of softness and simplicity.
The paths created by the concrete will encourage guests to explore your lawn and can extend throughout your entire space, or can just be featured in a small seating area as shown in the photo below.
Add More Trees and Greenery in Planters
If you're looking to add some additional greenery to your yard you can build a backyard garden, or simply line the perimeter of the space with plants! In many ways, faux grass is actually better for plants than the real thing:
- There's no competition for nutrients, so plants can really thrive
- Watering won't turn your yard into a muddy mess
- No weeds to choke out your garden
- You can focus on gardening, not on keeping the lawn alive!
If you already have a garden space, then you know just how fast real grass can begin to cover areas where it's not wanted. By instead using artificial grass, you'll still enjoy the sight of live plants without the stress of constant maintenance. Installing artificial grass with proper borders will provide your garden space with neat edges and require no additional work.
Pro tip: If you're installing artificial grass around a small tree or plant in the middle of the lawn, install a tree bubbler and make sure it has access to a water source to keep it healthy! This is not necessary for planters that already have a water source or large trees.
Ways to Make a Synthetic Lawn Multi-Functional
Build a Backyard Dog Run with Pet Turf
Dogs love artificial grass! Pet-friendly turf is a pest-free surface that offers a durable and soft ground cover. Even the toughest dogs can't dig holes or rip up pet turf. If you're a pet owner and planning to redo your landscape with artificial grass, a backyard dog run may be perfect for you!
A dog run is an enclosed section of the yard where your dog can exercise, play, and use the restroom. This allows your pup freedom to get fresh air while being unattended. With an artificial dog run, you can rest assured knowing your dog is in a confined area safe from hazards.
By creating a designated area for your pets to play and use the restroom, the rest of your lawn will stay cleaner. When keeping their relief area in a small section, you'll be able to opt for a pet turf system in this area only rather than the entire lawn which will reduce the overall cost of turf installation. Simply rinse and sanitize this area every few days to keep your pet's space free of bacteria.
Create a Backyard Playground with Artificial Grass
When installing a backyard playground, your children will be able to play outside all day without you having to worry. Artificial grass is non-toxic and hypoallergenic with antibacterial technologies making it ideal for kids. You can further enhance their experience by adding fun features to the synthetic lawn, like jungle gym equipment, swings, or even a hammock for naps.
All artificial grass installations will be clean and kid-friendly, but you can create a more shock-absorbent space by adding padding underlayments! Whether you have playset equipment or simply want to provide more cushion as they run around, there are multiple options to choose from to keep your lawn safe for children. To save on costs, we'd recommend designating a specific area for play so that the padding layer is not necessary on the rest of the lawn.
Build a Small Backyard Putting Green
For the golf fanatics out there, consider installing an artificial putting green in your backyard! You'll have 24/7 access to your own personal green, and you can play as much golf as you want. Plus, you can customize your green however you like - adding different features and obstacles to make it more challenging. So step out into the yard, putter in hand, and enjoy a full day of unlimited golf right in your own backyard!
With the freedom to design and build your putting green however you'd like, you can adjust the stimp speed and add features to make gameplay more challenging such as:
- Multiple Holes
- Sand Bunkers
- Sand Traps
- Fringe Grass
- Small Pond
Use Your Space for Other Recreation
You can also use your new artificial lawn for other means of exercise and recreation! Whether you want your entire space to feature durable traffic-resistant grass for practicing sports, or just a small sectioned space for games such as a bocce ball court we've got you covered.
Using artificial grass for your outdoor recreational areas allows you to create a clean pest-free space to exercise and entertain the entire family with very little maintenance or upkeep required. With the freedom that synthetic turf offers, you can even install a strip of sports turf within your lawn space for more high-impact workouts or pulling sleds!
We'd be happy to help you renovate your lawn with synthetic grass to create a more inviting and usable space. To get started, request a custom estimate in 2 minutes or less below!
