The DIY Guide to installing Artificial grass

Installing Smart Turf artificial grass yourself could help keep your project budget in control. Although it looks challenging, there are clear-cut steps to properly installing and future-proofing your turf. Follow the explainer below from start to finish to guide you through it all.

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From start to finish, I take you through the steps to installing Smart Turf artificial grass and SmartFill infill yourself.

Our complete turf catalog.

Starting with Bret's shopping cart.

All made in the USA, backed by our 15-year warranty. Featuring our Microban®-infused synthetic turf selection. There is a specific combination of color, weight, height and features for everyone including you.

From start to finish, BYOT takes you through the steps to installing Smart Turf artificial grass.

Cypress Point
2 in. high | 70 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Smart Fill® Artificial Grass Infill
$49.99 50lbs per bag Select options
SOD Wire Staples
$99.99 Add to cart
Ungalvanized Nails (50lb Box)
$99.99 Add to cart
Weed Barrier Cloth
$174.99 Add to cart

Augusta
2.5 in. high | 80 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.39 Landscape, Athletic Select options
Cypress Point
2 in. high | 70 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Eagle Putt
0.875 in. high | 44 oz. Summer Blend Greens $2.99 Golf/Putting Select options
Hillside
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Spyglass
2.5 in. high | 80 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.39 Landscape Select options
Multi Sport Turf
0.5 inch high | 40 oz. Olive / Field Green $3.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Pacific Dunes
1.87 in. high | 90 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.59 Landscape, Pets Select options
Performance Play
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Athletic, Playground Select options
Pine Valley
2 in. high | 70 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Play Zone Plus
1.5 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.99 Playgrounds, Multi Use Select options
Merion
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Sawgrass
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Smart Pet Plus
1.125 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Multi Use Select options
Smart Pet Potty Pads
$19.99 – $99.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Bethpage
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Olive/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Olympic
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Peach Tree
2.5 in. high | 100 oz. Olive/Field Green $2.99 Landscape Select options
Pinehurst
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Ridgewood
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Sol Vista
1.5 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.99 Landscape Select options
Southern Hills
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Clover/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Sun Beam
1.75 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $4.89 Landscape Select options
Winged Foot
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Zenith
2 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $5.59 Landscape Select options
St. Andrews
1.87 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.09 Landscape, Pets Select options
Pure Putt
0.5 in. high | 42 oz. Spring Blend $3.79 Putting Select options
Stimp 12
0.5 in. high | 50 oz. Spring Blend $5.49 Putting Select options
Tee Shot
1 in. high | 100 oz. Spring Blend $6.79 Putting Select options
Tour Putt
1 inch high | 40 oz. Sport Green $2.49 Putting Select options
Bel Air
1.625 in. high | 60 oz. Apple/Tan/Field Green $2.89 Landscape Select options
Kingsley
1.87 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Tan/Field Green $3.49 Multi-Use Select options
Riviera
2 in. high | 85 oz. Apple/Clover/Field Green $3.49 Multi-Use Select options
Shadow Creek
1.75 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Clover/Field Green $2.99 Landscape Select options
Tri Pet
1.125 in. high | 55 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $2.59 Pets Select options
Troon
2.125 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.39 Landscape Select options
Whistling Straits
1.75 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.19 Landscape, Pets Select options
Xtreme Play Turf
0.5 inches high | 40 oz. | 6 colors $5.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Augusta
2.5 in. high | 80 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.39 Landscape, Athletic Select options
Cypress Point
2 in. high | 70 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Multi Sport Turf
0.5 inch high | 40 oz. Olive / Field Green $3.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Performance Play
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Athletic, Playground Select options
Pine Valley
2 in. high | 70 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Play Zone Plus
1.5 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.99 Playgrounds, Multi Use Select options
Merion
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Sawgrass
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Smart Pet Plus
1.125 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Multi Use Select options
Smart Pet Potty Pads
$19.99 – $99.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Sol Vista
1.5 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.99 Landscape Select options
Sun Beam
1.75 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $4.89 Landscape Select options
Zenith
2 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $5.59 Landscape Select options
Troon
2.125 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.39 Landscape Select options
Xtreme Play Turf
0.5 inches high | 40 oz. | 6 colors $5.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Augusta
2.5 in. high | 80 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.39 Landscape, Athletic Select options
Cypress Point
2 in. high | 70 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Hillside
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Spyglass
2.5 in. high | 80 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.39 Landscape Select options
Pacific Dunes
1.87 in. high | 90 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.59 Landscape, Pets Select options
Pine Valley
2 in. high | 70 oz. Olive/Field Green $3.19 Multi Use Select options
Play Zone Plus
1.5 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.99 Playgrounds, Multi Use Select options
Merion
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Sawgrass
1.5 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.29 Landscape, Pets Select options
Smart Pet Plus
1.125 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Multi Use Select options
Bethpage
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Olive/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Olympic
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Peach Tree
2.5 in. high | 100 oz. Olive/Field Green $2.99 Landscape Select options
Pinehurst
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Ridgewood
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Sol Vista
1.5 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.99 Landscape Select options
Southern Hills
1.625 in. high | 50 oz. Clover/Field Green $1.99 Landscape Select options
Sun Beam
1.75 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $4.89 Landscape Select options
Winged Foot
1.87 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Zenith
2 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $5.59 Landscape Select options
St. Andrews
1.87 in. high | 65 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.09 Landscape, Pets Select options
Troon
2.125 in. high | 80 oz. Apple/Field Green $3.39 Landscape Select options
Whistling Straits
1.75 in. high | 75 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $3.19 Landscape, Pets Select options

Hillside
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Apple/Field Green $2.49 Landscape Select options
Play Zone Plus
1.5 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.99 Playgrounds, Multi Use Select options
Smart Pet Plus
1.125 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Multi Use Select options
Smart Pet Potty Pads
$19.99 – $99.99 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Tri Pet
1.125 in. high | 55 oz. Apple/Olive/Field Green $2.59 Pets Select options

Eagle Putt
0.875 in. high | 44 oz. Summer Blend Greens $2.99 Golf/Putting Select options
Multi Sport Turf
0.5 inch high | 40 oz. Olive / Field Green $3.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Pure Putt
0.5 in. high | 42 oz. Spring Blend $3.79 Putting Select options
Stimp 12
0.5 in. high | 50 oz. Spring Blend $5.49 Putting Select options
Tee Shot
1 in. high | 100 oz. Spring Blend $6.79 Putting Select options
Tour Putt
1 inch high | 40 oz. Sport Green $2.49 Putting Select options
Xtreme Play Turf
0.5 inches high | 40 oz. | 6 colors $5.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Multi Sport Turf
0.5 inch high | 40 oz. Olive / Field Green $3.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Performance Play
1.75 in. high | 50 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.89 Athletic, Playground Select options
Play Zone Plus
1.5 in. high | 60 oz. Clover/Field Green $2.99 Playgrounds, Multi Use Select options
Xtreme Play Turf
0.5 inches high | 40 oz. | 6 colors $5.59 Athletic, Putting Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Step-by-step guide

A quick guide through the steps with images.

After you order Smart Turf.
You'll need Accessories to take on this install.
You might need a friend to help with certain steps.

1 Ground Clearing / Tear Out

Clear the work area of all unwanted tree roots, mulch, large rocks, and any remaining construction debris obstructions. Utilize sod cutters, shovels and pick axes to remove grass and vegetation.

2 Underground hazards

Irrigation and electrical lines may be located just under the surface of the project area. Locate and cap off or remove all unwanted sprinkler heads. Turn on irrigation to verify everything works correctly before you start. Do the same with any existing electrical feature.

3 Base Preparation

As we begin the sub-base process its recommended to lay down the weed barrier cloth first. Installing the base surface is critical to
maintain the stability and integrity of the turf system. First layer is 2"-3" of Class 2 Road Base.

4 Laying the turf

Make sure to measure the project area and carefully design the layout to minimize the number of seams in the turf. Unroll the synthetic grass and stretch across the top of the prepared base. Do not drag across. If the synthetic turf has a wrinkle; allow it to acclimate in the sun.

Landscape and playground turf comes in 15 ft wide rolls, putting green material comes in 12 ft wide rolls. Due to the natural direction of the grass blades, the turf must be laid out in the same direction.

5 Cutting and fitting

The artificial grass can be cut around your existing landscape whether it is a perfect square, or a winding path that is bordered by rocks.

The best method is to lay the grass out and trace from the top where you'll be making your cuts. There are 2 different tools you'll need for this process:
1) Long Pile Carpet Cutter.
2) Carpet knife.
All cuts must be made from back side of synthetic turf to see the stitch rows.

6 Secure the turf

Secure the turf by staking the edges with 5"-6" nails. Space the nails along the perimeter edges approximately 3"-6" apart. Repeat the process for treated lumber, bender board, or poly board around the border.

7 Seaming the turf panels

A straight edge is required when seaming two synthetic turf cuts together. Make sure the stitch lines match so the seams will be virtually invisible.

Another option is the "S" cut method using a custom stencil. This is a more advanced process but the finish is more natural. Once your seams are cut and in place, pull both pieces of turf back exposing the sub base. Place the seam tape with half of the tape under each cut. Apply a turf adhesive to the seam tape. Fold the two sections of artificial grass over seaming material to form one seamless piece. An alternative to seaming artificial grass together is to use 4" 20d or 5" - 6" 40d nails along the seam both sides with 3"- 4" spacing.

8 Don't forget the Smartfill® Infill

Round Silica Sand is the standard infill for artificial turf. This step is critical to maintaining your artificial grass system. 1-3 lbs. per sq. ft. Infill helps to protect the synthetic grass from the elements while maintaining the blade structure and level design.

Spread infill material evenly utilizing a drop spreader (the type commonly used to spread grass seed), or a flat. Do not attempt to install the infill material while the synthetic grass or the infill material is wet. Once all sand is spread evenly on top of the turf it will need to be broomed into the turf fibers. Use a power broom to brush up turf fibers and let the sand work down in between the turf blades. When the infill process is complete, water the entire area evenly with a hose to settle the material.

9 Cleaning up

No job would be complete without the proper clean-up.
You can use a blower, rake, brush or broom to clean up the grass, as well as water. And thats how to install artificial grass.

Top 5 Best Sellers

Explore our best selling synthetic turf offerings from across all categories. From pet turf and gold putting greens to our Microban®-infused turf, enjoy a guided experience through your seleciton.

1
Pine Valley
2 inches high | 70 oz.
Multi Use
Field Green/Olive Green. Similar to Cypress Point, different in shade.
Start Order
$3.19/sqft
2
Playzone Plus
1.5 inches high | 60 oz.
Playgrounds | Pets
Field Green/Clover Green. Similar to many others in density, different in height.
Start Order
$2.99/sqft
3
Eagle Putt
0.875 inches high | 44 oz.
Great for Putting
Our main and most sought after choice for accurate putts.
Start Order
$2.99/sqft
4
Smart Pet Plus
1.125 inches high | 60 oz.
Great for pets
Field Green/Clover Green. Similar to many others in density, different in height.
Start Order
$2.89/sqft
5
Cypress Point
2 inches high | 70 oz.
Multi Use
Field Green/Clover Green. Similar to Pine Valley, different in shade.
Start Order
$3.19/sqft