Joining multiple rolls is one of the key tasks of installing artificial grass. This is essential to create larger, more vibrant lawns and gardens that truly fit your property. So, how to join artificial grass? This article will go over everything you need to know! 

Why is proper joining of artificial grass important? 

  • Flexibility: Joining multiple patches of artificial grass allows you to create larger and more flexible gardens and lawns with dedicated grilling areas, children’s playgrounds, and more. The possibilities are limitless! 
  • Improved Aesthetics: Ensuring your artificial turfs have been properly joined will help you create an immaculate, aesthetically pleasing artificial lawn that can act as a perfect garden for your property. 
  • Durable Installation: The approach to joinings will have a substantial impact on the quality of an artificial turf installation. The use of low-quality joint tape might result in poor drainage. The excessive use of glue might result in lasting damage to the artificial grass.  

5 Steps to properly join artificial grass

With all these advantages, the obvious question becomes, “How to join artificial grass?” Thankfully, with the right tools and proper guidance, the process is simple: 

#1 Prepare the necessary tools 

Joining artificial grass takes time and preparation. Before you start, you must ensure you have all the necessary equipment. The equipment you need includes joining tape, a tape measure, fixing pins/nails, a sharp knife or a blade, a high-quality glue or adhesive, potentially a trowel, gloves, and a roller. 

Joining artificial grass is a time-sensitive task, so lacking the necessary tools will not only delay the task but also impact the quality of the turf and increase the likelihood that traces of the joining will stay visible. 

#2 Prepare the ground and lay down the turf

After preparing all the necessary tools, it is time to lay the groundwork for the seaming. This starts by cleaning up the area where you plan to lay down the turf. This is highly important if you want your artificial garden to look even, professional, and trim. 

  • If older/natural turf is in place, it needs to be removed before work starts. The ground also needs to be clean and dry, and any debris or waste needs to be carefully cleared up before work starts. 
  • You must then proceed to even the ground with a roller or a vibrating plate. At this stage, if notice any weeds or invasive plants, you need to root them out and potentially use a weed killer. 
  • Carefully lay down around ~3 inches of limestone. Make sure the limestone is compact and evenly laid down. The limestone needs to be topped with a firm yet slim layer of fine stone. Both together act as a subbase for the artificial lawn. 
  • Carefully lay down the artificial grass. Make sure the separate patches of artificial grass are parallel to each other and have a space of about 5~ inches between them. 

These steps are similar to installing regular artificial grass, but nonetheless, they are necessary if you are looking to ensure your lawn looks realistic, stylish, and seamless after the joining process.

#3 Prepare and cut the joins

During this step, you want to make sure the turf pieces fully resemble each other and are ready for the joining process. 

Start by folding each turf piece for about 2 or 3 inches so the seams of the artificial grass are fully visible. Now, grab the blade or the sharp knife we mentioned in the tools section and make a small cut alongside the length of each turf you want to join. 

The gap between each turf needs to be about 5 inches, and you must ensure the finishes of the seams of each turf fully match the one next to it. This is how you guarantee there are no visible traces of the joining once the process is done. 

#4 Apply joining tape or adhesive or both 

Now, it is time to join the turfs together. There are a few methods of joining artificial grass, with the most common being tape or adhesive. Both methods are incredibly popular and have their advantages and disadvantages. We’ll go over how a property owner can install artificial grass using both methods! 

Tape 

When using tape to join an artificial turf, a high-quality jointing tape with a strong bond is necessary. There are specially made joining tapes that are designed for turf installation. These tapes are usually green, water resistant, and offer excellent drainage. 

 After you buy the appropriate tape, you need to carefully lay it down between the artificial turfs and then slowly unfold the turfs from both sides. Make sure each turf is an equal distance away from the middle of the tape, and when unfolding the artificial grass, do it slowly and meticulously. Carefully lay down the turf making sure it is even without any pockets of air. Gently massage the joint section until it properly settles and there are no visible traces of the joining!

Adhesive 

Adhesives are equally viable when joining artificial lawns. First, you need to prepare a high-quality glue that’s not harmful to artificial grass. Ideally, this glue is green and is capable of providing a long-lasting finish. 

Applying the adhesive is a rather simple process. You just need a mastic gun. Slowly apply the adhesive to a base in a 2 or 3-inch wide pattern along the length of each turf and then unfold the the turf and slowly pressure it into the adhesive. Make sure you don’t apply too much adhesive as that might leak and permanently damage the artificial grass! 

Both

Alternatively, you can apply both a joint tape and an adhesive when you install artificial grass. The process is identical to what’s been outlined above, but after you finish placing the jointing tape on each edge of the turf, you apply a layer of adhesive. This makes At Timberstore, we offer both high-quality joining tape and adhesive, specifically made for artificial grass!

#5 Give the turf time to rest and solidify  

After applying adhesives, the artificial grass requires some time to dry and settle. During this period, you mustn’t walk on the turf nor apply any kind of unexpected pressure to it. This might make the pieces of the artificial grass move before they’re properly glued together, which can irrevocably harm the installation.