Featured Articles

How to Install Artificial Turf the right way

How to Install Artificial Turf the Right Way

Adding luscious artificial turf to your property is easier than you think.

I’ve covered some of the wonderful reasons why installing artificial grass in your home or garden is a great idea, but you might be curious about the installation process itself; how long it typically takes, and what goes into it to get it right.

Before I delve into the process, it bears repeating that adding some environmentally friendly greenery to your Dubai property is a sure fire way to save money on your water bills, raise its value, and make it look great in one fell swoop. It’s perfect for homes with young children or pets, giving you a safe area for them to play, while it doesn’t require nearly the same amount of maintenance that a real grass lawn does, particularly in the arid conditions of the UAE.

But, even if you strongly agree with those points, you may be a little put off by the prospect of the noise and disruption in and around your property, or you might even think it’ll take a long time and a lot of money to get it looking spot on. Well I’m here to dispel those myths and show you just how quick and straightforward installing artificial turf can be. We don’t call it Easigrass for nothing!

Installing Easigrass Artificial Turf In Your Garden

This quick step‐by‐step guide will show you just how painless our outdoor installation process really is. In fact, our expert installation team can make sure a 50 square metre lawn will be done and dusted in a single day!

Step 1: We Prepare The Ground

We begin the installation process by firstly removing the existing earth, dirt, or sand down to the required depth, clearing out any unwanted plants, rocks and vegetation as we go. This provides us with our base upon which we lay the artificial turf. Rest assured, this is done with the utmost care for your property, and the minimal amount of fuss, mess, or noise.

Step 2: We Lay Brick Edging

We then install brick (interlock) edging around the entire perimeter of the chosen area. This brick will not be visible once the turf has been laid, rather it will act as a firm edge upon which to glue the grass. This will keep your turf securely fastened to the ground.

Step 3: We Water and compact the Remaining Soil

Once the brick edging has been installed, we then water, compact, and level the remaining soil. We do this so that we have a solid, smooth base to work with when adding the additional layers that sit beneath your artificial turf.

Step 4: We Install a Weed Barrier

The next step is to fit a heavy duty permeable geotextile membrane (which we’ll supply along with your artificial grass) to act as a weed barrier. This prevents tough and stubborn weeds from pushing through underneath the turf and potentially damaging the system.

Step 5: We Add a Crushed Rock Base

We then introduce a crushed rock aggregate (a mixture of small rocks and stones) to form the new base. This provides added stability and sufficient drainage underneath the artificial grass, while at the same time acting as a further barrier to the growth of troublesome weeds.

Step 6: We Compact the New Base

After adding the crushed rock aggregate, we then compact the new base using a compacting machine to ensure it is suitably flat and solid. Full disclosure, this part of the job is a little noisy, but necessary to provide you with a smooth surface for the turf.

Step 7: We Check the Levels

The final step before we roll out your brand new artificial grass is to check and make sure the new base levels are absolutely perfect. This is essential so that we avoid any unwanted bumps or dips in the turf.

Step 8: We Supply and Fit Your Turf

We then roll out your chosen Easigrass turf to cover the selected area, before we work on the detail of fitting it to the desired dimensions. Our expert team have worked on a number of weird and wonderful shapes over the years when installing artificial grass, so nothing fazes them! We carefully trim the turf to fit, and ensure a tidy and seamless finish. For added safety (and peace of mind), ask us about installing our Easi‐shockpad underlay to protect your kids should they take a tumble on your new lawn. This shockpad layer is ideal for homes with a play area, and comes with a certified ‘critical fall height’ of up to 2.1m. When you consider just how hard the ground can become in the baking hot sun of the Dubai an the Middle East, having a soft and safe outdoor area for play is crucial.

Step 9: We Apply Artificial Grass Glue

Next, we secure the turf. It’s important to note at this stage that Easigrass never use metal spikes, pins or nails as many companies do, when securing your artificial turf. We are fully focused on the safety of you and your family, and we would never want to risk one of you stepping on a loose, rusty spike. That’s why we fix your grass to the edges with a strong and durable artificial grass glue.

Step 10: We Apply Glue to the Seaming Tape

We then apply the artificial grass adhesive to the specialist seaming tape, used to connect the rolls of turf together. We also use extra wide sports seaming tape (40mm) to make sure that the seam never comes apart.

Step 11: We Close All Seams

Once we’ve done that, we carefully and precisely close all seams before applying weights to ensure the grass remains in place as the glue dries. We then ruffle up the fibres to disguise the seams, giving the impression of one solid piece of artificial turf. If we need to even give the seams a small haircut to make sure the blend perfectly.

Step 12: We Apply White Silica Sand

Once the turf is down and joined together the next step is to apply an infill. We use white silica sand (specialist sand imported from Saudi Arabia) at 10 -20 kgs per square metre. The sand is used to provide additional stability and protection for the entire installation. This sand infill is essential as it helps keep the artificial grass blades (pile) upright, without it the grass would appear flat and lifeless. The sand will also protect the base of the artificial grass carper (backing) which, if exposed, could be damaged by a sharp object.

Step 13: We Brush the Sand

Using our specialist mechanical Easi‐brush, we vigorously brush the silica sand deep into the root zone of the grass to encourage the blades to stand up straight.

Step 14: We Finalise The Installation

Finally, we diligently wash the entire installation and surrounding areas, and tidy away our equipment and any surplus materials, ready to handover your brand new lawn to be enjoyed.

Maintaining Your Outdoor Artificial Grass

Once the installation has been completed, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of maintaining your new artificial lawn. This will help keep the grass looking green, luscious, and as good as the day it was installed all year round.

Firstly, you must brush the lawn regularly to remove any debris, and occasionally wash it with clean water to remove any buildup of dust. Avoid using a pressure washer (or similar) on the grass as you’ll run the risk of removing the infill down at the root of the artificial turf.

If the sand starts to shift or seems thin in areas then top up as necessary.

It goes without saying that setting up a barbecue directly on the turf is a bad idea due to the high temperatures, and you should make sure you and/or your guests aren’t stamping out cigarettes on the grass as this will melt the fibres.

For pet owners, and specifically dog owners, stay vigilant and make sure your furry little friend isn’t attempting to dig into the turf or rip up the edges. This rarely happens but an over zealous dog may find it an amusing game.

Installing Easigrass Artificial Turf Indoors

Our artificial grass isn’t just ideal for the outdoors; we’ve also helped our customers bring the outdoors indoors by installing our turf in living rooms, kid’s playrooms, on balconies, on terraces and in offices and shops. It’s a popular way of adding a natural look and feel to your home, without any mess or upkeep.

When it comes to laying your turf indoors or on your balcony or rooftop terrace, we usually don’t need to lift your tiles or flooring in the same way that we’d have to prepare the ground outside. Instead we simply ensure the floor is clean and smooth before laying a thick band of cloth tape around the area to protect your tiles or flooring. We then roll out the turf and glue it to the cloth tape, before joining, trimming and tidying for a quality, seamless finish.

This approach to installing artificial grass indoors means that for as long as you wish to keep it, it will remain securely in place. The moment you wish to remove it, you simply have to peel up the cloth tape and the glue and grass will peel back with it, without any damage to your floor.

Quick, Clean, and Tidy

From our customer‐focused team back at the office ready to answer any and all of your questions, to our professional and respectful installation team working on the day, we’re certain your experience with us will be top-notch. Once everything has been completed, the only clue that you’ve had Easigrass working on your property will be the expertly installed artificial grass. Everything else will be clean and tidy, just how we found it! It really couldn’t be simpler. Just give us the nod, and we’ll be in and out to transform your dusty old lawn or plain and simple balcony into a stunningly beautiful green space.

Make Life a Little Greener with Easigrass

Trust us, there’s nothing better than feeling our amazing looking artificial grass between your toes on a warm, sunny day. So if you’re ready to swap your dry, brown grass with luscious green artificial turf, please get in touch to speak with one of our specialists today.

Tel: 04 884 8209
www.easigrass.ae

5 steps to remove brown spots on grass in Dubai

5 steps to remove brown spots on grass in Dubai

How to get rid of brown spots on your Dubai grass in five easy steps

The smallest of brown spots on your Dubai grass isn’t only unsightly but it can quickly spread out of control. To add to the distress, it’s sometimes difficult to pin-point the exact cause of what’s making your beautiful grass turn brown.

One of the most common causes is a disease caused by the Rhizoctonia fungus. The effect of this fungal disease is commonly known as ‘brown patch.’ This is one of the most damaging of all the Dubai grass diseases. Brown patch thrives in temperatures of 80°F upwards. Unfortunately, the high levels of humidity in Dubai are perfect for brown patch to spread at an alarming rate.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to combat brown patch if you notice it on your grass.

1. Don’t keep your grass too tall or too short

Tall grass prevents wind and sunlight penetrating the canopy layers and redirects moisture and heat from the surface of the grass. This results in trapped humidity and heat, which provides the perfect atmosphere for the fungus to breed.

On the other hand, mowing your grass too short also leaves it more prone to infection. It can be confusing to decide on the optimal length to keep your grass, as every country has different requirements. In addition, the ideal length is also determined by the type of grass you have.

2. Make sure your mower is in tip-top shape

The gardener who looks after your grass in Dubai should already have the necessary equipment to keep it healthy. You should stress the importance of keeping lawn mower blades clean and sharp. Unclean blades could spread the brown patch to other areas of your grass. Dull blades obviously do a poor job of cutting the grass and make it weaker.

It’s in your best interests to ensure that your gardener maintains his lawnmower. You can do this by finding out some basic information like the frequency of:

  • the air filter being changed
  • the blades being sharpened
  • the mower being professionally tuned

If your gardener belongs to a gardening firm in Dubai, be sure to ask the supervisor about the maintenance of the mower and other tools.

3. Know how to water

It’s tempting to up the watering of your grass if you notice brown patch. Before you contemplate increasing the length of time you run your irrigation system, take into consideration that over-watering can kill your grass. Avoid watering in the middle of the day, as the moisture will become locked-in on the surface. Trapped moisture won’t evaporate at the required rate. This will facilitate the ideal environment for the growth of brown patch.
If you don’t have an irrigation system, make sure your gardener doesn’t over-water any areas of brown patch.

4. Starve the brown patch fungus

Like your Dubai grass, the fungus that causes brown patch also loves nitrogen. Feeding your brown patch with extra fertilizer may seem like the commonsensical thing to do. However, exercise caution here as fertilizer containing nitrogen will feed the brown patch fungus and give it more energy.

You’ll need to do your homework to find a fertilizer program that’s right for the brown patch on your Dubai grass. You’ll most likely need the help of your gardener’s supervisor and the garden centre assistant to determine which fungicide is best.

5. Replace the brown patch

The tips above show how difficult it can be to deal with brown patch on your garden grass. You need to have real confidence that your gardener or their supervisor is an expert landscaper. As well as possessing the right knowledge, your gardener also needs to use and maintain the right tools. The quest for green grass with no brown patch in Dubai doesn’t need to be a frustrating one.

If what you’re after is to see lush green grass surrounding your home in Dubai, consider installing artificial grass. It not only looks and feel like real grass, but it’s very low maintenance compared to real grass.

We understand that you might be sceptical about whether synthetic grass can be as good as the real thing. Check out our gallery to see whether you can spot the difference between real and artificial Dubai grass. If you’re curious to find out more, contact us and we’ll answer any questions you have.

transform-your-garden-for-christmas-in-dubai

Transform your garden ready for Christmas

The holidays are coming – and tis the season when we all delight in throwing open our doors to entertain families and friends in our homes, and get together to celebrate Christmas.

It’s a magical time, and no more so than here in Dubai, where all the things we love about Christmas – the sparkling lights, the baubles, the trees and decorations – are plentiful.

It has become a hugely popular festival here with Christmas fairs, carol concerts and performances of The Nutcracker Suite ballet enjoyed by many. Last year, Chris Fountain, managing director of Turret Media who organises the Dubai Christmas Fest, commented: ‘It’s an amazing family festival. It’s grown year on year. I think everyone from all nationalities, all walks of life in Dubai enjoys a good celebration.’

But, having turned your home into a winter wonderland with the obligatory Christmas tree, and created a glittering delight throughout, have you considered how best to transform your garden for the season?

The entertainment of guests often spills out into the garden, especially with temperatures in the mid 20s, and your outside area may well become the focal point for those fun times, parties and family gatherings.

Does your garden match the beauty and lavish decor so lovingly created indoors? At this time of year, we can be let down by the sandy burnt-out grass in our gardens that has taken its toll during the months of relentless Middle Eastern sun.

So, before the party season gets into full swing, why not give some thought to rejuvenating your outside living area, and how best to turn it into a welcoming place for your guests, where you can all enjoy the sunshine and the Christmas festivities? Luckily for you, we can offer the perfect, and easy, solution.

Artificial grass can transform any outside area that is in need of some TLC. Immediately, you can create a beautiful place for entertaining in time for the Christmas period and, here at Easigrass, we understand the desire to have an all-year round, easy-to-maintain lawn. In fact, our grasses, designed in the UK, look so authentic that they are often mistaken for the real thing.

All our artificial grass products are designed to withstand the damaging effects of the sun and are produced without the use of lead – or, indeed, any other harmful chemicals.

And, by transforming your garden with our artificial grass solutions, you can continue enjoying your Easigrass long after the crackers are pulled, the decorations are put away and the wrapping paper has been discarded. So, this year, why not spruce up your garden as well as your home – for Christmas and for the coming year ahead of us? Happy 2016!