Artificial Grass Around Pools – What You Need To Know First

Having a beautiful and well kept backyard can be a great source of relaxation and joy for you and your family…

And one of the best ways to improve it is by making changes to the area that surrounds your pool.

Through the years, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners decorate their yards. Today, we’re here to help you make a better decision!

Before you make any decision regarding what to use for your pool surround, it’s important to weigh out the pros and cons of each. Cost and maintenance are just as important as the looks and feel of each option.

There are a few options you can consider, including natural grass and traditional pavers. But while each of these choices has its benefits, we always recommend artificial grass. Here’s why:

Many people have concerns about the safety, durability, and aesthetics of artificial grass, especially over time. But once you see all the benefits, you will understand why this is such a good long-term investment for your pool and yard.

In this article, you can find out more about the great advantages that artificial grass has over all other options. We are also going to give you a quick basic guide on how to install artificial grass around your pool.

The Top 5 Benefits of Installing Artificial Grass Around Pools

You might have heard of artificial grass as an alternative to natural lawn. In recent years, it’s become a hugely popular trend.

In this section, we’ll show you exactly how it works, and how it compares to other options. This way, you will be able to make a fully informed decision.

Here are the top five benefits of using artificial grass around your pool:

1. It’s Safe

When you hear the word “artificial,” you might instantly think of plastic, pollution, and toxicity.

These days, it has never been more important to be conscious about the chemicals and materials you use in your home and around your family.

There could be a short or long-term impact of not considering what you expose yourself to and how you design you outdoor space. Safety measures is vital for your peace of mind and wellbeing.

Fortunately, artificial grass is 100% safe. In fact, it could be safer than natural grass!

The materials used now are non-toxic and completely inert. It will never break down in the soil and is made from chemically stable polymers like nylon and polyethylene.

What’s more, artificial grass does not require the use of any chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. This means you will never find these chemicals leaching into the water, which often happens when you are dealing with natural grass.

Artificial grass is also non-slip, which means you don’t have to worry children or family members slipping and hurting themselves. It drains quickly and always stays dry.

It also offers a soft surface, which makes it safer than hard pavers and even natural grass. So in case you do slip, your fall will be cushioned by a soft synthetic lawn.

This is especially the case if you choose an artificial grass with high pile density and height. In other words, you can select a grass with taller and denser fibers, making it extra safe.

2. It’s Cheap And Effective

Regardless of the area of your pool surround, it is vital to consider the costs and benefits of each choice. Ideally, you want an option that is cost-effective but also gets the job down.

Artificial grass is both cheap and effective as a pool surround. When it is installed, it can be easily cut to size and joined together to avoid wastage.

Compared with natural grass, artificial grass is very low-maintenance. It neither grows nor needs so much care, so in the long term, you can save time and money.

What’s more, there is no need for seeding, fertilizing, watering, mowing, clipping, and using pesticides. Simply brush it occassionally, and you’ll have fresh looking grass for many years to come.

Synthetic grass is also cheaper compared to pavers, both in terms of material costs and also installation costs. And for many homeowners, it looks and feels better too!

3. It Drains Well

Drainage is an important consideration around your pool area. While your family and friends are swimming and enjoying themselves, there will be plenty of water being splashed around.

Without good drainage, you will be constantly worrying about wet and slippery surfaces, as well as puddles of water than often form in waterlogged real grass. These can be a serious slipping hazard, especially when you have young children.

What’s more, the soil under natural grass can easily leach into your pool water when wet. This can make a huge mess in your pool, which can be difficult to filter out.

Artificial grass, on the other hand, drains very well. This is all thanks to the high permeability of its free-draining perforated backing. In fact, it can drain up to 50 liters per square meter, every minute!

As long as you prepare the ground well, there will be no drainage problems at all. You can save on the money you might have spent installing additional drainage around your pool area.

4. It’s Durable And Low-Maintenance

The cost of installing artificial grass might be slightly higher than natural grass. But when it comes to maintenance down the road, it is much cheaper and easier.

Once the installation work is completed and done well, your new lawn can last you for at least 20 years with almost zero maintenance.

Another great perk of investing in artificial grass is that it is very durable. It is not going to lose its finish, form, and color when it is exposed to the chlorinated pool water.

Your synthetic grass is not going to get contaminated or discolored. It stays green and vibrant all year round without fading and has a UV-stable finish and materials to protect from sun damage.

You can also say goodbye to grass clippings, since there’s no trimming needed. The same goes for mud – No soil under the grass means no mess to take care of!

You can forget about covering up bare patches from heavy foot traffic. Artificial grass is tough enough to withstand heavy foot traffic!

And unlike with pavers, there is no need to jet wash and seal it to protect from chlorinated water. This saves a lot of time and money too!

While artificial grass requires almost no maintenance, some occasion cleaning is required to keep it in good shape. You only need to do this every so often and depending on the nature of the dirt and debris that has accumulated.

To clean artificial grass, you simply have to comb through it with a plastic tooth leaf rake. This will remove larger pieces of debris, while prevent damaging the fibers of the grass.

You may also need to hose down the grass to remove any dust and pollen that has gathered. Because of the quick drainage, this will all be washed through the backing down into the ground.

If your artificial grass has been around for some time and is starting to look flat, its easy to fluff it up and make it look fresh again. Simply use a push broom or a power brush to get this done. Your lawn will look lively again in a matter of minutes!

5. It Looks And Feels Amazing!

With artificial grass, you do not have to sacrifice the look or the feel of real grass. It looks just as gorgeous and feels just as soft. And you won’t ever have to worry about mud and dirt.

It is also much more comfortable and inviting than hard pavers. You won’t have to deal with painful hot surfaces on a sunny day. And the grass is much softer to the touch, too!

Artificial grass can add so much more enjoyment and take away a lot of the strain of high-maintenance options. It stays clean and is easy to maintain when needed. You can make your yard feel like a holiday retreat!

How to Install Artificial Grass Around a Pool

After reading about the great benefits of artificial grass compared with natural grass and pavement, you might be warming up to the idea of installing it around your swimming pool.

The installation process must be done with care and according to some guidelines to make sure you get the best results.

Our team has installed hundreds of artificial lawns around the world. It’s possible to do it yourself, but it’s best to leave the job to experts as it is not a simple process.

The process of installing artificial grass around your pool is similar to a standard installation. However, there are a few things in particular that you should keep in mind.

Below is a quick rundown of the installation process. This should give you a general overview of the planning and preparation that is required.

Step 1: Plan The Area

If you have made the decision to install artificial grass, you are not going to regret it. But every successful installation starts with proper planning.

When it’s time to get started, you need to get very specific about which area you want to cover in this lawn. This helps you plan the materials and installation approach to take.

We recommend that you have at least a thin border of tiling around the pool to prevent run-off or installability.

Step 2: Prepare The Ground

Once you know exactly where you want the artificial lawn to go, you can start preparing the ground. Take extra care with this step – Any shortcuts and missteps will eventually show up in the final product.

To prepare the ground, you need remove the existing lawn and excavate approximately 75mm (or 3 inches) below the final height.

After that is done, tamp down the soil with a hand tamp and install edging around the outside perimeter of the planned area (usually the edge of your yard).

Alternatively, it is possible to lay artificial grass on concrete. For this, you must make sure the surface is graded (in other words, slightly slanted to allow water to run off).

If the surface is completely flat, you may have to drill holes for drainage, or remove the concrete completely and install a sub-base.

There are different types of edging you can use, including timber, steel, and brick. It all depends on how you want your lawn to look, its shape, and the materials you have available.

Finally, compact the soil before installing the sub-base. You may use a plate compactor, but a hand tamp may be required for curves and tight spaces.

Step 3: Install The Sub-Base And Laying Course

The base is another vital part of the installation process. It provides the support and structure that the lawn requires, while ensuring proper drainage.

Some contractors would install a weed membrane before this. If you choose to do so, be sure to select a good quality membrane which drains well. This is crucial for poolside artificial grass.

Weed membranes can also trap pet urine. If you have pets, you should avoid a weed membrane entirely.

Care must be taken to select the right materials and lay them down as recommended. We always recommend decomposed granite or limestone chippings for your sub-base. This will ensure maximum drainage capacity, while providing a stable surface.

Ideally, you should also avoid sharp sand for the laying course as it can be washed away under heavy drainage.

Instead, top your sub-base off with granite dust. And as with a standard installation, you should tamp both layers down to 90% compaction.

Step 4: Roll Out The Artificial Grass

Artificial grass comes in a roll, so before you install it, you should carefully unroll it and prepare it for laying.

Once unrolled, your new lawn needs to be allowed to rest for a period of 24 hours to allow it to acclimatize. The grass fibers and backing will slowly return to its normal shape, making installation much easier.

Step 5: Install And Secure The Artificial Grass

At this point, you are ready to lay the grass. We recommend using large pieces of artificial grass instead of smaller pieces joined together. This is because smaller pieces may eventually separate and drift away from each other.

Some homeowners prefer to lay down a foam underlay or shock pad before installing the artificial grass. As with the weed membrane, make sure to choose one that drains well, and avoid it entirely if you have pets.

Secure the grass around the pool first, using nails instead of glue. Choose smaller galvanized nails, and space them out evenly. Make sure the nails are properly seated – Any heads poking out of the grass will pose a serious injury risk.

Move on to making the joins, then secure the entire lawn at the edges around the outside perimeter.

Conclusion

Artificial grass pool surrounds are an amazing way to make your yard greener, more pleasant, and safer too.

It’s a great option that will make your back yard stand out in your neighborhood. Simply follow the tips above, and you’ll be able to enjoy an amazing pool area in no time!