How to Cut Curves in Artificial Grass (In 5 Easy Steps)

Artificial grass is a beautiful, safe, and versatile form of ground covering. And because it looks so realistic, it can easily blend in with flower beds, bushes and trees in your yard.

Installing artificial grass can be a real time saver and a worthwhile long-term investment. However, it is important to get a high quality installation done. This ensures the lawn is durable and looks as great for years to come.

If you have various objects such as flower beds, trees, and pavers in your yard, you may have to cut curves in your artificial grass before laying it down. You might also have to do this around your lawn edging.

Cutting curves in synthetic grass requires a lot of care, but it is not something you should want to avoid. Being able to lay artificial grass around curves and edges will only make your garden look more natural and well-designed.

Many times, people use artificial lawn to replace their natural lawn. To match the existing design and merge the grass well with existing stonework and structures, some precise cutting is called for.

It might sound daunting at first. But trust us, it’s not that difficult!

Our team has installed hundreds of artificial lawns all over the world. Today, we’re going to show you our exact method for cutting perfect curves in your artificial grass.

Simply follow the steps outlined below, and you’ll have curves that fit your lawn perfectly!

1. Plan Carefully Beforehand

If you have to cut curves in your synthetic lawn, it is best to plan before you get started. Remember: If you make any wrong cuts, there’s no going back!

You can do so by mapping out exactly where the curved cuts have to be. As mentioned above, this could be around trees, flowerbeds, pavers, or edging.

Another important part of the planning process is deciding how the artificial grass pieces are going to be arranged across the entire lawn and where the joins are going be.

Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to roll out the artificial grass and begin the installation process…

2. Lay Down The Artificial Grass First

Once you have a good idea of where you need to make the cuts, it’s time to lay down the artificial grass.

By this stage, all the ground preparation work should be completed: The existing soil should have been excavated, and your sub-base laid on top of that and compacted.

Some homeowners may opt to lay their artificial grass above concrete or paving. As long as you’ve completed the appropriate ground prep, you can follow the same instructions for cutting around curves.

It’s more practical to lay the grass before making the curved cuts, as opposed to making the cuts and then attempting to fit it around the object or edging. This will ensure your curves fit the obstacles perfectly.

Make any joins in the middle of the yard before trimming at the perimeters. This will ensure the lawn is held in place while you’re making the cuts.

You can also use a few galvanized nails or U-pins to hold the grass in place near the cutlines before making the cut.

3. Get The Proper Tool For The Job

Artificial grass is made of strong synthetic materials and a tough backing as well. You will need a sharp blade that allows you to make precise and clean cuts, especially if you are cutting curves into it.

A regular utility knife or box cutter is fine for this job, but it is vital that you change this regularly to ensure it is as sharp as possible. Alternatively, ox hook blades are great for this purpose too.

The blade you choose also needs to be long enough to ride along the edge of the object or edging to use it as a guide for the curve. This will give you a nicely shaped curve that fits around the object perfectly.

4. Make The Cut Slowly

When it comes time to put the knife to work, take your time and cut slowly, cutting only in small increments.

As mentioned above, the key is to use the tip of your blade as a guide along the object you are cutting around. This way, the curve will fit the object perfectly.

Check your progress regularly as you go along, and realign your blade as necessary so that any mistakes are minor and not easily noticed.

While you are cutting, keep the excess grass tucked and pulled backwards. On your cutting hand, cut with an “up and back” motion to avoid damaging the grass fibers.

Your goal should be to leave only a small gap between the edging or object and the grass.

Generally, a gap of about 1/8 inch is ideal. The grass fibers will cover up this gap, leaving you with a flawless lawn. If the gap is too narrow, the grass can bunch up and compact. If you cut too much away and the gap becomes too wide, then the gap will likely be visible.

5. Secure The Grass

With the cutting and shaping done, you can continue the installation process. Do this by securing the grass around the object you cut around.

Our preferred method is to use nails and to space these six inches apart. This fixes your lawn down securely, while allowing for maximum drainage. In some cases, glue might be the better choice, such as if you’re laying grass on concrete or hard floors.

Once the grass is secure, the main installation process is complete. The very last step is to brush your lawn.

Generally, your grass will be matted and flat after the installation. It’s easy to fix this by brushing the grass and allowing time for it to return to its normal shape. After the grass blades are standing up again, any gaps at the curves you cut will be hidden neatly.

Conclusion

Congratulations! If you followed these five steps, you would have ended up with perfectly cut curves in your artificial grass. Patience and precision are necessary, but the end results will make your garden design stand out all the more.

Switching to an artificial lawn is a wise choice. It is long-lasting with a lifespan that can be as long as 20 years. And the best part? It requires minimal care compared to natural lawn.

It is also safer and more beautiful than concrete or paved yard. True, installing synthetic grass may take a bit more upfront prep work. You will need a proper installation and may need to cut curves in the lawn to blend it well with objects such as trees already in the lawn. But after this initial work is done, the lawn is yours to admire and enjoy for years to come!