Installing artificial grass around your uniquely designed San Jose garden features can seem a bit tricky, but it’s all about taking the time to manage each step properly—so your lush, vibrant lawn looks perfect from every angle.
The Artificial Turf Express team has years of combined experience installing turf for our own projects. We’ve learned a few things about how to contour your synthetic lawn around those beautiful trees or an inviting backyard pool.
We’ll walk you through how WE do it ourselves, so you can start your own project feeling like a pro.
Pre-Installation Preparation
Before we get to the grass itself, think about the groundwork. Literally, for installations around difficult shapes, we fold in meticulous planning. This is where we’ll start creating a boundary around your trees, pool, or any other garden feature. Why? To ensure proper drainage and stability for your turf.
In areas where trees shade a lot, like in Saratoga, be mindful that tree roots need breathing room. We map out these spaces, really ensuring our cuts in the turf match these subtly irregular shapes. Skipping this, you might risk stifling tree roots or having your new grass not fit snugly, leading to an unnatural look.
Cutting the Grass to Shape
This next part might sound straightforward, but it takes some finesse. Artificial grass products arrive in rolls that are easier to work with when you have uniformly flat, square plots. But for a tree at the center of your yard in Campbell, that rectangle-shaped turf won’t cut it on its own—we’ll need to unroll and inspect it, gently bending it around curves to understand how it will lay.
We then mark the shapes using straight chalk lines or a garden hose, acting as guides. The idea is to identify where the grass needs shaping to hug the tree base or arch around your pool’s curve. Cutting is deliberate, ensuring that when a piece is laid down, it looks seamless. We use sharp utility knives and care through slow, deliberate scoring until reaching a perfect form.
Joining Seams for a Perfect Fit
Now comes the detail work. Where two pieces of turf meet or if you need to connect rolled sections around intricate layouts, adhesive plays the star role. A robust seam ensures your lawn stays intact, even in high-use areas—a must for those Sunday afternoon games at your Cupertino home.
To create those professional-looking seams, we use quality adhesive applied to a joining tape, which provides a secure foundation. This prevents unnecessary lifting or curling when the kids—or even a curious pet—come around to explore.
Dealing With Edge Finishing
What if your garden includes raised features or walkways, typical across older Burbank or Rose Garden area homes? For a polished look, the grass must be secured efficiently to these edges. After getting the grass to lie flat around the space, we anchor its perimeters. Edging staples and then the perimeter lap adhesive fix the turf to stay flush against hardscapes, ensuring no awkward lifting takes place.
Final Touches and Infill Application
Once the turf is securely in place and those edges are crisp and clean, it’s time for infill. The infill weighs down the grass, keeping those fibers upright and providing a more cushiony step. For San Jose’s warm summers—with soccer practice or family get-togethers—it’s crucial to have enough infill so grass fibers maintain integrity.
Depending on your home’s seasonal exposure in the east San Jose hills or near Almaden Lake, the type of infill—sand-based or otherwise—plays a big role in ensuring excellent drainage and leveling.
Learn More
Handling your garden’s many features while installing synthetic grass doesn’t have to be challenging—especially when executed with expertise and care. The right tools, techniques, and knowledge make the reshaping journey as smooth as possible. Whether you’re surrounding a stately redwood or encompassing an old oak, you can trust the tactics above to frame your garden perfectly.
You’re more than welcome to reach out to our seasoned professionals at Artificial Turf Express for personalized advice or assistance in crafting the perfect green oasis for your unique San Jose home. It’s no hassle to chat. Just give us a call at 408-960-2255, or send us a quick message.