The use of such a device as a plastic grass lawn in landscape design made it possible to maintain proximity to nature even in seemingly unusual places like parking. What is remarkable about such equipment? We will consider the features of its application in more detail.
What is a plastic lawn grate?
Such a device is a single plate in the form of honeycombs. The cells in the modules can be rectangular, square, diamond-shaped, round. Their height reaches 40-50 mm. The plates are connected using a hook-loop system. Most often there are plates of green or black. This is due to the environment of use. Such colors are less noticeable among green grass.
Plastic honeycombs can easily be mounted on the surface of any area and configuration. And their shape allows you to protect the root system of lawn grass from the mechanical effects of passing vehicles. This is due to the uniform distribution of the load on the surface of the cells and the height of the cells.
Types of structures
Plastic devices are found on the market in two versions:
- Honeycombs. This is the most common type. The shape of the cells is the most diverse.
- Tapes. This design is represented by elastic polymer tapes fastened together.When stretched, cells form. The wall thickness of such devices is quite small. Therefore, lawns, parking spaces, decorated with such bars, look as natural as possible.
In terms of use, there are two more options:
- Lightweight . Used for landscaping treadmills, playgrounds, houses. Such modules can be used in places where there is no heavy load and heavy traffic.
- Reinforced . They are used for public parking, landing sites for helicopters and light aircraft, strengthening slopes, embankments, soils.
The correct selection of gratings can save on additional costs.
You should not buy reinforced species where the light version is suitable. The cost of such devices is significantly different. And vice versa, reinforced grids are suitable for intensive use. Otherwise, they will quickly fail.
Raw material base
Plastic lawn grates can be made from several types of raw materials:
- Polypropylene . This material is subject to rapid aging under the influence of ultraviolet rays. And another drawback characteristic of it is fragility at low temperatures.
- Polyethylene . It can be divided into two subspecies: high pressure (good rigidity, but low ductility at low temperatures); low pressure (plastic even at low temperatures).
Fields of application
A plastic lawn grate is widely used in the landscape design of country houses, cottages, and for public places:
- children's and sports grounds;
- access roads for transport;
- landing sites for helicopters and light aircraft;
- private and public parking;
- golf courses;
- roof gardening;
- soil strengthening, embankments.
As you can see, the lawn plastic green grill is widely used in various directions.
Advantages
Such plates have a large list of advantages:
- Aesthetic appearance. Due to the green color and the small thickness of the walls, the gratings become almost invisible among the green grass.
- Durability . Achieved due to design features - load distribution over the surface.
- Environmental friendliness . Does not release toxic substances into the soil. This makes it possible to use it near houses and on children's playgrounds.
- Longevity . The service life of such devices can reach 25 years.
- A light weight. Convenience of transportation and installation.
- Mobility . The ability to collect surfaces of any configuration and area.
- Resistance to ultraviolet rays and temperature difference.
- 90% of the area is covered by grass.
- Ease of care. Smooth surface allows using any lawn mowing tool.
Plastic lawn grates for parking have a lot of advantages, so their popularity is only growing.
Foundation preparation
First, mark up the territory. Next, they begin to dig.
For this, excavation is carried out. The depth of the pit is calculated on the basis of the height of the pillow layers: sand - from 100 to 200 mm, gravel - from 200 to 300 mm, the leveling layer of 20-30 mm, and the height of the cells of the gratings is added to this.
The preparation of the foundation itself takes place in the following stages:
- Digging a pit to the required depth.
- The whole area is filled up with sand, compacted.
- Lay geotextiles (it will prevent mixing of layers).
- Gravel is poured, rammed.
- A geotextile is laid in this layer, it will also prevent the germination of weeds.
- The leveling layer is filled up, compacted.
- The resulting surface is carefully shed with water.
It should be understood that the concrete tile is lawn, the plastic grid requires the same preparation of the base.
Laying Lawn Modules
The classic grid is staggered and fastened together using special hooks. The polymer tapes are fixed with anchors, then stretched to receive cells and the second side is also fixed. Between themselves, such devices are fastened with hooks. The distance between the anchors is recommended 1,000 mm.
After laying out the modules, the surface is covered with soil. Preferably peat or ordinary land with fertilizer. Next is sown grass. It is better to use the seeds of low-growing perennial herbs. For example,
pasture ryegrass, bluegrass and others. At the end of the work, thoroughly water the surface. It is not recommended to use the resulting platform until the grass grows and grows stronger.
Lawn Care
During operation, do not leave the car in one place for a long time.
You should let the grass come in contact with the sun. Then the site will delight with uniform color and density. Like a regular lawn, such parking requires periodic watering and mowing. If bald spots appear, soil is added to them and grass is sown. In winter, the site should be cleaned from snow.
Reviews and cost
According to numerous responses, the lawn grate is plastic, the price of which is up to 300 rubles per square meter, speaks of low quality. You should purchase goods from well-known manufacturers. According to reviews, that green plastic lawn grate is good, the price of which is comparable to the cost of ceramic tiles.
According to the responses, the thickness and height of the walls of the honeycombs play an important role. The optimum cell depth is 40-50 mm. When choosing devices, you should understand the load and intensity of operation.
Installation to improve parking can be done by yourself. It is important to comply with the technology of work. Quality also depends on the choice of material, seeds, soil. An important factor is the care of the territory received. If everything is observed, then the green parking will organically fit into the landscape design and will be pleasing to the eye for a long time.