Artificial turf is a manmade substitute for natural grass. It has evolved dramatically since its introduction several decades ago.
The old, original AstroTurf was essentially nothing more than a green-colored, textured mat. There was nothing “grassy” about it. The newest generations of artificial grass are extremely lifelike in every respect – except for the maintenance, of course. Specialty products meet a wide variety of aesthetic and functional requirements. Different colors and textures mimic regional differences in lawn grasses.
According to the Synthetic Turf Council, artificial grass provides “a lush, attractive landscape solution that requires minimal resources and maintenance while saving millions of gallons of water each year.” We’re speaking nationally, of course. While you won’t save literally millions of gallons at your home or commercial property, you will save thousands. That’s a relief for the environment and your wallet.
Today’s artificial turf remains uniformly lush and green year round. And it’s reliably playable year round, too. That makes it a great investment for everything from athletic fields and playgrounds to public areas, residential and commercial landscapes and living areas. Oh, and let’s not forget doggie play areas. And people play areas such as backyard putting greens and bocce courts.
No wonder synthetic turf has become so popular.
Quality determines performance
With all the excitement about artificial turf in recent years, it’s no surprise that many new companies have appeared to sell and/or install these products. But, as with any major investment for your property, it pays to choose carefully to ensure you get the maximum return on your investment. It may be tempting to purchase fake grass from a big box store, thinking you’re getting a better deal.
Cheap grass is cheaper for a reason, and focusing solely on initial turf price can cost you far more in the long run. And no matter how handy you are, DIY installation is not recommended unless you’re using the fake grass to cover a wall or some other simple purpose.
Today’s artificial turf is a complex system
FieldTurf is the company that manufactures the superior products we offer for play fields. They are the only company that can back up their safety claims with data from long-term, independent testing. Safety matters, whether you’re an NFL team, a parks and rec director, a property manager, or a parent.
It’s not only the grass itself but the way we “plant” it that makes our Heavenly Greens installations safe as well as luxuriously beautiful. Each site is prepared according to the terrain and the type of project. Then we install an artificial grass system that consists of turf fibers (the part you see), infill and backing:
- The fibers are what gives each product its distinctive look and feel as well as its performance characteristics. Thanks to modern science, these products are highly durable but soft to the touch and resilient when bent.
- Infill is added to give the fibers extra stability and cushioning to further increase play-time safety. Infill is typically made up of sand and/or tiny granules of tire rubber distributed between the turf fibers.
- Each artificial grass product also has a backing, which permanently locks tufted fibers in place and gives the installed grass dimensional stability.
With all the advances, it’s easy to see how artificial turf has “grown” into an extended family of products that can be anything from purely decorative to eminently practical. Even purely decorative faux grass is eminently practical, when you consider the monetary and time savings it delivers. Nonetheless, you can expect to get both beauty and performance, no matter which of our “50 shades of green” you choose.
