Moving Beyond Astroturf
Synthetic Turf has come a long way, and it might be the answer to some difficult landscape situations. Significant improvements were made in the late 90s, with the development of realistic looking products with a short layer of underlying tan fibers to simulate thatch and hold the infill cushioning.
While sports fields and intimate high-traffic landscapes have historically used synthetic turf, pet turf has been one of the fastest growing markets. Because dogs confined in a typical modest-size backyard tend to put a lot of wear and tear on real grass, synthetic turf is a great option.
Another growing market has been indoor sports training facilities. Most schools need a facility they can use for different sporting events, band competitions, community events and even physical education. Manufacturer’s offer various turf types for lawns and sports surfaces for football, baseball, soccer, field hockey, and even bocce and tennis.
Playgrounds are another increasing market, predominately commercial playgrounds. Schools and parks need a playground surface that lasts for 20 years. Fall safety and anti-microbial benefits of the products are other factors that make synthetic turf playgrounds desirable.
Not only does it eliminate fertilizer, pesticides and hydrocarbons from lawnmowers, recent drought conditions throughout the country have made water conservation an imperative.