Fake Grass

Synthetic grass for golf courses is about to take a new step into uncharted territory with a golf course in Kansas about to install a 3000 foot synthetic grass green. The 5th green at the Cedar Pines municipal golf course was severely damaged recently and significant repairs were required to get the green back into playing order. But instead of re-laying the green, a process that would take a significant amount of time, money and water, the decision was made to use synthetic grass instead.

Purists will cringe at the thought of synthetic grass being used on a golf course, but the green carpet that many people think of when they hear the phrase synthetic grass does not accurately describe the technologically advanced artificial surface.

The installation process is quite complex starting with the removal of the existing sod before a weed suppressing fabric is laid down. A two-part aggregate base is then laid down before the artificial grass is installed followed by 4 permanent holes that are drilled into the surface. (Three of the holes will be plugged while the 4th is in play). A green silica infill will then be brushed over the top of the grass.

According to the expert behind the artificial grass it is expected to play like a normal green with the green reacting just like grass when a ball hits it. The labor costs required to keep the grass looking perfect will be minimal with no water, chemical or mowing required. The green will also not need to be cored twice a year like the other greens. In short the golf club expects that substantial savings will be made due to its installation.

I’m sure golf courses around the country will be extremely interested in how this artificial green performs and how it is accepted by the golfers who use it.

One of the main factors that has changed about fake grass is that the top quality versions no longer look fake. In fact they look very real. Not only are the changes and advances obvious from the top of the grass, they have also been made underneath and this becomes apparent when you walk on it.

One of the common practices in the early days of synthetic grass was to lay it on an underlay of asphalt. This is no longer the case and the removal of this hard underlay has meant that not only has the shock absorption increased but the retention of heat has been decreased and the water drainage ability has been improved.

The blades themselves with most types of grass are made from polyethylene-polypropylene blends that are woven into a mat backing. They have also been manufactured to look very similar to real grass and only require a small amount of maintenance each week to keep them looking good.

A common complaint about synthetic grass these days is that it looks too perfect and this perfection betrays its artificiality. Some manufacturers are beginning to produce grass versions that have variations in color through the grass. This also includes the addition of the odd yellow blade of grass to make it look as though there has been some die-off, just like real grass.

The hockey club in Gladstone, Queensland is putting forward its bid to have a synthetic turf pitch put in to benefit the progress of the sport in the area. The nearby Rockhampton Hockey Association has had an artificial turf field since 1996 and they fully support Gladstone in their bid to get the new grass. Benefits have been gained at Rockhampton due to the surface being of a high enough standard to attract state and national championship competitions.

Apart from the fact that the quality of hockey that is possible on the surface will improve, the quality of the players and championships that will be attracted to the area will also improve. In being able to host major tournaments the town will also see benefits from the influx of people.

High level hockey has been played on an artificial grass surface for many years now and any competition that wants to keep up with the elite level players must upgrade their natural grass pitches to artificial. Failing to do so will only see the sport in the area stagnate.

More and more yards and other areas are installing new synthetic lawn putting greens, and why not? Not only are they an attractive oasis of green but they also serve a functional purpose as a training area for the keen golfer.

The great thing about these putting greens is that they closely match the conditions that the better grade golf courses maintain and they are small enough to fit into just about any backyard. They are a convenient practice pitch to slip out into the backyard and use when you’ve got a spare 10 minutes to kill.

These greens are being seen in more places than just backyards too, with shopping malls, pro shops, driving ranges, retirement villages and apartment buildings also proving to be just as appropriate for their installation.

One of the injuries that have become more prevalent due to the increasing use of artificial turf playing surfaces is turf burn. Turf burn occurs when a player, often a football player but this can happen to anyone playing on this surface, slides their exposed skin across artificial turf. The fact that artificial turf has a lower coefficient friction than natural grass there is a tendency for the person sliding further than they otherwise would. This is particularly true when the surface is wet. Because the sliding distance is longer there is more likelihood that heat is generated by the slide and this is why there is the resultant turf burn.

For artificial turf skin injuries such as this, treatment should be given immediately, particularly for cases when there is a dirty environment involved. For most football players this is generally the situation. Cleaning the wound with mild detergent is the first step followed by applying something like bacitracin zinc ointment and a dry dressing. Taking these steps quickly will promote faster healing and there will be less scarring.

Found some interesting reasons about why synthetic lawn is a good alternative to natural grass. These reasons obviously won’t sway the opinion of those who wouldn’t hear of their precious grass being replaced by a synthetic alternative, but the reasons are valid nonetheless.

When you walk and roll around on it, it feels very much like real grass only you don’t get itchy from it.

Dogs and cats love it, they don’t chew or dig in it and it cleans easily.

Although it gets a little warmer in the sunlight, it cools quickly in late afternoon.

It looks and feels incredibly real and it will stay looking fresh throughout the seasons no matter how wet or dry it has been.

Over the longer term the cost of a synthetic grass lawn is going to be much less than that of a traditional lawn made from real grass.

Just like real grass, synthetic lawns allow the water to seep through the matting and into the ground underneath. This is done through perforations in the turf and the ground underneath is prepared to receive and let the water get away, just like the real stuff.

I saw a new news article today announcing that an Albuquerque soccer-only complex is about to be made with the surface, 4 fields worth, being made from Mondoturf Ecofill Star artificial turf. This artificial turf has been made with the new environmentally friendly Ecofill Star which is made from a synthetic material. The big deal is that this infill replaces the ground rubber that has been the center of health concerns surrounding other artificial turf surfaces.

Ecofill Star was designed for soccer. It overcomes the problems of excessive energy return, excessive ball bounce, granular splash, heat absorption, and granule migration-the loss of infill granules during rain-all of which are challenges associated with ground tire infills on soccer fields. It has been used in more than 300 facilities around the world and is fast becoming one of the premier athletic synthetic grass suppliers, particularly for soccer grounds.

Ecofill Star is almost completely odor free and it retains less heat than traditional rubber infill, overcoming another frequent complaint, that of excessive heat related to synthetic turf.

The new facility is a boon for Albuquerque school soccer players for sure, but it’s also another step forward for the improvement in synthetic turf technology.

Fortunately there is an increasing amount of synthetic grass makers entering the marketplace with artificial turf products that are comprised of 100% polyethylene fibers. When used in conjunction with non-rubber infill products such as a thermoplastic product the health concerns are more or less entirely answered. The only question that actually remains is how these products will operate in the future because they are yet to have a track record, it hasn’t been proven how they will last.

It is gratifying to see the continuous push to find improved products to satisfy the concerns that have been raised about synthetic lawn. Not only do polyethylene fibers solve the health concerns but the material is also more valuable environmentally as it is non-porous allowing the water to drain through just like real grass.

A further positive for this new generation synthetic turf product it is made out of completely green materials an added bonus over nylon fibers. With any luck this new technology in the synthetic grass industry will help the reputation of a product that brings many advantages. It is to be expected that more people will be inclined to buy synthetic grass based on these facts.

Replacing the backyard with a synthetic material means you will be looking for synthetic grass. When talking about sporting fields, the term that is used is either synthetic turf or artificial turf which shouldn’t be confused with the aforementioned synthetic grass. They are as different as two products can be and are meant for two specifically different functions.

Many companies have a large range of types of synthetic grass that replicates different species of grass. Some companies even make grass with the odd brown strand to look like the grass has died. What you want to steer clear of is synthetic grass that uses rubber infill when looking to landscape your yard. The top quality artificial grass companies are now using natural materials to infill their products and this is what you need to buy if you’re thinking of doing a DIY artificial grass installation.

Artificial grass has certainly come a long way even in the last year and the problems of getting the strands to stand upright like real grass is also being solved in new and creative ways. Most importantly, the problem is also being solved without using recycled tire rubber infill. The only factor that may affect your decision is the synthetic grass cost.

The health fears and safety fears that a great fuss is made about is not applicable to synthetic grass for landscaping purposes. The sooner the fear mongers stop with the dire warnings the more quickly the industry can be allowed to progress.

When trying to add features to the garden that will give it a bit more character or perhaps create a central focus, a number of options come quickly to mind. Some people might like to see a water feature such as a fountain or a bird bath – others may prefer a sundial or even a simple garden bench.

Whatever you choose make sure that it is something that you enjoy looking at. You don’t want to put a feature in your garden just to fill an empty space, particularly if you don’t exactly like looking at it because chances are you’re going to have to look at it every day.

There are some very nice options available at your local garden nursery, some of the items are available may not have even crossed your mind. Statuary and decorative artwork are some of the more individual ideas that occasionally just jump out at you and give you the finishing touch feeling that you might be looking for. A stroll around the garden nursery may prove to be a very rewarding experience.