Artificial Grass Flute Springs, Oklahoma. Synthetic Turf.

In the past decade, the use of "new generation" artificial turf has become quite common throughout the United States. Synthetic grass applications that not related to sport fields are getting really popular in western states such as California, Arizona and Nevada. Such states are areas where outdoor water use is restricted or low maintenance is desired. Common applications include veterinary clinics, animal shelters, golf practice ranges, school yards, residential lawns, and low water use landscapes.

The market of residential lawns has been growing at an average annual rate of thirty five percent even during the economy downturns. As market grows, prices are coming down dramatically which in turn to fuel further market growth! Alvin Balahadia used to work for an artificial grass installation company in San Jose, California, he remembers how the selling of synthetic grass for residential lawn applications fifteen years ago: You walked in a house as a salesman, the first question to the homeowners was: "Do you know the artificial grass is a luxury thing, only the top ten percent of the household can afford it?" This might sound humiliating but true. Fifteen years ago, the turn key price for installing artificial grass in San Francisco Bay Area was between $22.00 and $26.00 per square foot, while today's price range is between $8.00 and $14.00 per square foot. Such price range is still much higher than natural grass. "The normal life expectancy of artificial grass is about 15 years. If you can get your investment back within first five years by saving money on water and maintenance, then you enjoy the beautiful lawn for the next 10 years without any water bills and the hassles of mowing and trimming, will you do it? I know I will." Said Alvin Balahadia :"It is a great investment on your house as houses with synthetic grass lawns are considered with upgraded premium options here in San Francisco Bay Area and other dry states like Arizona and Nevada."

On average, a household in San Francisco Bay Area can save between $600.00 and $1,200.00 annually on water bill along if they get rid of the natural grass lawns.

There are so many artificial grass companies out there claiming they offer pet grass products, which make people believe they have many choices for different quality and styles of artificial dog grass. The reality is they do not. Because 90% of all artificial, synthetic grass or turf is made in or near Dalton, Georgia by carpet manufacturers, the machines that make carpet also make artificial synthetic turf using a "tufting machine." The only difference between artificial turf and carpet is the yarn that is used and the rubber backing. Artificial grass companies that advertise pet turf, dog grass, dog turf, pooch grass, potty grass, and many other names that appeal to dog owners are merely selling an existing grass product that they renamed to appeal to pet owners. Global Syn-Turf's petgrass is a real deal. Their petgrass features unique Flo-Rite-Thru technology with integrated antimicrobials and a proprietary backing that is 100% permeable, GST petgrass drains 50 times faster and requires less water for cleaning.

When referring to Pet's turf, most people tend to focus on the grass products itself too much and ignore the fact and benefit of a Pet's turf system. Obviously the synthetic grass is the center piece of the system, in order to make Pet's grass effective, other components also need to be seriously considered. ZeoFill, a natural mineral powdery particles need to be used as an "infill" to be blend into the Pet's turf, which will act as a neutralizing agent to minimize the smell of urine. A well prepared 3-4" base with compacted crushed rocks and decomposed granite is absolutely required to allow proper drainage. Global Syn-Turf's Synthetic Grass Pet Odor Neutralizer should be used to eliminate any pet's smells. From time to time, pets owners need to broom up the Pet's turf by using such product as Global Syn-Turf's Turf Groom.

Backyard putting greens are excellent way of bringing family and friends together to love the outside. I the past, folks happen to be attempting to install grass putting greens that are actual turned out that regardless of how hard you try, it's just not possible to keep it! Artificial turf additionally has an even surface that is perfect for putting. Artificial greens are almost maintenance free. They are capable to resist cold or hot temperatures, in addition to states that are wet, and are just about constantly prepared for play.

A backyard putting green has this kind of great social component that you will use it a lot more if it is close to other spaces that are amusing or verandas. But if you make it challenging, family and friends will appreciate the putting green for a long time in the future. Using several undulations, a sand pit, knolls, and about three holes will make sure it stays playable and intriguing. With the pressures of work, school, and other actions family members do not get home until after dark. Incorporate low voltage landscape lighting to expand how many hours each day that it can be used by people, in a disposition that is pleasant.

Community parks and playgrounds made of synthetic grass provide accessible, versatile play surfaces for its youth and people of all ages and abilities. Many public spaces are turning to synthetic grass for appealing water-saving landscape solutions that reduce operating and maintenance expenditures. Applications for recreational synthetic grass include: parklands and playgrounds, municipalities, highway medians, airport grounds, closed landfills, golf courses, tennis courts, and more. Endorsed for use with canines by the American Kennel Club, artificial grass can also be successfully used, when combined with a regular grooming routine, for public and private dog parks. Grooming would include normal "pet owner duties" including removing debris and refreshing the surfaces, with cleaning agents, from time to time.

New York Citys Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) has become increasingly reliant on synthetic turf as a replacement for asphalt and natural grass athletic fields across the city. Through the installation of the new generation of synthetic turf, DPR seeks to increase community access to fields as well as to solve the maintenance challenges of grass and the aesthetic and safety problems associated with asphalt. This surface offers all-weather playability and lower maintenance costs than grass. Since 1997, the NYC Department of Parks has been installing artificial turf extensively throughout the parks system. As of 2007, 118 artificial turf installations were completed and an additional 91 under construction!

Synthetic turf is more durable than natural turf and can be used without the rest periods that natural turf requires to keep the turf healthy. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYCDPR) estimates that on an annual basis, permitted use (hours per year) for synthetic turf athletic fields is 28 percent higher than for natural grass fields. The maintenance costs of synthetic turf will vary depending on the field's use and design, but are typically estimated to be lower than the maintenance costs of natural turf. Natural turf requires regular mowing, fertilizer application, pest control and possibly watering. Synthetic turf requires replacing infill materials, repairing seams and removing weeds and moss. Specialized equipment, which may or may not be included in the field's purchase price, is required for these activities.

When it comes to the artificial grass fields installations, most of installers have been using crumb rubber along with silica sands as the main infills. The blades of sport field synthetic grass products are at least 2-1/4" tall which provide enough room for infills. The purpose of having infills in sport fields is to provide enough cushioning for the fields thus to reduce the risks of body injuries. Crumb rubber and sand mix can serve such purpose very well. Crumb rubber is produced by grinding used tires. Steel and fiber tire components are removed during the process and the rubber pellets are sorted by size. Pellet sizes ranging from about one-sixteenth to one-quarter inch in diameter are used on synthetic turf. Crumb rubber is typically applied at a rate of two to three pounds per square foot of field surface. Studies have been conducted by the California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to assess the potential for ingestion exposure to the chemicals in crumb rubber by children playing on synthetic turf. Both studies concluded that health risks to children resulting from the ingestion of crumb rubber are low.

However, there are still a lot people don't like the idea to use the crumb rubber in synthetic grass sport fields, it can get real hot to levels of discomfort, plus the rubber will get on people's body and travel on and off the field. Many parents have complained that their kids were covered with black rubbers after playing on the fields. Again, even though the available information on crumb rubber and crumb rubber infilled turf fields indicates that ingestion, dermal or inhalation exposures to chemicals in or released from crumb rubber do not pose a significant public health concern, leading synthetic grass companies such as Global Syn-Turf, Inc. has been working on new technologies and systems to get rid of the rubbers and take the synthetic grass sport fields applications to a new "All Green" level.

Most requires infills which to be installed onto the grass to help the blades of grass stand up and also hold the turf down. The grass backing is also protected by it from uv rays which may cause damage and void guarantees. Some artificial grass infill alternatives are ZeoFill, Green sand, Copper slag, Silica Sand and Rubber. Among all, ZeoFill is the #1 choice for synthetic turf infill for pet owners and playgrounds. Dog owners with artificial grass lawns have been struggled with pee smells for years.. A lot of people are trying to water down their turf one time a week to remove the odor but never worked properly because water from a hose doesn't have sufficient power to push bacteria deep into the earth. ZeoFill is made from a natural resource in the earth which is a negatively charged honey combed molecular structure that prevents the ammonia from forming a gas and absorbs the urine. ZeoFill pulls any gases towards itself and hold it until sodium ion (Na ) in rain water discharges the magnetivity and the force of significant rainfall will flush out the bacteria, driving it through the turf into the ground making your turf virtually new again. However, ZeoFill will not remove bad bacteria. To remove awful bacteria, Global Syn-Turf, Inc. recommends nits quite own Synthetic Grass Pet Odor Neutralizer, this enzyme products are not only going to neutralize the pet scent, but also remove poor bacteria and clean the turf, using this along with Zeofill will achieve the best possible results on pet's scent control!

To maximize the Benefits of ZeoFill, always install it on top of turf not under turf: When your dog urinates on the turf, the pee will immediately be consumed by the ZeoFill granules preventing ammonia bacteria particles from traveling through the turf. The ZeoFill granule will hold the ammonia water until it's cleaned with an enzyme solution or heavy rainwater flushes out the ZeoFill. The ZeoFill granules will be trapped inside the turf system and has a 5 year warranty on deterioration.

As artificial grass getting popular now days, an increasing number of people that consider to replace their natural grass lawns with synthetic grass ask: "What are the pros of artificial grass?" To answer such question, let us take a look at the "No More List".

No more watering, say "bye bye" to high-priced water statements.

Forget about mowing, either you're slack or you need to spend more time with your children and family, throw away your lawn mower, lay back and have fun.

No further substances, substances including fertilizers for natural lawn will eventually wind up in subterranean water and our ground, present great health threats to human life.

No more air pollution, as stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a new gasoline powered lawn mower creates volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides emissions air pollution in in in one hour of operation as 11 new cars each being driven for one hour.

No neighbor lawn envy...

Forget about noise that is unneeded

No pet pee spots

No moles or gophers

Certainly, both economy and environmental issues work in artificial grass's favor.. Though still more costly than real grass install and to buy -- it can cost as much as several times as much or about $6,000 to $8,000 for a typical yard -- but the life savings add up. In drought-prone regions, municipalities like La County have even provided tax rebates for residents who remove areas of yard that was natural.