Artificial Grass Katonah, New York. 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 a lot of artificial grass firms out there claiming they offer pet grass products, which make people consider they've many alternatives for fashions and different quality of artificial dog grass. The reality is they do not. Because 90% of all man-made, synthetic grass or turf is made in or near Dalton, Georgia by carpet makers, the machines that make carpeting also make man-made synthetic turf using a "tufting machine." The only difference between carpet and artificial turf is the yarn that is employed and the rubber backing. Global Syn Turf's petgrass is a real deal. Their petgrass attributes unique Flo-Rite-Thru technology with a proprietary backing and integrated antimicrobials permeable, GST petgrass needs less water and empties 50 times faster.

When referring to Pet's turf, most people tend to concentrate on the grass products itself and discount the fact and advantage of the turf system of a Pet. So that you can make the grass of Pet successful, obviously the synthetic grass is the center piece of the system, other components also need to be seriously considered. ZeoFill, a natural mineral powdery particles have to be used as an "infill" to be fusion into the Pet's turf, which will behave as a neutralizing agent to minimize the odor of pee. A well prepared 3-4" base with compacted crushed rocks and decomposed granite is certainly required to allow proper drainage. Global Syn Turf's Synthetic Grass Pet Odor Neutralizer should be used to remove any pet's scents. From time to time, pets owners should broom up the turf of the Pet through the use of such product as Global Syn-Turf's Turf Groom.

Backyard putting greens are fantastic way of bringing together friends and family to enjoy the outdoors. Its kind of like having a pool table. When you have people over, theres always something to do, says Richard Stoltz of New Mexico Synthetic Turf in Albuquerque, NM. I the past, people have been trying to install real grass putting greens in their backyards, turned out that no matter how hard you try, it is just impossible to maintain it! Today, most backyard putting greens are created with artificial turf, mounds, sand pits, and interesting shapes can be easily created and maintained. Artificial turf also has an even surface thats ideal for putting. Synthetic greens are virtually maintenance free. They're able to withstand hot or cold temperatures, as well as wet conditions, and are just about always ready for play.

A backyard putting green has such a great social element to it that youll use it a lot more if its close to patios or other entertaining areas. A flat one-hole putting green gets boring fast. However, if you make it challenging, friends and family will enjoy the putting green for years to come. Using a few undulations, mounds, a sand pit, and about three holes will help to keep it interesting and more playable. With the pressures of school, work, and other activities, oftentimes family members dont get home until after dark. Incorporate low-voltage landscape lighting into backyard putting greens to extend the number of hours each day that people can use it, in a nice mood.

Is artificial grass safe for children? A questions asked by many people who are considering synthetic grass for their houses. The answer is absolutely yes! More than 75 independent and credible studies from groups such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and statewide governmental agencies such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency, have validated the safety of synthetic turf (see Position Statements to learn more). For 40 years, under EPA oversight and OSHA-regulated manufacturing, not one person has ever reported ill effects related to any materials associated with synthetic turf.

In October 2010, the California Office of Environmental Assessment completed its multi-year study of air quality above crumb rubber infilled synthetic turf, and bacteria in the turf, and reported that there were no public health concerns.

In July 2010, the Connecticut Department of Public Health announced that a new study of the risks to children and adults playing on synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill shows "no elevated health risks.

A December 2009 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scoping study of the health risks from inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact with synthetic turf and crumb rubber found every test result to be "below levels of concern.

The California EPA released a report dated July 2009 which indicated there is a negligible human health risk from inhaling the air above synthetic turf.

Independent tests conducted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Department of Health, released in May 2009, proved there were no significant health concerns at synthetic turf fields.

In July 2008, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff report approved the use of synthetic turf by children and people of all ages.

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 synthetic turf products require infills which to be installed onto the grass between blades to help the blades of grass stand up and also hold the turf down. In addition, it protects the grass backing from ultraviolet rays that could cause damage and void guarantees. Some artificial grass infill options are ZeoFill, Green sand, Copper slag, Silica Sand and Rubber. Among all, ZeoFill is the choice for synthetic turf infill for playgrounds and pet owners. Dog owners with artificial grass lawns have been struggled with urine smells for years.. Many individuals want to water down their turf one time a week to get rid of the smell but never worked correctly because water from a hose does not have enough force to shove bacteria deep into the earth. ZeoFill is made out of a natural resource from the earth that is a negatively charged honey combed molecular structure that prevents the ammonia from forming a gas to become smelly and absorbs the urine. ZeoFill pulls any gases towards itself and hold it until sodium ion (Na ) in rain water releases the magnetivity and the force of heavy rainfall will flush out the bacteria, compelling it through the turf into the earth making your turf virtually new again. The sodium forces the calcium ions out and recharges the ZeoFill when dry. Nevertheless, ZeoFill will not remove bacteria that are poor. To remove poor bacteria, Global Syn-Turf, Inc. recommends nits very own Synthetic Grass Pet Odor Neutralizer, this enzyme products will not just neutralize the pet odor, but also remove poor bacteria and clean the turf, using this along with Zeofill will realize the best possible results on pet's odor control!

The ZeoFill granule will hold the ammonia water until it is cleaned out the ZeoFill with the enzyme solution or significant rainwater flushes. The ZeoFill granules will be trapped inside the turf system and contains 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.