WHAT TURF IS RIGHT FOR ME?
There are a few factors that determine the type of artificial turf you should select for your project. The most important thing to keep in mind is that not all artificial turf products fit any application. You may think that putting green turf looks nice, but we would never recommend you having it installed as a landscape turf for many reasons. We’re here to answer your burning question: “what turf is right for me?”
THE FOUR CATEGORIES OF ARTIFICIAL TURF
- Putting Green Turf
- Landscape Turf
- Pet Turf
- Sports Turf
PUTTING GREEN TURF
If you are looking to install a putting green, you will need a shorter pile height turf that a ball can easily roll on. A nylon or polypropylene turf is best for putting greens.
Nylon – a nylon putting green is best for indoor greens and miniature golf courses because it does not require sand or a lot of maintenance.
Polypropylene – a polypropylene putting green is best for outdoor and indoor greens for players that are looking for a more realistic green to practice on. Since a polypropylene green is a sand-filled green, you can adjust the speed and ball roll.
When to use this turf: putting greens, bocce courts, and other specific activity spaces that don’t require a “lawn” appearance (putting green turf does not look like a standard lawn!).
When NOT to use this turf: residential lawns, commercial lawns, or any application where you need the turf to look realistic. Nylon putting green turf products rarely have decent drainage, so be wary about using this type of turf outdoors in areas that don’t naturally drain well.
LANDSCAPE TURF
Landscape turf is most common style of turf and is mainly installed for aesthetic purposes. Landscape turf comes in different colors, heights, and weights depending on your personal aesthetic and needs. Landscape turf can be used for front yards, backyards, and indoor and outdoor commercial purposes.
Shorter pile height – if the area in which you are installing the landscape turf is a high traffic area, you will want to install a shorter pile height turf to help prevent matting.
Taller pile height – if the area is strictly for aesthetic purposes with little to no foot traffic, then a taller pile height landscape turf can be installed in the area for a more realistic look to it.
When to use this turf: residential, commercial lawns, on pool decks, balconies, rooftops, and more. This turf can be utilized in many ways because it simply recreates the look and feel of natural grass, without the need for expensive and time-consuming maintenance.
When to NOT use this turf: do not use this turf in place of putting green turf. Be wary of using landscaping turf if you have pets. ProGreen’s landscaping turf is all pet friendly and has our patent pending ProFlow backing to help with drainage, but many product on the market do not have ideal drainage for pets. The worst thing that can happen is that you purchase a landscape turf for your home only to have it stink once your dog pees on it. Also be wary of using landscape turf for athletic uses. Many landscape turfs do not have strong enough fibers to hold up to athletic uses.
PET TURF
Another popular type of turf is pet turf. Pet turf is pet-friendly artificial turf that has a permeable backing for maximum drainage. If you have dogs using the area, you will definitely want a pet turf. If you do not install a pet turf, the area will begin to smell from the absorption of the pet’s urine. Pet turf comes in different pile heights, colors, and weights as well depending on your personal preference.
When to use this turf: if you have pets. If you don’t have pets, this turf is also a great option, however it will have a shorter pile height than most landscape turf. If you require excellent drainage for some reason, this turf is also recommended because it’s built to withstand pets using it as a restroom. This turf can also take a beating because of the higher fiber density – this turf can be used for higher traffic applications because of this.
When to NOT use this turf: For obvious reasons, we don’t recommend using this turf in place of putting green turf. But it does make a great fringe for chipping onto the putting green!
SPORTS TURF
Sports turf is turf designed and made for the utmost of durability. Sports turf is a shorter pile height turf that can withstand high amounts of foot traffic. We do not usually recommend installing this type of turf for just aesthetic purposes as it is made to look like a sports field turf rather than a front yard turf. With sports turf, you can also get an optional foam backing installed as well for premiere shock absorption, which is great for high impact sports and activities. When it comes to sports turf, you will probably also want a product that meets all “fall height” safety requirements of the ASTM. This is turf that passes a 5’-10’ fall height test due to the nature of most sports.
When to use this turf: playgrounds, gyms, athletic facilities, small athletic fields (indoor or outdoor).
When to NOT use this turf: do not use this turf in any application where you’d like a natural looking aesthetic. This turf is for using, not for admiring.
CONTACT US
What you are needing the artificial turf for can change the type of turf you should install. We can help you make the right decision. Contact us today for a free estimate!