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How Hot is 'HOT'

Synthetic turf areas capture much of the attention of the American public in this new rendition of “astro turf.”   Products have improved greatly, construction techniques as well; however, some aspects of this “new” age product should be discussed before spending all of that hard earned cash for some of the plastic greenery.

Where does Synthetic Turf excel:

1. Parking and getting rid of the mower as well as the weekly ritual trimming.
2. Reducing the water required to keep alive a living, natural plant.
3. Allowing recreation in heavy shaded areas of the landscape.
4. Allowing recreation in areas under water sensitive trees that would be harmed by regular irrigational waters (such as under the Quercus species – Oak trees).
5. Increasing number of playing events.

Where does Synthetic Turf have questions or need answers:

1. Chemical usage needed to clean & sanitize.
2. Equipment needed to clean & sanitize athletic surfaces.
3. Water usage needed to cool play surfaces during hot months – minimize heat stroke, dehydration and other heat illnesses in children and athletes.  Is their any liability if a child is injured?
4. Detrimental environmental & health effects of heat generated during hot humid days.
5. Useful ‘life’ spans?
6. Safety of infill products.
7. Safety of playing surface.
8. Disposal of worn out synthetic turf.
9. Maintenance – sewing and sectional repairs.
10. How hot will my yard, home get by using synthetic turf? Will I need to run my air conditioner more to counter act the heating by synthetic products?
11. Will I have drainage problems due to the installation of a synthetic surface?
12. Will I need to use antibacterial treatments to keep play areas safe? If so, how often and to what affect?
13. Will I need to brush and refill areas to protect playability?
14. Will I need to repair seams, hash marks, numbers and field logos?
15. Who will provide the warranty and repair services? Who will provide the maintenance for this community asset or home improvement?
16. If dirt and debris get into the synthetic turf, how do I clean it? Will the dirt harm the playability, aesthetics or drainage? Can a synthetic turf area “silt up?” Will that lead to algae or moss? Will that affect the lifespan? Warranty?

As a second generation turf grower and weekend warrior athlete, it’s an uneasy relationship as the new generation synthetic turf varieties come to fruition.  Who wouldn’t want to run faster, cut quicker than your opponent or not have to worry about the care (or lack there of) the playing field in which your having your event.  That is probably the one crucial factor in the appeal of synthetic turf over natural grass – the lack of maintenance and neglect of public fields by cities and parks employees who down right refuse to care for the products the tax payer has paid for.

Too many times parents (coaches) have called on us to help them out because they want to improve the playing field for their athletes, have little money and want to get the most for all of their efforts and athletes. Many times it becomes just a matter of eliminating the gopher holes to protect ankles and fertilizing the remaining ‘turf’ to get some protections (plant health) for those playing baseball, soccer or football.

Obviously, turf growers as well as the turf industry is concerned about the crowding out of available business that is cut by the inclusion of yet one more player competing for space in the landscape. 

As synthetic turf is the ‘new’ kid on the block, the appeal and luster of having something new and interesting has the same allure and appeal of looking through the showroom floor of your favorite car dealer and drooling at the new models.  It’s always nice to have the ‘newest’ hot car as well as that ‘new’ car smell. 

Where synthetic turf and cars depart ways is in the area of unknown dependability, life expectancy, maintenance requirements and costs.  The above questions can lead to some of the answers; others will need some time to understand fully.

Without a doubt, synthetic turf claims to answer one of modern mans most often asked questions:  when taking care of his/ her  American dream home; how do I find more leisure and less work keeping up my investment without loosing value or negatively affecting the environment.  That answer is usually found within the individual and whether or not they enjoy being in the garden. 

Far too many horticultural magazines as well as ‘fly by night’ companies have stated that ‘they’ in fact have created or found the lawn which didn’t’ need mowing, watering, fertilizing, weeding or care.  We know because, as a turf grower, we’ve answered the questions over the years as to how you get to have a beautiful yard and never have to do the things that are required to make that happen.

Guess we all want our own little nirvana.  Hopefully we can ask the right questions to find true answers and best achieve our own little piece of heaven – whatever that may look like for each individual.

Some interesting statistics from the National Sports Safety Organization