Artificial Grass

In simple terms, artificial grass is a layer of synthetic fibers designed to imitate the aesthetic look and practical function of real grass.

Artificial grass first appeared as “Astroturf” in the mid-1960s when it was used in the Houston Astrodome. Since then artificial grass has undergone several transformations. What began as an ugly plastic-looking ground cover in a few stadiums has evolved into something else entirely!

Artificial grass goes by a myriad of names: synthetic turf, fake grass, synthetic grass, faux grass, grass carpet, artificial lawn, and more. Whatever you call it, today’s artificial grass products are an incredibly realistic alternative to real grass that is affordable, low maintenance, and eco-friendly. Homeowners throughout Texas and across the U.S. recognize the advantages of replacing their natural grass yard with fake grass.

Artificial grass is more than just the visible blades of synthetic grass, it’s a complete landscape system. The best artificial grass lawn is comprised of fibers or yarn that are tufted or quilted into a backing to create the appearance of a natural grass lawn.

• Yarn / Fibers — Used to create the synthetic grass blades
• Backing — Consists of a “Primary Backing” and “Secondary Backing” that together hold the turf fibers in place & facilitates the turf’s drainage
• Thatch — Cushions turf, supports the turf fibers and creates a more realistic appearance that mimics the dead grass seen in natural grass lawns
• Base — The compacted base layer of class II road base or decomposed granite that the artificial grass will be installed on
• Infill — Keeps artificial grass blades upright & provides a ballast to weigh down the turf and prevent it from shifting

Artificial grass first appeared as “Astroturf” in the mid-1960s when it was used in the Houston Astrodome. Since then it has undergone several transformations. What began as an ugly plastic-looking ground cover in a few stadiums has evolved into something else entirely!

Today’s artificial grass is nothing like the plastic-looking green carpet that debuted with the grand opening of the Houston Astrodome. Perhaps it was just as well that synthetic grass remained safely away from residential lawns until innovative improvements made it a feature worth admiring alongside that white picket fence.

The newest synthetic turf not only looks unbelievably realistic, but it is also water-resistant, heat-resistant, environmentally friendly, and functionally similar to the real thing. Not to mention that it takes watering, chemicals, and maintenance out of the picture, bringing the cost down significantly.

The process of making artificial grass, or “tufting”, came about a decade before Astroturf became a household name. The term “turf” is used in reference to artificial grass because of this process, which basically involves punching synthetic filaments into a fabric backing and then setting it with a flexible adhesive substance. While the basic process is still used in the initial stages of tufting, improvements have been made over the decades to create better-looking and better-performing fake grass.