Artificial Turf Now Used in a Variety of Applications – TEXAS ELITE LANDSCAPING

Have you ever wondered how a large football field is properly maintained to keep its grass green all year round? Surely, many of you have thought how extensive its maintenance requirements are especially in ensuring that the grass does not wither during the hot summer months. But there’s actually a secret to that.

Many sports arenas today make use of the artificial turf. This is a synthetic grass also known as synthetic turf. It looks and feels like real grass but it isn’t the real thing. So just as you thought that extensive maintenance is needed to keep those grass green in football fields and sports stadiums, minor upkeep is what’s only required.

The main reason behind the widespread use of artificial turf these days is to keep maintenance costs at a minimum, to avoid the use of irrigation and to keep the grass as alive and green as it can be. With real grass exposed to heavy use such as spacious fields used for sports, there’s a big likelihood that they’ll get damaged easily and will require some time to grow them back to their original condition.

History

The major credit for this invention goes to a man named David Chaney. He led a team of RTP researchers who were responsible for making the first artificial turf. According to Sports Illustrated, Chaney is a prominent figure who made possible indoor major league baseball.

It was back in 1965 when the first artificial turf became popular. The first brand AstroTurf was then installed in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. By the 1970s, the use of artificial turf in football and baseball fields in the U.S. and Canada became widespread. Europe followed a decade later in the 1980s. Through the years, the application of this artificial grass has expanded to include now more sports fields especially those meant for field hockey and lawn tennis.

Other than the sports fields, though, artificial turf is currently common in parks, homes and even commercial establishments that require landscaping. This has been made possible thanks to the development in the quality and variety of synthetic grasses. Additionally, many people and organizations have recognized the artificial turf’s great contribution to water conservation efforts mainly because it needs less maintenance.

Pros and cons

In areas with a dry environment and a low amount of natural light, this synthetic grass is very ideal to use. As this is an artificial grass, it can be used in any type of ground and can be exposed to all types of weather without getting much damage.

In home gardens and lawns, this is also a perfect choice. Not all homeowners are free to maintain their grasses and for these people, installing artificial turf is the better solution. This can even be used in roof gardens and areas surrounding the swimming pool.

A few disadvantages cited with the use of artificial turf are skin injuries such as abrasions and turf toe. These conditions normally result from playing on synthetic grass. Also, this type of grass is hotter when exposed to the sun’s rays for a long period.

Source: Ezinearticles