Category: artificial turf

  • DIY Landscaping Artificial Grass

    If you’re landscaping your yard yourself, you can really go wild with it. You can make it as exuberant and colorful as you like, or go for a more muted and relaxing look. Whatever your preference may be, your yard is a blank canvas.

    As you’re making plans for landscaping, have you considered your lawn? A natural lawn can look amazing and really work wonders for the look of your yard. However, they take a lot of upkeep and maybe you just don’t have the time for it.

    Instead, have you considered DIY landscaping artificial grass? It’s an alternative that’s becoming more popular in residential yards, and it’s not hard to see why. Here are just a few reasons why they’re great for the DIY landscaper.

  • Upgrade your Baseball Space using Artificial Turf

    Of course, no at-home baseball playing area would be at its best unless it’s outfitted with artificial turf.

    Even many Major League Baseball stadiums are converting to artificial turf because of its many benefits. With turf, you won’t have to worry about it becoming worn or thin because of repeated use. You also won’t have to worry about watering the field in the dry, hot summer months, or fertilizing it to protect against weeds and grubs.

    Artificial turf stays green year-round, provides a soft surface for baseball players to run on (and fall on – as it can help prevent injuries) and is durable and long-lasting. In addition, because these baseball areas will be located in your home, you’ll have the added aesthetic benefit of always having a vibrant, beautiful, green lawn. No baseball oasis is complete without the upgrade of artificial turf.

    Whether you are merely a baseball enthusiast or a serious aspiring baseball player, there are tons of ways to incorporate baseball into your landscaping.

    You can add a batting or pitching practice area, or try to recreate a full-scale or miniature baseball diamond. No matter what you choose, though, your yard certainly won’t be complete without the final touch of artificial turf on which to play ball. Have fun!

  • Create a Full-Scale Diamond

    If you just love baseball, own a large property, and have enough friends to field a pick-up game, you might want to just bite the bullet and install a full-sized baseball diamond on your property. There are several important considerations before undertaking this sizeable yard remodel:

    1. The area should have proper water drainage so that rainstorms don’t cause puddling and flooding
    2. You must be committed to maintaining the turf/grass in the outfield and baseball clay in the infield
    3. You will need to invest in bases and a pitching rubber
    4. A fence surrounding the diamond is advisable, though not required
    5. You should carefully research the placement of the pitching mound and rubber as well as the bases so that they can properly resemble a real game (if that is your intent)

    A full-sized baseball diamond requires a square area of land measuring at least 90 feet on each side. Baseball Almanac also recommends having a fence or net behind home plate to protect any of your friends who may come to watch.

    Create a Miniature Baseball Diamond

    If you simply don’t have enough space to create a full, 90-foot baseball diamond, you can always consider scaling it down or turning to Pinterest for some inspiration on creating miniature baseball diamonds in your yard.

    Some simple math may be enough to take the 90×90 baseball square to something smaller, such as 45×45 feet, or even smaller, like 30×30 or 15×15. The possibilities are endless. You may also want to consider trying a whiffle ball field. While the dimensions are slightly different (and smaller), you can mimic the feel of a baseball field in closer quarters. If the spirit of the game – and not hard-core practice – are your aim, a whiffle ball field might be the perfect solution for a smaller-sized property.

    This would also be great for birthday parties for the kids.

  • Make Room For Batting Cages

    Batter up!

    Installing a batting cage allows for extensive batting practice sessions – one of the most important parts of the game.

    Essentially, a batting cage is an enclosed tunnel-like area for practicing your swing and batting. The netted area is typically rectangular in shape and can be used by a person to pitch to a batter or for an automatic machine to pitch. Automatic machines can pitch repeatedly, and be set to various speeds and pitches to help a batter practice. And while a batter must be careful to ensure that they are not practicing the wrong swing over and over, batting cages offer valuable, consistent practice to burgeoning baseball players.

    When considering space requirements, the optimal length for a batting cage is around 70 feet, to make it true to life, though some batting cages come in sizes ranging from 38 feet to 60 feet. Be sure to add artificial turf to your cage to reduce maintenance needs.

    Pitching Practice Areas

    Another critical skill to address is pitching.

    If you have room in your yard, you should consider trying to incorporate a pitching practice space. A pitching lane can have a mound – an MLB regulation mound is 18 feet in diameter and generally between 15 and 18 inches tall – as well as a pitching or rebounder net.

    The benefit of having a pitching or rebounder net is twofold: you won’t be chasing the ball all over the neighborhood after it’s been overthrown, and you won’t have to worry about retrieving the balls from all the nooks and crannies of your yard when you’re ready to throw another round.

  • How to Create a DIY Backyard Baseball Field

    Baseball is one of the touchstones of summer. What can you do if you’re a baseball enthusiast who just can’t get their fill?

    Well, you can add baseball retreat to your home and there are several different ways that this can be done, such as turning your yard space or your outdoor living areas into a baseball lover’s refuge. Batting cages, a miniature field, to a full-sized diamond are all options that you will delight in choosing from, depending on the size of your yard and budget, of course.

    Once you decide on how you want your backyard to look for baseball season, you will need to decide how you will build it and the steps you will need to take.

  • Consider recycled artificial grass

    For those of you who are on a low budget or are environmentally friendly in nature, recycled artificial grass is a great option. If you thought that used turf only applied to natural grass, you would be wrong, as you can now buy used artificial grass.

    While artificial grass is great for homeowners and businesses, it is non-biodegradable, so once it has been used to its fullest capacity, it must be taken to a landfill. If the grass is worn after many years, then there is not much that can be done to stop it from going to the landfill, unless someone is interested in recycling it, which is kinder to the environment. This option will save money as it is not as expensive as buying artificial grass as new.

    It is also important to consider what warranty you get when you purchase your lawn (the standard is generally 5 years) and what support is available, should you have any problems after your purchase.

    Artificial grass is the ultimate low-maintenance alternative to a natural lawn, and you are sure to spend plenty of time enjoying it over the years. If you have any unanswered questions about installing artificial grass, a reputable retailer will be able to help you come to the right decision for your home.

  • How to Choose Artificial Grass for Your Lawn

    Natural lawns can look amazing, only with a great deal of effort, though. If maintaining a natural lawn is too time-consuming for you, artificial grass is a fantastic alternative. It is easy to install and comes along with a host of benefits.

    Artificial grass is commonly used for the following:

    The Perks of Artificial Grass

    As you know, artificial grass has become one of several popular lawn alternatives for a few reasons.

    By installing artificial grass, you can look forward to:

    • No mowing
    • Easy cleaning
    • No need to re-seed grass
    • No weeds
    • No moss
    • No allergic reactions 
    • A safe place for kids to play
    • A safe place to play for pets
    • Fade-resistant lawn
    • No scorch marks or bald spot
    • A durable and cost-effective lawn
    • A fun area for games and sports

    But what makes artificial grass good turf?

    We encourage you to consider the company’s reputation before anything else.

    Once you find a few companies you’re interested in working with, you want to consider the price point. For most, new turf may be a little beyond the scope of your budget. However, there are alternatives.

    Recycled turf is a great way to save money, but we’ll touch on that later.

    First, let’s talk about what to look for.

  • Pet Waste Will Make Used Synthetic Grass Smell  

    One of the myths about repurposed fake grass is its unsuitability for households with pets. With proper installation, infill, and maintenance, used synthetic grass doesn’t absorb odors. 

    • Infill – by adding a special infill to your used artificial grass lawn, you are ensuring odor absorption. For extra nasal protection, you can even use a deodorizing Zeolite-based infill, such as ZeoFill 
    • Maintenance – by washing pet waste away with a hose (as you would with natural grass), you can make sure it doesn’t encourage bacteria growth and cause unpleasant smells. 
    • Installation – professional artificial grass installation teams know not to install a weed barrier under the synthetic materials since they may trap odors.  

    Myth 5: Used Artificial Grass Lowers Property Value  

    The truth is more complex. Artificial grass can actually increase property values instead of decreasing them. Experts believe that a well-maintained yard can increase the value of a home by as much as 15% or 20%. 

    The important term is “well-maintained.” If you do not perform maintenance once every few weeks, your front lawn will look matted and unnatural. A poorly-maintained yard, whether natural or synthetic grass, will hurt property values. 

  • Used Artificial Grass Looks Worn and Old  

    When people hear the word “used,” they generally imagine something that can’t serve its purpose well anymore. Regarding artificial grass, the source of this misconception is the old and worn-out synthetic grass surfaces that haven’t been properly installed or maintained. 

    In reality, sports turf and festival turf can have a lifespan of over a decade. Sports centers and festival organizers buy high-quality, durable synthetic grass so it can withstand high traffic and serious wear. If installed and maintained correctly, used turf will look fresh and natural. 

    This is especially true with festival turf; if you buy festival turf that has only been in use for a few days, it will look new and serve its purpose for many years to come. 

    Used Artificial Turf Doesn’t Look Realistic  

    High-quality artificial turf can look remarkably like natural grass. The same is true for used artificial turf.  

    If professionals install the synthetic grass, it can look and feel just like a well-maintained natural grass lawn.  

    When you install used sports turf, there can be some fading due to heavy wear. You can easily revitalize faded areas with an acrylic paint sprayer.  

  • Used Synthetic Grass is Always Low-Quality 

    When you install used artificial grass, you choose a cost-effective way to take advantage of high-quality materials for your lawn. Used artificial turf refers to synthetic grass that has been repurposed for a new use. 

    Usually, used artificial grass comes from sports fields where regulations dictate surface replacement every couple of years. Since this turf is highly durable, it can easily be repurposed and serve the new owner for decades. 

    While the popularity of used synthetic turf is steadily growing, some misconceptions are still common. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them. 

    Used Synthetic Grass is Always Low-Quality 

    One of the most common inaccuracies concerning used turf regards quality. In reality, used artificial grass can have as much integrity and durability as some types of new turf. 

    In most cases, used artificial grass often comes from sports fields. Depending on the region, sports center regulations require the field surface to be replaced every 5 to 10 years. By that time, the synthetic turf isn’t likely to wear out. 

    Sports centers use the most durable turf that can withstand heavy traffic. Accordingly, the fake grass can be almost as good as new when it comes off after a few years of use.  The downside of installing used synthetic turf from a sports field is markings or lines that may require painting. 

    If you want to avoid the problem with markings, consider going with festival turf.  

    Festival turf is synthetic grass explicitly installed for events or festivals that last only a few days.  

    This makes used festival turf almost indistinguishable from new artificial grass.