As you go out and price and select a dealer and installer for your new artificial turf project, make sure you get an accurate and complete estimate.

It’s the first clue your installer knows what they are doing.

Look for these elements in a complete estimate:

• A schedule. When do things start? How long will it take to install?
• Pricing. How much per square foot? What are you getting for the price? Do they break out labor from materials?
• Guarantees and Warranties. What’s covered and what isn’t? Who does repairs? Will they cost you?
• Expectations. Are you required to do anything–move things, haul away items?

This is just a starting place, but make sure you get things in writing and a commitment.

One more thing: before you start, can they give you a “ballpark” estimate for the project or cost per square foot?  This shows they can think on their feet.

The Grass Queen

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If you are a dog owner, having a safe and clean place to run your dog is a daily concern.  Especially if you are an apartment dweller as well.

With this combination growing in the US and around the world, many outdoor and indoor dog parks are springing up.  The indoor versions rely on artificial turf.

For more information on where to find a dog park near you, consult http://www.dogparkusa.com/

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The best installations are the ones where every detail has been considered.

When a crew goes out and completes and installation, they need to do a quality control inspection before, during and after to make sure everything is clean, level and complete.

At a recent installation, our lead man made sure things were all tucked in place at the end.  The glue had to set and the staples put in place.  He even did a “pull back” and made sure that a rough patch was made level.

Watch your installers as they work and even consider visiting an installation before they start on yours.

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Today we are revisiting the resons to have artificial turf as a part of your landscaping plan.  Here are four good reasons:

1. You can have a lawn in an arid or environment hostile to the growth of real grass.
2. Artificial turf is more durable.
3. A low-maintenance solution to weekend/holiday homes and those occupied by the elderly.
4. Good solution for rooftop gardens and around swimming pools.

For more ideas, visit this Wikipedia entry, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_turf#Landscaping

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Not only does artificial turf (fake grass) save water and lots of hard labor, it also reduces health risk.

Remember allergy season?  Because artificial is not a living thing, there are reduced allergens: no grass seed,pollen, clippings or lawn waste. Fewer (if any sneezes and no more itching from picking up clippings and walking behind that dust-spewing mower.

Since there is no need for chemical or organic fertilizers or pesticides, the risk of having chemical and other toxins around is reduced or eliminated. And the runoff of chemical fertilizers into the ground water is gone.

Really, go green with artificial turf.

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One thing that most people don’t realize is that water helps on the job site and not just as what you would think you would use it for.

We use water as weight.  That’s right, weight.  One of the more important steps in the process of installing turf is preparing the layers underneath.  Besides our regular power compactor, we also use a hand roller.  To help save weight on the truck and to be safe loading and unloading it, we use a roller that requires water ballast.

When we get to the job site, we attach a hose to the roller and fill it with water.  Once we are done we empty the drum and drain the water into gardens and onto real lawns so it isn’t wasted.

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Not only does artificial turf save water, we use water in the installation process.

After the old turf is removed and the initial layers of the installation of put down, the granite layer is watered down.  After the soil layer over the top of the granite is applied, it gets a dousing of the wet stuff.

Water helps the layers compact and hold together.  It also makes the various materials malleable and able to be worked more easily.

Sure, we use water now, but over the life of the installation (20-plus years) you will use a fraction of what you would with a live lawn.

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This is Harry.

He loves his artificial turf. And for good reason.

Not only is it soft and comfortable for him, it is easy to clean and drains easily. In a customized dog run, it will keep him clean and stay clean and sanitary for his owner.

Dog parks, veterinarians, pet hotels and others rely on artificial turf, usually in combination with real turf, as a part of their yard strategy.

You should consider it, too.

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The best way to see and judge artificial turf is to touch it and talk face-to-face with someone. If you can’t get to a dealer or showroom or warehouse, try and go to a trade show.

“We find that trade shows and expos are the best way for people to understand artificial turf,” Kimberly Van Buren said. Kimberly is the owner of Synthetic Grass Pros and uses trade shows and events extensively.

“Since this is a tangible product that you are going to install in your yard, it always is best to touch it and talk to a rep,” Kimberly continued.

Synthetic Grass Pros will be at the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) Show August 19-22 in San Antonio. for more information take a look at www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org.

Come join us and talk some grass. SGP is in booth number 2713.

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Out on an install the other day and I saw this side-by-side comparison of synthetic grass and some real St. Augustine turf.

You really have to look closely to see the differences between the two.  Can you see the dividing line in the photo?  Which is real and which is fake?

Truth is, the divider is the line of bricks: at the lower end of the frame is the real St. Augustine; at the top is the synthetic turf.

Blade length, fresh color (depending on time of year) and looking perpetually trimmed are usually the giveaways.  Test your guests the next time they are over.

Oh, you don’t have artificial turf?  We need to talk.

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