What is Artificial Grass Infill and What are the Types?

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When deciding on a Las Vegas artificial turf installation, there are a few decisions to make in terms of building materials. Besides the synthetic turf itself, one of the most important considerations in the material that will be used as the artificial grass infill.

This can have a huge impact on how durable and fit for purpose your synthetic lawn is, and the right answer will be different depending on how you intend to use your artificial turf once it has been installed.

What is Artificial Grass Infill?

As the name implies, artificial grass infill is the material that is used to fill in the base layer of your synthetic turf and can affect the properties of your artificial grass quite a lot, as well as impacting the ease of maintaining your fake grass.

Living grass naturally grows upright to reach the sun and will return to an upright position after being flattened. Artificial grass infill helps the synthetic grass blade to stay upright and stand back up after being flattened, among several other important functions. Infill is usually made of fine materials such as sand or rubber crumbs.

Does Artificial Grass need infill?

Unless you are on a very tight budget, it is almost always better to use the recommended amount of infill for the artificial grass product you are installing. Besides keeping the artificial grass blades upright, infill acts as ballast to prevent high winds lifting your synthetic grass, makes your artificial turf more impact-dampening like real grass, and helps prevent rolls and wrinkles forming in the synthetic grass.

Artificial Grass Infill

Artificial Grass Infill vs no Infill

There can be advantages to both options, however:

Advantages of Artificial Grass with Infill

  • Keeps grass blades upright, improving the look of your lawn
  • Makes the artificial turf more spongy and comfortable for kids and pets to play on
  • Protects the foundations of the artificial grass installation
  • Provides drainage
  • Some infill types help eliminate pet odors

Advantages of Artificial Grass without Infill

  • Some types of infill can create a mess when you play on the synthetic grass
  • If the infill type is not matched to the type of synthetic grass backing used, it can block drainage
  • Some types of infill can promote weed growth

Most of the potential disadvantages of using infill are really just the consequences of using the wrong type of infill for your situation, or a result of poor maintenance leading to damage, dirt build-up, or weed growth. This is one of the reasons it is turf infill that you use.

Types of Artificial Grass Infill

There are a few different types of material that can be used as infill for artificial grass, depending on how your synthetic turf will be used and the kind of wear it needs to withstand. These are three of the most common, and useful, types of infill that are used for artificial grass in Las Vegas.

Silica Sand

Silica sand is made from quartz that has been eroded by wind and water. This material is used in many construction applications besides artificial turf infill. It is generally the least expensive type of infill material. However, there are some downsides to this type of infill.

Rubber

Rubber crumbs, usually made from old tires and other recycled products, is a popular  artificial turf infill that is installed for in sports applications.

Durafill Sand

Durafill sand is an artificially manufactured type of sand infill that can be combined with other types of infill.

infill types

What are the Pros and Cons of Each Type?

Each type of infill has its own strengths and weaknesses. The right choice of infill depends on the type of artificial grass you are installing, how you intend to use it, and whether you have pets and other wildlife in your yard. As a result, we always recommend talking to one of our experts about your needs before making a decision on the type of infill or artificial grass that you want.

Silica Sand

This infill is not rounded, but instead, it is sharp-edged and may lead to premature fiber breakdown as it rubs against other materials. It also tends to hold moisture more than other infill types which can lead to bacteria growth on the surface and the development of mold and mildew.

Silica can also get compacted with use which means it reduces the permeability of the artificial grass infill. Or in other words, the drainage can get worse over time. It has also been known to hold in pet odors.

Rubber

Rubber crumbs give the synthetic turf more of a bounce than natural grass, making it more comfortable to run and fall on. As a result, this type of infill is popular for use on sports fields and high traffic areas that need to remain durable despite heavy use.

Rubber can trap odor and heat, however, and it can make the area feel warmer especially in an enclosed space. It can also result in black dust on clothing, shoes, towels, and lawn furniture.

Durafill Sand

Durafill sand is designed to help control the surface temperature of your artificial grass and keeps your synthetic turf infill porous to ensure reliable drainage. It is also less hospitable to bacteria than regular sand and helps control pet odors and the build-up of dirt and residue. There are no disadvantages with adding Durafill sand, besides the added cost.

How to Decide on What Artificial Turf Infill to Use?

Choosing the right type of infill material is important if you want to get the most out of your artificial grass, ensure that it lasts a long time, and stays in good condition. It is always a great idea to talk to an artificial grass specialist about your needs and get a better understanding of the benefits of different infill material blends. Knowing which ones will work for how you intend to use your artificial turf will help you decide on the right combination that will do the job most effectively.

Artificial grass for dogs: The Ultimate Pet turf Buyer’s Guide

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Artificial turf is one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to keep your lawn green and clean all year round, with minimal maintenance and yard work. As a dog owner though, you might think that fake grass and pets don’t mix. This is not the case, however. In fact, in most cases, an artificial turf lawn is the ideal yard for you and your dog, with less of the chores and potential problems you can have to deal with when you have a regular grass lawn.

Is Artificial Grass Pet Friendly?

If you are a dog owner, one of the first questions on your mind when considering artificial turf is how the switch to fake grass will affect your canine companion. The short answer is that although synthetic grass is not suitable for every dog, for most canines artificial turf can be just as safe, hygienic, and comfortable as real grass, depending on your dog and the type of synthetic grass you install.

Real Grass vs Fake Grass For Dogs

Fake grass has a lot of benefits over real grass for dog owners, but for some dogs, real grass has its advantages too.

Benefits of Fake Grass for Dogs

  • Easy to Clean

It is easy to clean solid waste off the fake grass, and with the right infill and artificial grass membrane, urine will soak through without leaving an odor. Not all types of artificial grass work this way though, so make sure to ask your artificial grass installer about the right options for dog owners.

  • No Pesticides

You don’t need to worry about pesticides affecting your dog’s health with fake grass, as it prevents weed growth without the use of pesticides.

  • Fewer Garden Pests

Real grass encourages many insects and small critters to visit your yard, potentially infesting your dog’s fur and being brought into your home, such as fleas. With a fake grass yard, these creatures have little reason to stick around in your yard.

Artificial grass for dogs

Benefits of Real Grass for Dogs

  • Safe to Eat

Some dogs like to chew and eat vegetation such as grass, and they could mistake fake grass for the real thing, and attempt to eat it. Fake grass is much more tough and durable so it may not be successful, but it can still present danger in these cases.

  • Some Dogs Like to Dig

While some dog owners try to prevent their dogs from digging up the lawn, this is something that some dogs like to do, and you might be happy to let your pooch dig and bury their treasures in your yard. Fake grass will not allow your dog to do this and might become damaged if they try. If your dog is a digger, consider retaining a dirt area in your yard so they can still dig without damaging the artificial turf.

Why Should you Install Artificial Grass for Dogs?

Las Vegas Artificial grass is very low maintenance compared to real grass, as well as much more durable. If you have several dogs or just one highly energetic pup, they can easily wear out bare patches into a real grass lawn through everyday play. Artificial grass holds up to this kind of treatment much better. It is also much more hygienic when your pet does its business, as waste can easily be removed and washed away, and you don’t need to worry about contaminating the soil or vegetation over time.

Why your Dog will Love Artificial Grass

Fake grass can make life more convenient for you as a dog owner, but your dog has plenty of reasons to love it too.

For starters, artificial turf won’t leave your dog covered in dirt and grass when they play outside, which means you won’t need to bathe them after they’ve been rolling around in the yard.

It also makes toilet time less stressful for your dog as well as you, especially if you don’t let your dog go on the lawn for fear of it ruining the turf. Since artificial turf is so much easier to keep clean, you can let them go anywhere without it damaging your synthetic grass.

How it will Make the Pet Owner’s Job Easier?

As a pet owner, artificial turf can greatly reduce the amount of work you need to put into keeping your yard a clean and inviting environment for your pets, family, and guests, and it’s not just that it makes cleaning up after your pet easier.

To maintain a synthetic grass lawn, all you really need to do most of the time is give it a quick spray with the hose once a week, and sweep it about once a month. You don’t need to worry about your dog wearing out the turf, and it completely eliminates many of the more annoying yard chores like aerating the soil and weeding the lawn.

How Much Does Fake Grass for Dogs Cost?

Most artificial turf products that are suitable for dogs cost around $1 to $2 per square foot of synthetic grass.

artificial turf for dogs

What To Look For When Buying Artificial Turf For Dogs

If you are installing artificial turf in your yard and you have a dog that will be using the lawn to relieve itself, make sure to avoid synthetic grass products with a latex backing. These can retain urine to create a lingering bad odor in the area your dog uses. The backing should also be permeable so that liquids can drain out into the sub-base material under the grass, which should be a porous material like granite or limestone chippings that allow liquids to drain.

Shorter pile heights of around 1.5 inches or less tend to be a little more durable when it comes to withstanding the wear and tear of your dog running around and digging their claws into the grass as they play. Shorter pile heights also make it harder and less tempting for your dog to bite at and attempt to chew the blades of grass.

What’s the Best Artificial Grass for Dogs?

Our Gold 77 range is a great artificial grass option for dog owners, as it features our shortest pile height beside the Putt Pro putting greens. Besides making the grass safer for your dog and also more durable, this also makes cleaning up after your pet easier, as shorter blades of grass mean things don’t get matted or embedded as easily.

All Festival Turf synthetic grass products are available with various non-latex backings, and we can use a range of infill materials according to the situation, including materials that are chosen specifically to enable better drainage and prevent pet odors.

Getting an artificial turf lawn as a dog owner can make a lot of sense, as it significantly reduces your yard work while keeping your lawn looking great, it can be more hygienic and easier to clean, and stands up well for the activities of even the most energetic of dogs. Owning a dog does add a few extra considerations to the buying process, however. If you need any help or advice in deciding on the best artificial turf option for both you and your pet, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

 

Artificial Turf Maintenance: How To Clean Artificial Grass Guide

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One of the best advantages of switching to artificial grass in Las Vegas is how easy it is to keep your yard looking great. Although it takes a lot less work, you will still need to do a little bit of artificial turf maintenance to keep your yard looking at its best.

How to Maintain Artificial Grass?

Artificial grass requires only minimal maintenance on a weekly basis, and a few more artificial grass care tasks that should be done on a monthly basis to keep your  artificial turf in Las Vegas in its best condition.

Weekly Artificial Grass Maintenance

A light rinsing with water is all the weekly maintenance that is needed when cleaning artificial turf. Spraying the turf down with a hose will be enough to remove the dust and debris that can accumulate there over the week.

Monthly Artificial Turf Maintenance

Over the course of a month, some of the dust, dirt and dried leaves that end up on your synthetic grass will not wash away with water. You can usually sweep this away using a stiff brush.

When you lie down on your artificial turf or put heavy lawn furniture on top of it, the blades of grass can get pressed flat and fail to return to their upright position. Brushing the grass against the grain using a broom will also help return it to an upright position if it has been flattened during use. This also helps prevent longer synthetic grass blades from becoming matted together and also helps prevent the artificial grass infill from becoming too compacted.

If you are not able to maintain your lawn with regular grooming for a few months, or you have moved into a previously vacant home with artificial turf, returning it to its former glory can be a larger task that can be handled by a professional artificial turf maintenance service.

turf maintenance

What Tools Are Required for Artificial Turf Maintenance?

You don’t need any special tools for cleaning artificial turf, and you probably already own the few tools that you do need.

Lawn Rake

Having a lawn rake around to sweep away any excess dirt or leaves makes the monthly maintenance easier and faster. Use a wooden or plastic rake instead of a metal one, as a metal rake could damage the artificial turf.

Broom

A broom is the best way to breathe some life back into flattened and tired-looking synthetic grass. Usually you won’t need to do this more than once a month, but if you have a lot of foot traffic in your yard or use heavy lawn furniture, it might be a good idea to do it more often.

Moving lawn furniture around every once in a while also helps prevent them from permanently flattening the artificial turf. Just as with the rake, avoid using a broom with metal bristles that could damage the artificial turf.

Hose

You only need to briefly spray the artificial grass with a hose to clean away the dust and debris, so it doesn’t use much water. Any old hose will do, although a spray attachment will make the job easier.

How to Remove Pet Waste from Artificial Grass?

Pet waste is easy to remove and clean from artificial grass. After removing any solid waste with a baggie or scooper, simply hose down the area and apply an odor remover if needed.

It is not the end of the world if you forget to hose off the synthetic grass after your pet urinates, but if you don’t spray the area down at least once a week then the smell could be harder to get rid of as it gets into the grass infill.

If you have pets that will ‘go’ in the yard let your artificial turf installers know, as we can recommend artificial grass products that will not be damaged or become smelly as your pets use artificial grass. Dog owners sometimes prefer to leave a dirt area in their yard and train their dog to do its business there, but not all animals can be taught to keep off the grass in this way.

how to clean artificial grass

How to Remove Bacteria from Synthetic Grass?

Bacteria build-up is rarely a problem with artificial grass, especially when it is regularly groomed. If you suspect bacterial growth, however, it is very easy to tackle.

Mixing a mild soap with water or a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water will kill any bacteria living on your synthetic grass. Stick to using natural soap, especially if there are also living plants in your yard, as some soap can be harmful to plant and animal life.

How to Avoid Stains and Burns?

The best way to avoid stains is to clean up any liquid spills as soon as they happen. Avoid using corrosive materials and caustic liquids over your synthetic grass. For example, don’t work on your vehicle near the turf if there is a risk of substances like lubricant oil and battery acid getting on the grass.

Artificial grass can be burnt by charcoal from grills and fire pits, fireworks, and cigarette butts. While these can also cause minor burns on real grass, we tend not to worry about it because real grass heals, whereas the minor damage caused by things like cigarettes will be permanent. Get into the habit of keeping anything that burns off the turf.

How to Remove Snow and Ice from Synthetic Grass?

Snow and ice can be allowed to melt naturally, and this is usually the best option if you don’t need to clear your lawn. If you do need to get rid of the snow and ice on your artificial grass, however, light precipitation can simply be brushed away.

When there is more heavy snowfall, sweeping all the way down to the synthetic grass risks causing damage to the turf. Aim to remove the top layers while still leaving an inch or so to melt naturally, just to be on the safe side.

artificial grass maintenance

How to Prevent Burnt Turf from Window Magnification?

Direct sunlight alone, even the intense Nevada climate, is not enough to cause damage to artificial grass. Combined with the reflected sun rays bouncing off of nearby windows, however, this could be enough to burn or melt patches of synthetic grass over time.

If the windows in question are part of your property, consider installing external shutters, awnings or shades to reduce the reflections. If the windows responsible for the problem are on someone else’s property, consider putting up something to block the reflections like a fence or hedge.

How to Clean Mild Stains, Stubborn Stains?

You don’t need to worry about every little spill, as artificial grass is made to be durable. Most spills can be washed away with water. If anything remains after you hose the area down, the same soap or vinegar and water mix for treating bacteria will also get rid of most stains, especially when applied quickly after a spill.

Do not use harsh chemicals or solvents to remove spills or sticky substances from your lawn. These might damage or discolor your synthetic turf, creating a worse (and more expensive) problem than the original stain.

If there is anything else you need to know about taking care of your synthetic grass, or you need professional artificial grass grooming, get in contact with us and we’ll be happy to help.