Year: 2017

Greenland TurfTurf Ideas2017
16 Feb 2017
February 16, 2017 0 Comments By mcserhati Uncategorized , , ,

12 Synthetic Turf Ideas !!

12 Stunning Modern Installations

by Katie Dillon

These days, homeowners collaborate with professionals to design and install stunning artificial grass as part of a modern garden. Artificial grass blades have evolved from a shiny green plastic spotted a mile away to such a life-like look that it’s impossible to tell the grass is fake until you touch it or notice there are absolutely no brown spots in sight.The installations below use interesting combinations of materials, colors and live plants to compliment the once tabooed fake lawn. In fact, they are so magazine-worthy that neighbors will surely turn green with envy.

Remember that you don’t have to install a full lawn as artificial grass can easily be used between pavers, in side yards and other smaller applications.

1. Artificial Grass In the Driveway

Artificial Grass In the Driveway

This home in Leucadia incorporates artificial turf between concrete slabs to create a look that seamlessly blends the driveway into the front entry to create a feel of openness.

2. Liven up a Shady Patio

Liven up a Shady Patio

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This Los Angeles home brightened up an otherwise shady patio with a small artificial lawn. Not only is the grass soft to the touch, but it certainly adds a warm feel to this bedroom. Slippers or not, it’s easy to venture out into this comfortable space.

3. A Kid’s Paradise

A Kid's Paradise

If the kids toss sand out of the sandbox, getting it back in is much easier with artificial turf surrounding the play area than real grass. Provided it didn’t just rain, sweep or blow the sand back in without it sticking to potentially wet soil. Let them play ball games like tetherball, pictured at the end of the lawn in this photo, soccer, catch and more.

4. Use Multiple Materials

Use Multiple Materials

There’s a lot to look at here, right? Aside from the adorable dogs on the concrete, the wood decking, yellow wall with sculpture, architectural plants and tree in the center of the artificial lawn provide a first-time guest with plenty of focal points.

5. Non-Linear Design

Non-Linear Design

Who says that the lawn has to exist within a boundary? This playful design and modern seating injects youth into an older Beverly Hills estate.

6. Use Between Natural Stone

Use Between Natural Stone

This Mediterranean design incorporates slate squares between strips of artificial turf to liven up a rustic look without much maintenance.

7. Functional and Pretty

Functional and Pretty

Those needing a large strip of artificial turf may as well give it a practical purpose. We’ve seen everything from bocce ball to putting greens to large chess boards.

8. The Only Water Is in the Pool

The Only Water Is in the Pool

Artificial turf also isn’t always short like it is on a putting green. The lush grass between the concrete pavers in this photo provide a soft cushion under post-pool bare feet. Add interest by using a railroad pattern and soften the entire look by choosing wood patio furnitureversus metal.

9.  Play Checkers

Play Checkers

Give depth to an otherwise small backyard by incorporating a contemporary checker design, as displayed in this European-style garden with muted hues of greens and lavender. The tall trees and fountain provide a sense of privacy, as well.

10.  Add More Green

Add More Green

It’s hard to distinguish the living green from the artificial green in this photo.  In this case, irrigating the grass on the steps here would have been difficult and, perhaps, wasteful so the owner opted for artificial turf even against a backdrop of a living wall and other lush greenery. The vases on the table provide a much-needed pop of color.

11. Integrate a Pop of Color

Integrate a Pop of Color

Liven up an area of turf by adding color contrast. These homeowners choose a pretty bright blue accented with orange. Lady palms in the background add a tropical vibe to the space.

12. Reach for the Sky

Reach for the Sky

For those with city apartments, artificial grass in combination with modern container plantings is the perfect solution for adding an unexpected pop of greenery to an outdoor living area. There isn’t a need for any space to feel like a concrete jungle.

How Much Does Artificial Grass Cost?

Of course, the answer is that it depends on your geographical region, design and installation requirements. We do have a great deal of information regarding the cost of artificial grass that homeowners can use as a reference point. Have a look. Remember that you will save on your water bill over time, if you’re adding artificial grass to an are of the home that would otherwise be irrigated. And, there’s no need for a gardener to spend time mowing it either.

A Solution for a Busy Lifestyle

In Southern California, live lawns require maintenance. Artificial grass also works for homeowners who travel and also rental properties. Maybe you have a dog and want an alternative to a lawn where he or she can play. We can also help with durable synthetic pet turf.

Your Turn…

Are you considering artificial grass? Do you have questions? Contact Install-It-Direct.

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23 Jan 2017
January 23, 2017 0 Comments By mcserhati Uncategorized , ,

Is Fake Grass the best alternative for your yard ?

Let’s Examine your Landscape options …..

If you were hoping to cash in on the City incentives for turf replacement  you might have waited too long. The incredible popularity of the program has forced the wholesaler to suspend applications after shelling out more than $300 million to help homeowners replace their lawns with less thirsty yard options.

Homeowners are now having to weigh the benefits of a more drought-tolerant yard against a cost that’s more than they had anticipated.

Still, saving water may only be one consideration to take into account when deciding why and how to replace your yard, said Carol Bornstein, director of the nature gardens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the co-author of “Reimagining the California Lawn” and “California Native Plants for the Garden.”

“The primary concern these days, of course, is water because of the drought,” she said.” But water is not the only resource that goes into maintaining lawns. There’s the constant mowing and the generation of green waste and what to do with the green waste and the use of fossil fuels.”

When considering the high cost of water and the low maintenance cost for Synthetic Turf .   Artificial Grass seems to be an attractive alternative. See below for all your other options for landscaping your yard.

5 factors to consider for each potential yard.

With the help of professional landscapers, conservationists and experts on the environment, we’ve put together a series of popular landscape options. For each landscape possibility, we’ve considered how they fare in several categories*:

  • Water need– How much water each landscape type requires
  • Biodiversity – What kinds of wildlife will benefit from it (courtesy of Brian Brown, curator of entomology at the Natural History Museum)
  • Permeability – Will water be able to pass through the landscape and reenter the aquifer?
  • Heating effect – Will it add to or mitigate the urban heat island effect?
  • Cost – Average price estimated per square foot (courtesy of Kelley Hanna, owner of Plant Goddess Landscaping)

Keep in mind this guide is intended only to be a general reference; each landscape type will perform differently based on how it’s installed and maintained. Also, most yards are likely to incorporate more than one of the options below. Finally, we chose not to include aesthetics as a category, as it’s subjective.

 

TURF “REAL GRASS”

This what most think of when they think of the typical lawn — the water-intensive default conservationists are hoping to steer Californians away from choosing. Even so, there is wide variety within grasses. Cool-season grasses grow actively during the cooler time of year and require watering during hot summer months. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, use less water.

Turf grass

  • Water need – High, though warm-season grass does use less water than its cooler cousin.
  • Biodiversity – “Okay for non-native biodiversity, but mowing reduces the value for shelter, and irrigation promotes destructive invasive species like Argentine ants; butterflies like the fiery skipper use grasses as their food plants,” wrote Brian Brown, entomology curator of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
  • Permeable? – Yes
  • Heating effect – Provides cooling, though not as much as if shady trees were in the yard. Still, evapotranspiration does occur. Sports fields with real grass can reduce temperature by two-to-four degrees.
  • Cost – $ 4 – $ 6 per square foot, including installation, for cool-season grass;

 

CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT GARDEN

 

  • Water need – Low, though not all plants native to California save water. That’s because some come from areas that see a lot of precipitation. Experts stress the importance of choosing locally appropriate plants.
  • Biodiversity – “Including semi-native plants (those from elsewhere in California, such as giant buckwheat from the Channel Islands); are best for native biodiversity; pollinator resources appropriate for the species native to this area; food plants for native wildlife.”
  • Permeable? – Yes
  • Heating effect –  Cooling. Trees capable of producing shade would provide the most cooling effect (9 degrees Fahrenheit or more). Shrubs are next, followed by low plants and grasses.
  • Cost – $3.75 – $18 per square foot, including labor. The wide range reflects the variety of plant choices available. The City of Santa Monica has a native demonstration garden, which cost $11.06 per square foot, as opposed to a traditional garden, which cost $7.50.

 

DROUGHT-TOLERANT GARDEN (CALIFORNIA-FRIENDLY)

Drought-tolerant species of plants can come from any arid environment, with many coming from Australia or South Africa.

Drought-tolerant garden

  • Water need – Low
  • Biodiversity – “Probably better for biodiversity than anything else except native plantings, especially if irrigation is minimized; can promote introduced honey bees over native bees (negative) as many of the flowers are only visited by generalist pollinators like honey bees; fewer food resources than native plants.”
  • Permeable? – Yes
  • Heating effect –  Cooling. Same as California native plants.
  • Cost – $3.75 – $18 per square foot, including labor. Again, a wide range depending on how you plant.

 

ORGANIC MULCH

Mulch

  • Water need – None
  • Biodiversity – “Can be beneficial to biodiversity associated with local forests and riparian areas, where leaves, shed bark, twigs, etc. are normal; depends on what is underneath the mulch.” Also, with regards to native bees – “While it is true that a deep layer of mulch might smother bee nests, my experience is that bees are good at finding small open areas around the periphery of a mulched area to burrow in. Mulch is so much better than decomposed granite, artificial turf, pavement, etc. that I wouldn’t use this as a reason not to mulch.”
  • Permeable? – Yes, though Carol Bornstein said it’s important to note that mulch does soak up water, so if you do have plants within the mulch, it might take more watering for them to get what they need.
  • Heating effect – Neutral. Mulch doesn’t, by itself, provide any cooling through evapotranspiration, but it doesn’t add to heating either.
  • Cost – $2.50 per square foot, not including labor. (The vagaries of a project precluded Kelley Hanna, owner of Plant Goddess Landscaping, from making an estimate of labor costs.)

 

ARTIFICIAL TURF

Artificial turf

  • Water need – None. Some water may be used for washing or cooling.
  • Biodiversity – “Terrible for biodiversity (no food value, no access to soil).”
  • Permeable? – Not typically. Some artificial turf is water-permeable, but Lisa Cahill, director of sustainable solutions at TreePeople, said soil compaction that occurs as part of installation limits how far down the water will travel.
  • Heating effect – Heating. Cahill says this is among the worst material when it comes to the heat island effect. She said the heating from artificial turf can be even worse than some concrete, because it is dark colored and retains heat. “People do get burned on it, and it is synthetic. It is a hot piece of plastic wrap that you’re putting into the ecosystem,” Cahill said.
  • Cost – $12-15  per square foot, including labor.

 

GRAVEL

Gravel yard

  • Water – None
  • Biodiversity – “Depending what is underneath the rocks, and whether it has access to soil, can provide some cover for native wildlife.”
  • Permeable? – Yes
  • Heating effect – Heating. The extent depends upon the color of the gravel.
  • Cost – $3.50  per square foot, not including labor.

 

CONCRETE (PAVEMENT)

  • Water – None
  • Biodiversity – “Same as gravel”
  • Permeable? – No. There are some permeable pavements, but concrete in general is impenetrable.
  • Heating effect – Heating. Some types are worse than others. Darker asphalts are worse than lighter concretes when it comes to heating effect.
  • Cost – $15 per square foot, including labor

 

DECOMPOSED GRANITE

Decomposed granite in playground

  • Water – None
  • Biodiversity – “Little biodiversity value, but slightly better than pavement; often home to Argentine ants.”
  • Permeable? – Yes
  • Heating effect – Heating – about the same as gravel
  • Cost – $3.50 per square foot, not including labor. Gets much more pricey when including stabilizer underneath (for pathways).

 

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22 Jan 2017
January 22, 2017 0 Comments By mcserhati Uncategorized , , ,

Why has synthetic turf become so popular ?

Natural Turf grass was the fad for many years dating back to the 1960’s as wealthy suburban homeowners used nursery grown grasses for their lawns and backyard gardens. However, in recent years it’s popularity has declined.  Artificial turf took its place because the reason was simple. The cost of maintenance was sharply reduced. One no longer had to feed the grass with costly fertilizers, pour thousands of gallons of water and constantly cut and maintain the natural grass. Easy maintenance and low cost were the factors responsible for the rise of synthetic turf.

Q: What is synthetic turf?

The latest generation of synthetic turf is a grass-like surface covering that replicates lush natural grass in appearance and function.  When used on athletic fields, it provides a consistent year-round, all-weather playing surface built to withstand extended use without downtime for recovery.  As a landscape cover, synthetic turf provides a low maintenance, weed-free surface that doesn’t need to be watered or fertilized.

Q: How is synthetic turf made?

Most synthetic turf systems installed today include a drainage layer, a multi-layered backing system, and resilient “grass” blades that are infilled with a granular filler to resemble natural turf.  “Infilled” means that the man-made grass blades are interspersed with a top soil created with sand and/or granulated recycled tire rubber or other infill materials that provide the necessary stability, uniformity, and resiliency.  Each blade customarily stands above the infill material.  The typical blade length and system characteristics are determined by the specific activity requirements.  In some applications, the synthetic turf system includes a pad or elastic layer underneath the turf, often in combination with lower pile height and less infill.

Q: Why has synthetic turf become so popular over the past few years?

Synthetic turf is a smart solution for playing fields and landscape that have become unsafe and unsightly from overuse or severe climatic conditions. A grass field simply cannot remain lush and resilient if it is used more than three to four days a week, or in the rain, or during the months when grass doesn’t grow.  This fact, coupled with an escalating need for durable fields that accommodate multiple sports teams and activities, the high cost of maintaining a grass sports field, and the need to conserve water, have prompted a rising number of schools and parks to turn to synthetic turf to meet their program needs.  Today’s synthetic turf is designed to simulate the experience of practicing and playing on the best grass fields.

Demand has grown to the point where more than 6,000 multi-use synthetic turf sports fields are now enjoyed in North American schools, colleges, parks and professional sports stadiums.  About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf and, since 2003, over 70 FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup matches have been played on synthetic turf soccer fields.

Q: How does synthetic turf impact the environment?

Synthetic turf has a measurable, positive impact on the environment. Depending on the region of the country, a typical grass sports field can use between 500,000 to a million gallons of water or more each year. During 2010, between three to six billion gallons of water were conserved through its use.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day. Therefore, a savings of three billion to six billion gallons of water equates to the annual water usage of over 20,000 to 40,000 average American families of four.

Tax credits and rebates are being offered to residential and corporate users by an increasing number of local governments in light of the tremendous impact on water conservation. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced saves 55 gallons of water per year. If an average lawn is 1,800 square feet, then Las Vegas homeowners with synthetic turf could save 99,000 gallons of water each year or about $400 annually. In Atlanta, homeowners could save $715 a year, not including much higher sewer charges.

The estimated amount of synthetic turf currently installed has eliminated the need for nearly a billion pounds of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, which has significant health and environmental implications.  For example, according to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, polluted stormwater runoff is the number one cause of water pollution in their state, with common examples including over fertilizing lawns and excessive pesticide use.

In addition, synthetic turf helps reduce noxious emissions (the EPA reports that a push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars) and reduces grass clippings, which the EPA states are the third largest component of municipal solid waste in landfills.

Q:  Which sports can be played on synthetic turf?

Synthetic turf sports fields for football, soccer, field hockey, baseball, tennis, lacrosse and rugby has traditionally represented the greatest percentage of the synthetic turf market.  However, drought conditions and low water in many areas has prompted irrigation restrictions, which has dramatically increased the demand and regulatory incentives for synthetic grass in landscape and golf applications.

Q:  Can synthetic turf hold up under heavy use?

Yes, one of the important advantages of synthetic turf is its ability to hold up under very heavy use. While natural turf shouldn’t be played on during or immediately after a rain storm, after the application of pesticides and fertilizers, or during the months when grass doesn’t grow, synthetic turf is always ready for play.  Regular maintenance is important to enable synthetic turf to withstand the heavy use that it is often subjected to.

Q:  Is synthetic turf safe?

During the past few years, more than 75 independent, credible research and studies from groups such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and statewide governmental agencies such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency, have validated the safety of synthetic turf (many of which can be found at www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.)  For 40 years, under EPA oversight and OSHA-regulated manufacturing, not one person has ever reported ill effects related to any materials associated with synthetic turf.

Q:  Does synthetic turf fade?

Synthetic turf is U.V. stabilized to provide colorfastness, and the warranty includes a guarantee against fading.

Q. Is synthetic grass pet friendly?
Yes.  Cleaning up after your pets would be the same as natural grass – simply use a rake, scooper, and water to clean.  Always Greener also offers and highly recommends a quarterly or semiannual cleaning and maintenance program that will rejuvenate and increase the life and performance of your lawn.  Call us for more details.

Additional pet related info.

1. No more muddy paws and mess being tracked into your house.
2. No more dead patches of grass.
3. Hygienic. Urine will wash through the artificial grass just like normal grass. Solid waste will need to be scooped up and disposed of. If you are worried about odors and general cleanliness we can recommend our Artificial Grass Disinfectant, it can be attached to your hose.
4. Digging! Gigantic holes in the middle of your lawn are not pleasing to the eye. Dogs usually dig because of odors from within the ground or to bury things. With synthetic grass, the odors are minimized and even if your dog tried to dig, he would soon realize that the backing is too strong for even his paws.
5. Synthetic grass installed with infill is always nontoxic – important when considering your dog or other pets. The artificial grass is generally anti-microbial so microorganisms and bacteria find it difficult to establish themselves. Generally it is a more hygienic environment. The infill also helps the grass look better and last longer.
6. Artificial grass is not attractive to insects – they can’t eat it. In fact, there is no organic matter for them so they move on to the next yard. Ticks and fleas tend to stay away.
7. Properly installed artificial grass will allow rain water to drain away quickly. This helps to ensure that your lawn is always available for your dog or other pets to play on.

Q. Synthetic grass gets hot.  What can be done?

When it is 90+ degrees outside the artificial grass is going to be uncomfortable to sit on/ play on – however if you mist it with water it will stay cool for several hours.  (Its not that the fibers get hot – what happens is sort of like a car with closed windows – inside the car gets much hotter as the UV rays go through the window, heat a surface, convert to heat with a different wavelength and then stay trapped inside the car.  Artificial grass is the same way – the rays hit the backing, convert to heat energy, but get trapped by the thatch/infill – so the top of the fibers don’t really get warm but if you dig your hands/knees into it you will really feel the heat.