Infill is a critical component that significantly impacts the performance, durability, and overall feel of your artificial turf. But what exactly is infill?
Infill is the granular material applied on top of artificial turf after installation. It serves as a ballast, keeping the turf weighted down and level while also maintaining the upright position of the fibers. Additionally, it provides an extra layer of cushioning, enhancing the resilience of the turf backing.
Not only does infill provide stability, but it also aids in proper drainage and helps replicate the natural feel of soil. Let’s dive into the world of infill and explore the different types that can elevate your artificial turf experience.
Choosing the Right Infill
Selecting the right infill for your artificial grass involves considering two important questions:
- Are you using synthetic grass for aesthetics or for play by dogs and children?
- What is the weather like in your area? Dry and arid or humid and rainy?
With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing artificial grass, we at Out of the Park Sports have witnessed the evolution of infill in the industry. While some turf manufacturers claim their product doesn’t require infill, we strongly recommend using it. Infill is an essential component of the artificial grass system, providing support, cushioning, and longevity. Without it, the lifespan of your turf could be significantly compromised.
Tips and Best Practices
Here, we’ll explore various artificial turf infill options and provide some recommended applications. These suggestions and best practices have been honed through our extensive collaboration with turf installers and landscapers nationwide. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to infill selection, as preferences and needs vary. Ultimately, the type of infill you choose is just one aspect of the equation—proper maintenance is equally crucial to extending your turf’s lifespan.
Best Practices for Long-Lasting Turf:
- Regular Clean-Up: Timely removal of leaves, debris, and pet feces is crucial to maintaining the integrity and appearance of your turf.
- Periodic Rinsing: Use a hose to rinse your yard at least once a week if rainfall is scarce. This simple step helps keep your turf fresh and vibrant.
- Fiber Grooming: Consider power brooming the fibers once a year to maintain an upright position, giving your artificial grass a natural and appealing look.
- Infill Maintenance: Topping off the infill annually ensures that your turf continues to provide the desired stability, resilience, and overall performance.
Artificial grass is not completely maintenance-free, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. By switching to a synthetic lawn, you could save hundreds of hours of maintenance work per year, which should play a large factor when calculating artificial grass cost.
Exploring Infill Options for Your Needs
Silica Sand
One of the most popular and affordable infill options, silica sand consists of tiny granules of quartz that have been broken down over time by water and wind. It provides stability to the turf, keeps it upright, and supports proper drainage. However, it does not have any cushioning properties, so additional infill may be needed for a softer feel.
The silica sand normally used on landscape artificial turf lawns is #20 Clean Silica Sand. The #30 Silica Sand has slightly smaller granules, recommended mainly for sand-filled putting greens. Silica sand is great for front and back yards that are not used by pets.
Wonderfill
If you have a dog, you will want to use an anti-microbial infill for your pet turf. Wonderfill is a premium round sand with a high-quality anti-microbial coating added during the manufacturing process. This coating makes it much harder for the growth of bacteria and microbes that cause stains, odors, and product deterioration.
In addition, Wonderfill is green, unlike the tan color of plain silica sand. Many homeowners prefer this option because it blends better with synthetic turf. Wonderfill is also great for backyard putting greens. We use it to top the white silica sand infill on the putting surface for a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Zeofill
Zeofill is another infill we recommend for pet owners, specifically in areas with above-average rainfall. This product has a ‘honeycomb’ shape at the molecular level, allowing it to “pull” urine-smelling gases in and capture them. This greatly reduces the pet urine smell.
Once these gases are trapped, they are not released until the sodium in rainwater interacts with the infill. Only then do these gases release and drain directly through the backing of the turf and into the ground with the rainwater.
Greenplay
Greenplay’s corkonut infill is a key piece of the Out of the Park Cool turf system. This all-natural product consists of a proprietary blend of cork and coconut fibers. This blend provides a low bulk density, meaning it will not get as hot as other infill options that have a high bulk density (sand, silica, rubber).
This infill also recreates the evaporative cycle of a natural lawn, creating an active cooling effect on the turf. This effect allows the turf to remain within 30 degrees of natural grass even on the hottest days in direct sunlight. We highly recommend this product for families with children, playgrounds, or athletic fields, specifically in areas with humidity or average rainfall. With its cooling factors and increased shock absorption, Greenplay infill is the best option for play.
Crumb Rubber
Crumb rubber is not typically used for residential landscape applications. It’s most commonly used for sports fields and playgrounds because of its excellent shock absorption properties, offering a safer surface. This infill type provides cushioning, making the turf more comfortable to walk and play on. However, there are many other infill options for athletic fields nowadays that provide even better safety to players.
Summary
Choosing the right infill for your artificial turf depends on your specific needs and preferences, including factors such as usage, climate, environmental considerations, and desired feel. Consulting with a turf professional can help guide you in making an informed decision that will optimize the performance and longevity of your artificial turf.
Explore the various infill options and transform your artificial turf into the perfect landscape for your needs. We are here to help! Contact us today for a free estimate.
