ProDek Article-
Artificial Turf

Artificial Turf- This Is Not Your Father's "AstroTurf"

In today’s ever more challenging economic environment, municipalities, schools (both public and private), and residences are all facing unprecedented budget woes. Only so much fat can be cut before you start cutting both muscle and bone and weaken the entire body. As a result, many agencies are choosing artificial turf to help save image, water, labor and money.

For many of us our first introduction to “fake grass” took place at World’s Fairs and Athletic Stadiums in the late 1960’s. This first generation of green plastic turf was costly, hard to the touch, not especially long-lasting and even more damning, it was just plain ugly!!

The new generation of artificial turf looks and feels much like real grass with added benefits: it requires no water, no mowing , and no chemicals or other potentially damaging elements. Generally in business the optimum goal is a win–win. With artificial turf, users quickly realize a win-win-win-win proposition- an excellent return on their investment.

With California in the clutches of a long-time drought severely affecting water usage, many local governments, including all of Los Angeles County, have imposed mandatory water restrictions. On a recent drive through the San Joaquin Valley Drive I was shocked and dismayed at the number of farms that were laying fallow and barren. The agricultural areas that we count on for fruits and vegetables are literally dying of thirst. We have to rethink our water usage and water conservation. ProTurf (trademarked name for artificial turf from Glendale-based Prodek, Inc.) is an excellent place to begin.

As reported in a recent Orange County Register article, it takes 48 inches of annual rain to maintain one square foot of grass. Unfortunately, Southern California only receives an average of 12-13 inches of rain per year. Doing the basic math leaves us with a monumental liquid deficit. Converting a residential lawn to artificial turf would save the average homeowner 22,000 gallons of water per year. With a typical bath tub holding about 35 gallons, that’s a savings of more than 625 bubble baths per year.

Most cities tally their annual cost to maintain an acre of grass at between $4,500–$9,000 per acre. This includes mowing and edging, ongoing maintenance of irrigation systems, fertilizing, weed and pest control, aeration and renovation. The same cities report that their budget for maintaining an acre of artificial turf shrinks to a paltry 20-30%, or just $900–$2,700 per acre. Just imagine how they could spend that windfall?

Above and beyond the financial savings, artificial turf offers a variety of environmental benefits- artificial turf significantly reduces urban runoff. Irrigation of landscaped areas greatly increases pollution to our eco-system. Chemicals from pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and the like have found their way into our waterways and ground water.

Also, since lawn mowers are not necessary with artificial turf, the gasoline combustion engine exhaust emissions and engine noise are eradicated at each site. It’s time for all of us to be nicer to Mother Nature.

Artificial Turf can be installed over recycled shredded rubber buffing which is derived from recycled tires. This marriage of artificial turf and a resilient buffing base makes artificial turf a perfect solution for playgrounds- normally, grass is not approved as a viable playground surface because of safety considerations. However the ASTM, ADA and CPSC have all evaluated ProTurf and given it their blessings for up to a 12-foot fall height. Another example of a perfect win-win.

Looking forward to an end to these tough economic times, the grass will be greener. And more likely than not, it’ll be artificial turf made from recycled tires.