Mow, Grow and Fight Gophers, or Synthetic Turf?
Everyone loves the smell and feel of a fresh healthy lawn but not necessarily the maintenance hassle or water consumption …which is why synthetic turf has become so popular.
A few benefits of synthetic turf:
- Aesthetics – Synthetic turf looks great if you pick a good brand
- Environmental Benefits – Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are no longer going into the soil or to the ocean via your drainage
- Conservation – Significantly reduces water usage
- Allergy Control – Minimizes weeds & spores that cause allergies
- Cost Savings – Lowers water costs and maintenance bills
- Drainage-Provides beneficial drainage ideal for pet messes and the rainy season
Where I started my research:
First, I spoke with my neighbors who put in artificial turf that looks great. Then I progressed to laying down and wiggling my toes on public areas with artificial grass. I checked out the grass at the plaza by Hotel California on State Street. I really thought it was natural grass, until I looked closer. Then I biked out to UCSB and found it installed throughout the campus (check it out at the faculty club event area). Next, I interviewed several installers who took me to private homes (where the product had been installed for at least the last five years).
There are more brands of artificial turf available than you can imagine. My research led me to Aqua-Flo in Goleta, who carries Super Natural-80 by Global Syn-Turf (GST) which I ultimately selected. It has a touch of brown to make it look more natural and it feels great. It is nice to buy from Aqua-Flo and support a locally owned, family business (over 50 years). They also provided me with a list of their client recommended installers.
When I asked about synthetic sod sales, Tim Laber, head of marketing for Aqua-Flo (and grandson of Ken Fay, who founded Aqua-Flo with his brother, Harold Fay), told me that sod sales have been steadily increasing since they first started stocking it 10 years ago. Tim stressed that “there are some really bad synthetic sod products being manufactured, so it’s best to purchase from a trusted source”. Their firm is conservation minded, so seeing more clients use synthetic turf makes them very happy.
A little bit about Super Natural-80:
What is unique about Super Natural-80 is that it is a four-color multi-bladed synthetic turf, which makes it one of the most realistic looking grass turfs on the market today and it comes with a 15 year warranty. The beige, emerald, field green and lime blades, work together to create a natural looking lawn. It is made from fiber that acts like memory foam, so it is able to resist foot traffic, intense weather and extreme temperatures, since it can bend and easily return to its original shape. In addition, it is designed to repel heat to keep your yard cooler and feels nice on your feet!
Installation:
As far as installation and placement goes, Tim’s opinion is “synthetic sod looks the most natural and functions best when it’s installed as part of a drought tolerant, native, or low-maintenance landscape.” On tours of the private homes, I noticed that it looks better to have a few ragged edges like real grass with no bender boards. He also said that most of the installation work is “in preparing the base and getting the area ready for the sod, but it doesn’t require a lot of expertise.” Although easy to install, he did say that installers who specialize in synthetic turf are “typically better at hiding large seams and are capable of doing more technical installations like high-performance putting greens or installations that require cutting around flagstone”.
If you are interested in seeing some of the local projects that Aqua-Flo has supplied recently, visit Brass Bear (28 Anacapa) and The Lark (131 Anacapa) in the Funk Zone. A special thanks to Tim Laber for his help with this article.
Happy turf shopping!
Trudi
