FEATURE
A double-edged sward Whether you’re laying natural or artificial turf, guide clients on how best to maintain their investment. Each option has pitfalls for the unwary, Greg Rhodes discovers
Green lawns supplied by natural turf supplier Inturf Passing a petrol forecourt recently, I spotted a strip of synthetic turf running along the frontage with the pavement. What a sorry site it was - flattened, dirty and looking distinctly moth-eaten. That first impression did little to enhance the public image of synthetic grass, or the fuel retailer, merely serving to stress the importance of regular upkeep to the appearance and presentation of the product. A front garden near home has every bit of green synthetic. Newly laid, the lawn looks clean, trim and well-upholstered. Round the corner, a tiny triangle of synthetic grass graces a sloping border below a front bay window. Why? Is my first thought – when the turf takes up probably no more than a few square metres of space. Even nearer home, my next-door-but-one neighbours brought in contractors last year to dig up their back garden grass to replace it with synthetic lawn. They are a full-time working family with an energetic young son and daughter. Soon after, the family had to recall the contractors to correct a reportedly faulty installation. Each example illustrates important factors about synthetic turf – know what you’re doing before attempting to install it, maintain it regularly and consider site conditions carefully before selecting it.
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They also confirm another reality - that non-sport applications for synthetic turf are rising, a fact borne out by Colin Corline, Project Manager for sector body SAPCA (the Sports and Play Construction Association) whose members include synthetic turf suppliers and installers. “We are witnessing an upswing in landscape installations,” he says, “with some members opening landscape-specific sales teams to handle inquiries." In sport of course, the story of synthetic turf is a continually evolving one, recently impacted by mounting fears over the damage that microplastic particles can wreak on ecosystems, particularly marine ones. It’s become a big talking point in the last couple of years. Afterall, on a full-size pitch, you’re talking about replacing some 7,000 m2 of natural turf with a synthetic surface but the socioeconomic benefits can be major. Operators can expect to get around four hours a day sporting use on a real pitch, compared with eight to ten hours a day with a synthetic one. Hybrid pitches, blending natural and artificial grass offer an appropriate surface for football and rugby and they are also ncreasingly specified for golf greens.
