After gaining notoriety in sporting arenas around the world, artificial turf has made its way into backyards across the country. This synthetic system of short pile fibers imitates its organic grass counterpart and provides an array of benefits to homeowners. Reduced maintenance, lowered water bills, and exceptional aesthetics are a few of the reasons many have made the switch to synthetic lawns. However, there are setbacks to this system, especially in the summertime.
As temperatures climb into the triple digits, artificial turf can turn somewhat treacherous. Unlike the real McCoy, which retains water to keep it cool, synthetic grass retains heat. This makes it up to 30 degrees hotter than real grass. Especially in record summer highs, artificial turf can blister skin, cause dehydration and heat exhaustion, and even melt shoes.
Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to prevent the perils of overheated artificial turf. Therefore, we talked with two of Texas’s top turf experts to get some straightforward advice on protecting your lawn this summer.
As Simple as Shade
One of the best ways to prevent overheated turf is by keeping it out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Of course, there are ways to go about this that can also complement your lawn.
Richard Anspacher, Owner of Texas Turf Design, recommends a few approaches to this solution.
“Shade is really important for any type of lawn,” said Richard. “But it can be especially helpful with turf. Good tree coverage is one way to easily cool down any environment. However, plants and other ornamentation can also help decrease sun exposure, especially in the backyard.”
High-Tech Turf Solutions
As turf technology advances, many manufacturers are looking to solve heat-related issues. In fact, there are a couple of products on the market you can find that will actually help to keep turf cooler.
Dustin Medlyn, Operations Manager with ForeverLawn Texas, says one of his favorite solutions is a new cooling infill. Turf infill is typically a sand or rubber substance poured over turf to weigh it down without the need for excessive stakes.
“T°Cool Infill is a cooling infill that will assist in keeping turf cool on hotter days,” said Dustin. “It works with a range of products so the compatibility also makes it a bit of an easier, universal solution.”
Some newer manufacturers are even designing the blades of turf so that they reflect UV rays to keep the ground cooler.
Richard with Texas Turf Design has tested a couple of these products.
“We’ve found that these turf types can be up to about ten degrees cooler,” said Richard. “They can also prevent fading or color bleeding caused by excessive sun.”
Tenecate currently offers one of the more popular products of this type with their TigerCool technology.
When it Comes to Artificial Turf, Water is Key
Both of our turf experts agreed the best way to keep your turf cool in the summer is by simply adding water.
“My best suggestion for cooling it down is spraying or using your sprinkler system two to three times a day for up to 10 minutes,” said Dustin. “Also, if you have little ones or pets, you can spray the turf down before they go to play.”
“Just a quick rinse off with water will drastically cool any turf type,” said Richard. “This is really the most intuitive and easy way to cool your lawn down. It doesn’t have to be a ton of watering either. Just rinse it down for a few minutes before you go outside and it’s going to be much more comfortable.”
