Play areas provide children safe spaces where they can learn and be themselves. These places offer abundant activities and free play opportunities, which can positively impact a child’s development. By playing in playgrounds, kids can improve their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills, enabling them to explore ideas, test their boundaries, build their self-esteem, and learn how to behave.
As playgrounds are beneficial in child development, it is vital to make sure they are safe for use. Aside from checking possible hazards in play equipment, it is also crucial to utilize suitable safety surfacing for the play area.
Over the years, several surfaces or filler materials have been used for playgrounds, including sand, pea gravel, bark mulch, wood fibre, and crumb rubber. Accordingly, the grass is also another preferred surface for play areas. There are two types of grass available for use in playgrounds: natural grass and artificial grass.
Natural grass is the most preferred surfacing material for play areas; however, it is only favoured when in good condition. On the other hand, artificial grass, a synthetic surface that imitates natural grass, is another excellent surface option for playgrounds.
Here are some reasons why it is excellent to use synthetic grass for school playgrounds:
It is low maintenance
In the 1960s, the first artificial grass was used in a sports stadium to the natural grass pitch because its maintenance can be challenging and expensive.
Natural grass needs to be routinely maintained, possibly on a weekly basis. It also requires enough care and an adequate amount of water to prevent it from severely deteriorating, particularly during summer, where it can quickly wither with the sun’s scorching heat. Regular care and maintenance of natural grass are crucial as uneven grass, divots, and soil can cause accidents and injuries. With this, it would be inefficient to use real grass on playgrounds.
In contrast, synthetic grass does not require weekly cutting, trimming, or maintenance to ensure that the landscape is free from slippery mud or soil. Hence, the time and resources necessary for routine care and maintenance of the grass can be saved and allocated to other tasks like upkeeping playground equipment.
It is weather-resistant
Although natural grass can be great for playgrounds, particularly for the visuals of the area, it is not suitable for every type of weather. It can be hazardous after a rain downpour as the grass can spoil and become waterlogged.
Artificial turf can be an excellent safety surface option for playgrounds. It is a weather-resistant grass surface that will always look great whether the weather conditions are hot or cold. In addition, it does not get soaked with water, enabling children to head out and play on it without fear of slipping or getting their feet, socks, and shoes too wet.
It is safe for children
There will be kids running, climbing, jumping, and sliding down playground equipment in play areas. Although these are normal in playgrounds, these activities can also lead to falls, bumps, and scrapes.
By utilizing artificial turf for play areas, children’s safety can be ensured. This is because synthetic turfs are non-abrasive; thus, they can absorb the shock of a fall and reduce the cases of scraped knees and elbows.
Moreover, artificial grass is safe for children to play on as these do not need weed killers, pesticides, and even fertilizers, among many other chemicals used to maintain natural grass. Synthetic turfs do not need chemicals to preserve their green, lush look. Additionally, it does not provide food or a habitable area for pests; therefore, artificial grass does not need pesticides.
It can encourage children to play outdoors
An all-weather safety surface that is safe and soft to walk or run on can encourage kids to head out to their playground, regardless of the weather condition. Children will be assured that they will not get too many bumps and scrapes even if they fall on the surface while playing.
Artificial grass for school playgrounds provides padding that is not easily displaced, protecting children from getting hurt from falls. This is in comparison with other safety surface types. Natural grass can be pretty hard and does not have an impact-absorbing property; meanwhile, mulch and sand easily get displaced when children walk or run on them, and this can be dangerous as the hard ground underneath can be exposed.
It is environmentally friendly
Artificial grass is an eco-friendly safety surface option for play areas. These do not need regular watering and fertilizers to maintain their lush, green look and do not require harsh weed killers and pesticides to eliminate weeds or bugs and other pests. Thus, synthetic grass can reduce water consumption and eliminate the harsh effects of chemicals on the local environment. Fertilizers and pesticides can cause the overgrowth of algae in ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.
Furthermore, synthetic turf does not require mowing as it does not grow tall like natural grass. With this, carbon emissions from mowers or even trimmers can be cut down.
Wrap Up
It can be an excellent investment to utilize synthetic turf in multi-purpose areas for schools. Artificial grass can be used as a safety surface for play areas as well as other landscapes where students usually gather and socialize.
Children can safely play on artificial grass landscapes without fear of getting hurt or bruised from a fall, or exposed to harmful chemicals used in maintaining natural grass. Consequently, schools also gain benefits from using synthetic turf in school areas. Artificial turfs will not need to allocate extra time and money to maintain their landscape as the surfacing material does not require extensive maintenance, unlike natural grass. Also, schools can advocate for the environment with the use of synthetic grass, as they can cut down on carbon emissions and use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
Where to get artificial grass?
For premium synthetic grass solutions, you can always choose Easy Turf. We offer quality life-like turf suited to Australia’s harsh climate conditions and provide quality artificial grass installation for commercial, sporting, and residential landscapes. You can contact us at 1300 475 499 or 1300 475 498. You can also visit our website at www.easyturf.com.au to learn more about our products and services.
Commonly asked Artificial Turf Questions
Why should you go with Easy Turf for your artificial turf?
We are an industry leading supplier and installer of high quality artificial grass in Australia. As industry experts we can give you the best advice for when you are laying your synthetic grass. Installing artificial turf can provide a rewarding experience to your family and household as it frees you from the hassles and expense of owning a traditional lawn.
If you have any questions on artificial grass, we are happy to help answer any of your questions around the installation of your synthetic grass. How to get in contact? Reach us on 1300 475 499 or, at https://www.easyturf.com.au/contact-us.
We have a step by step guide on laying your synthetic grass into simple steps. The guide will run you through:
- Getting ready – your checklist
- Measuring up for synthetic grass
- Choosing the right grass for you
- Preparing the ground for your synthetic grass
- Rolling and pegging out your grass
Expert tips for natural-looking artificial grass
Why you should double check your Artificial Turf measurements
When measuring up for artificial grass installation it’s crucial to know exactly how much artificial turf you are going to need for your project. Just imagine being short a few square metres on your project or you have massively over-ordered your artificial turf. Double check your measurements and also ensure you order slightly more artificial turf than you think in case there is miscalculation or errors.
How do you prepare the ground for synthetic grass?
Preparing the base so that it is rubble-free, smooth and flat is essential to the success of your DIY turf-laying project. Skip a step and you risk unwanted lumps and bumps.
Remove any existing turf and soil including any stones, pebbles and debris. We suggest you dig to around 7.5cm deep.
- To prevent any regrowth from weeds and unwanted plants, place a plastic membrane over the entire cleared area.
- Apply a thin layer of crushed stone over the top of the plastic membrane.
- Use planks of wood to create a new layer over the top of the crushed stone.
- If you are laying your artificial grass over the top of concrete or paving stones, it’s essential to check that it is level. If not, you will need to use a spirit level and create extra height with additional concrete or other materials. You will also need to make sure that there is adequate drainage close by to handle excess rain and water.
- We recommend that you use a foam underlay on the top of the concrete to create a more comfortable feel underfoot. Easy Turf suggests using 5mm of foam underlay on top of concrete and pavers to give some softness.
- Use a compactor where necessary to ensure a level and robust finish to your foundations.
How to roll out and peg your synthetic grass
Once you have the foundations in place, it is time to peg out your turf, a crucial step before you permanently fix it into position. Follow these steps to ensure the best results.
Slowly unroll your synthetic turf over the carefully prepared foundations.
Use your nails and/or pegs and place at even intervals along the turf but about 30-40cm from the edge to hold it in place (the space between the nail and the edge of the grass will be held down by the adhesive tape used in step D).
If you are using artificial grass on concrete, paving stone or hard floor, use industrial-strength synthetic turf glue instead of nails. As before, leave a gap of approximately 30-40cm to the edge of the grass to allow for the use of tape.
Add the next strip of artificial grass and use the same principles, either nailing/pegging or glueing in place and leaving the space to allow for taping.
As you lay the consecutive strips, be careful to ensure that the pile of the grass is running in the same direction (if the fibres are pointing in alternate ways you will have an uneven stripe in your grass). If in doubt, use your hand to feel which way the threads are pointing.
Once you have covered all your area with synthetic turf you are ready for the next step. Use your industrial strength tape to connect adjoining grass strips. Apply tape along the entire length of one piece of grass and then ‘connect’ the section next to it by laying that on top of the remaining tape. Flatten and ensure that it is a tight fit without any gaps or unstuck areas.
What is the purpose of sand on artificial grass?
- The sand helps the ‘roots’ of the synthetic grass to stay upright, regardless of use; this avoids the grass appearing to flatten on high traffic areas.
- As the sand helps the grass to remain upright it does create a variation on the angle that they point which resembles the blades of real grass.
- Sand helps to prevent a flattening of the blades in high traffic areas.
- Using the correct type of sand (only use artificial turf white sand) allows for excellent drainage without washing away the sand or soaking up excess water.
- The sand remains within the turf and doesn’t rub off on clothing or on kids and pets who choose to roll on the grass.
No time for DIY?
We understand that even though you might prefer to install your artificial grass you don’t have the time. We understand if, due to time constraints (or you don’t like DIY), that you’d prefer that the other experts (us) did the job and you get to spend the weekend trying out your new lawn. No worries.
Easy Turf is happy to provide installation and supplier services and take away yet another hassle. As well as supplying samples of our range of artificial grass, we can also provide quotes and have a register of approved installers of our artificial grass in Australia. Select your State and you will see a list of our recommended suppliers and installers.
Contact EasyTurf today and let us help you choose from the best artificial grass in Australia. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service with honest and reliable advice. Contact us for a quote or more information sales@easyturf.com.au
What supplies do you need to lay Artificial turf?
In order to have a hassle free synthetic lawn installation you need to make sure you’ve done the prep work. Here is a handy checklist to make sure you have all the things you need:
- Grass – Choosing the right grass for your yard is important for your enjoyment. We offer a wide range of synthetic grasses that are designed to look & feel just like real grass.
- Pegs and nails to hold down the grass and prevent movement
- Industrial gloves – to protect your hands
- Peel and stick tape – to join synthetic grass together and provide a neat finish
- Industrial strength synthetic grass glue – ideal if you are putting your lawn on top of concrete, pavers or other hard surfaces
- Artificial grass sand and fine rock – for a reliable base and for finishing off the prep
- Foam underlay – if you are using grass on hard surfaces such as concrete and pavers
- Wooden planks – to help flatten the earth
- Compactor (either manual or machine-driven) – to flatten the ground and ensure a professional finish
- Standard tools such as a broom, rake, hammer, spirit level, hose, retractable tape measure, nails, quality retractable or fixed blade knife
How to choose the right synthetic grass for you?
Once you have the correct measurements for your artificial grass, you need to select which type of synthetic grass will be best for your project. Easy Turf has a wide range of fake grass available that is suitable for residential, educational, sports, and commercial applications. We offer free samples and also partner with local wholesalers.
Can I Lay Fake Grass On Dirt
It’s not advisable to lay fake grass on topsoil or any sort of soil. This will leave you with an uneven finish for your freshly installed artificial grass, and also have weeds slowly grow in over time.
For the best results follow our DIY Guide for installing fake grass.
How To Lay Artificial Grass On Sand
Artificial grass cannot be placed only on sand, as you need to use crushed rock to assist with the drainage and ensure that the synthetic grass stays level.
For the best results follow our DIY Guide for installing fake grass.
Why use silicon sand with your artificial grass?
Once you’ve laid your artificial grass you have two options in your next steps. You can either leave the grass as is or add sand to make it appear more natural.
Adding sand to the grass can help it appear more natural as it helps keep the grass upright. To add the proper amount of sand ee recommend that you allow for approximately 10-15kg per sqm for coverage. Using a rake or a broom, sprinkle the sand on top of the grass and walk it in to make sure that it falls deep down into the pile and settles at the base. Then, water the lawn to help the sand settle down within the grass.
