Many of us Arizonians, from Flagstaff to Sierra Vista and all locations in between, have considered replacing grass lawns with artificial turf. There are lots of reasons to do that. Most of those reasons have to do with savings of:
- Water. It takes less water to maintain a turf lawn than grass.
- Time. You won’t be cutting the grass every week.
- Maintenance. You don’t have to feed that which is not alive.
- Labor. Picking weeds and spraying poisons will be a thing of the past.
We invited Rosie Certified Partner Ray Lopez of Liberty Greens to join us and help us learn more about the world of artificial turf, particularly its applications in the Valley.
Choices
Let’s start by saying that artificial turf is no longer the stiff, short, bristly product you may recall from the past—long past, actually. Understanding that you have choices of different types of turf today is essential to deciding which turf to choose.
Ray tells us the first thing to consider is how you are going to use the artificial turf. There are many different types of turf. The activity level in the space of the synthetic turf and the level of activity will guide you in making the best choice for your application.
- Play area for kids. If you intend to have a turf area for children to play on, a softer blade configuration will be more likely. Also, knowing the intensity of use will help you make a smart selection. Ray says knowing this will help him to help you.
- Pet Area. Are you looking for an area where your pet can play and use it as its outdoor business area? This will play a role in the product used and how it is installed. The substrate, under layer, makes a difference.
- Putting practice green. Those of you who are avid golfers might enjoy an area where we can practice your sport.
- There is little to no physical use. Some homeowners enjoy the appeal of a green lawn with no weeds all year. Whether in the front yard, rear yard, or around a pool, Ray tells us the combination of hardscapes and green turf can be particularly stunning.
Not All Turf Is Created Equal
Here are the things to consider to make the right choice
- The process starts with the yarn. Yarn is the basic turf material used in the blade (as in blades of grass), design, and selection. Ray says this is important. The yarn manufacturing source can be key to product longevity, style, appearance, and wearability. He has found that some international sources are of inferior quality, making some products wear out faster. Some turf brands falsely claim to be made in the US, but the yarn is internationally sourced and assembled in the US. Ray has discovered a source in Dalton, Georgia, USA, where quality yarn and, subsequently, quality products are made. Aspects of blade construction include shape, size, product durability and color. The yarn sourced for the Georgia-based manufacturer checks all the boxes for Ray to use.
- There are several different shades of green and textures to select from. Ray tells us about thatch, which can be included in the turf product. Thatch begins as yellow yarn in differing thicknesses and shapes. When woven into the turf, it adds to the softness and authenticity of the turf look.
- Turf comes in different lengths, and depending upon the application, this matters. 2″ blades tend to be effective for aesthetic applications where traffic over the turf will be light. If used in heavy traffic areas it tends to flatten out.
1,” and 1 ½” long blades are designed for heavier traffic such as playgrounds areas, pet areas and such. Softness characterizes artificial turf these days. You want the area where children play, and people walk barefoot to be soft and not scratchy like turf was 20 years ago. Blade variation in thickness, shape, and length helps make this possible.
Upgrades to Consider
There are a couple of upgrades Ray would like us to consider. They involve heat and odor.
- Cool Blade Technology. Arizona gets hot and so does artificial turf if not done correctly. Standard blade technology can get turf up to 118 degrees (F). That is too hot for kids or pets to play on. When you select areas to put turf, which are a play area or even an area where anyone will walk barefoot, consider cool blade technology. The blades of grass are hollow, which allows for greater ventilation and heat transfer to the air. This technology allows the turf to be cooler and walkable, and it costs more than standard turf.
- Pet Odor Mitigation. The areas where pets do their business accumulate ammonia from urine, which can really put a damper on outdoor living spaces. Envirofill is a product designed to break down ammonia into harmless compounds that don’t smell. It is expensive and Ray recommends placing it only in areas specifically set aside for pets.
Find The Right Contractor
As in all trades, the quality of the product is a direct result of the quality of the contractor. Be sure to:
- Vet the contractor
- Get references and look at his former work
- Ask past customers if they received good customer service and were happy with the results.
- See if you can view past jobs.
- Has the color of the grass faded?
- Are the seams holding and invisible?
- Is the family using it? Why or why not?
It is worth mentioning again that water savings without grass can add up. If your lawn is becoming more of a burden to care for, and you love your green, artificial turf by Liberty Greens might be in your future.
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CONTENT PARTNER | LIBERTY GREENS
Liberty Greens, a family-owned business, installs synthetic grass and putting greens in the Valley for residential and commercial clients. We only use American-made grass, which is safe for pets and children and will look great for at least the next 10 years with very little maintenance. Unlike many other turf companies, Liberty Greens does not cut corners with materials or labor. We provide a fair quote with no hidden fees or surprises. We have low overhead so there is no need for us to inflate our prices to cover expensive marketing and infrastructure costs. We keep our prices low enough to fit the budget of most any customer who is considering synthetic turf and water conservation landscaping.
PODCAST
March 15, 2025
Saving water, no more mowing or maintaining a lawn with time for other things are some of the reasons for installing artificial lawns. Ray and Jacob Lopez of Rosie Certified Liberty Greens discuss the benefits including why you should not consider it a DIY project. This isn’t your grandfather’s artificial turf. They explain the improvements and their installation process of American made turf.
Original Broadcast Archive Page With Expanded Content
PHOTO CREDIT
- Liberty Greens
