Infill is the material added to synthetic grass that nestles between the turf blades, supporting them and keeping them from laying flat. If artificial grass is allowed to become matted, it can damage the blades and impair the lawn’s drainage. Therefore, your turf should have the right kind of infill to improve its appearance and extend its lifespan. 

Although it’s an oft-forgotten aspect of synthetic grass installation and maintenance, infill is actually a crucial factor in maintaining your lawn’s natural appearance and feel. If you’re considering residential turf installation, it’s important to know why infill is so important and what type of infill material is best for your unique needs.

Ballast

One of the most important functions of infill is providing ballast and helping to keep the turf blades upright. Placing the right amount of infill between your turf blades will help them stay fluffy and full-looking. It also creates bounceback so your blades don’t become flat and matted when they’re stepped on.

Foot traffic will inevitably wear down your turf blades, making them matted and creating wear patterns. Infill helps absorb that impact and wear and helps your turf last longer without looking wilted or damaged. If you don’t add infill to your artificial grass installation — or if you don’t add enough infill — you risk premature wear and tear on your turf grass that will necessitate turf replacement earlier than usual.

Weight

Infill acts as the soil for your artificial grass installation. In addition to absorbing water and providing cushioning underfoot, this also means adding weight to the turf installation so it’s less susceptible to weather damage. 

By weighing down the turf with infill, you can help mitigate distortion from extreme weather patterns. More than just keeping it from blowing away in high winds, infill also helps protect the turf’s backing from freeze-thaw cracking by providing an extra layer of protection. If you notice wrinkles, distortion, or other peculiarities as the year goes on, you may need to top up the infill in your artificial grass installation or consult your synthetic turf installers.

UV Protection

The high-quality synthetic grass products we use are manufactured with UV inhibitors to guarantee colorfastness for years to come, but it’s never a bad idea to add further sun protection where you can. That’s why we use infill products that offer additional UV protection for your artificial grass installation.

Infill helps further protect artificial turf from UV rays by providing an extra layer of protection that prevents the sun’s rays from reaching the turf backing. This helps prevent cracking and other premature damage, which could reduce your turf’s lifespan. Certain infill products such as Envirofill can also help keep lawns cooler and more comfortable in addition to offering effective sun protection.

Types of Infill

Although the above benefits are true of almost all infill products, each type of infill has its own unique features that make it best for particular projects and functional needs. At Grizzly Turf & Pavers, we offer two main types of infill: sand infill and organic material infill.

Sand infill, more specifically silica infill, is one of the most popular and most affordable infill materials on the market. Silica sand infill is created from quartz stones after they’ve been heavily eroded by wind and water into small granules. Silica sand not only helps your turf blades stay upright, but it also resists compaction, leading to improved drainage and preventing puddles from forming on the surface of the lawn.

Infill made with organic materials is another popular choice. One such example is Zeofill, which is made with naturally occurring and organic zeolites. These products are great for family-friendly landscapes that want an infill to neutralize odors while remaining safe for kids and pets. ZeoFill’s non-toxic, biodegradable granules trap and neutralize ammonia-based odors, such as those caused by dog urine, while remaining 100 percent natural, 97 percent pure, and environmentally safe.

If you want a beautiful and long-lasting artificial grass installation for your Orange County home, trust five-star professional turf grass installers who will get the job done right. At Grizzly Turf & Pavers, we not only utilize cutting-edge techniques that guarantee a high quality of work; we also choose industry-leading turf products and infill options that are ideal for your unique landscaping needs. If you’re ready to transform your backyard, call Grizzly Turf & Pavers today at 866-237-8873 or contact us online. We would be happy to work with you to design your dream landscape and provide you with a free quote on your next project.