What is Artificial Grass Infill?

 Today’s artificial grass has come a long way the last 50 years. Vibrant, durable, and having the appearance of natural grass – and in some cases, its texture – synthetic turf is manufactured, so the individual blades stand up on their own. The fake grass has a backing which makes the blades stronger, but they will still crumble when you walk on it, or when a soccer ball is rolled on it, or when your dog decides to roll over it. As a result, you will need an “infill” product to be installed on top of the fake grass to make it stronger and help the blades maintain their rigidity. The two main types of infill are silica sand or a rubber-sand mixture.

1. Silica sand. Inexpensive and found at many home improvement centers, it is a good choice for areas where artificial grass has been installed, and experiences moderate traffic or usage, like balconies, hills, commercial or open, non-use fields, or even decks. Many landscape professionals recommend one or two pounds of silica per square foot or fake turf. One drawback to consider: Silica sand is known to retain pet odors, especially urine.
2. Rubber or a rubber sand mixture is an even better choice. It is more expensive than sand but requires less per square foot of artificial grass – a 50-pound bag will be enough for 100 to 200 square feet. This type of infill is good in higher traffic zones: Playgrounds, lawns, athletic fields, and commercial applications.

In either case, the infill product you choose can be spread evenly on the fake turf with a plastic rake or soft-bristle broom.