An Introduction to Artificial Turf

Please read my informative article on artificial grass - Jack

The History of Astroturf

James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright of Monsanto Industries co-invented Astroturf in 1965.

1950s: The Ford Foundation studied ways to improve the physical fitness of young people. They observed that rural folks were more active and fit than urban folks were.

Late 1950s: The Chemstrand Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto Industries was developing new synthetic fibers for use in carpeting. Monsanto was encouraging the use of carpets in schools in conjunction with the Ford Foundation's Educational Facilities Laboratory, headed by Dr. Harold Gores. Dr. Gores suggested that Chemstrand develop the perfect urban playing surface, Gores knew about both the Chemstrand synthetic fiber research and the Ford fitness studies.

1962 - 1966: The Creative Products Group, part of Chemstrand's research organization worked on creating the new playing surface. The surface was tested for foot traction and cushioning, weather drainage, flammability and wear resistance.

1964: The Creative Products Group installs a synthetic turf called Chemgrass at the Moses Brown School in Providence Rhode Island. This was the first large-scale installation of a synthetic turf.

1965: Judge Roy Hofheinz builds the AstroDome in Houston, Texas. Hofheinz consults Monsanto about replacing the natural grass with a new synthetic playing surface. At first, the Astrodome had real grass. The first Astros game, an exhibition with the New York Yankees, demonstrated that the semitransparent cream-colored panels in the roof made fly balls too difficult to see. So, the ceiling tiles were painted, but the grass died. This led to the installation of plastic grass known as Astroturf.

1966: The Houston Astros' baseball season begins on a Chemgrass surface now renamed Astroturf at the AstroDome.

Fall 1966: The Houston Oilers' AFL football season begins on more than 125,000 square feet of removable Astroturf (AstroDome).

1967: Indiana State University Stadium, in Terre Haute, Indiana becomes the first outdoor stadium installed with Astroturf.

1967: Astroturf patented

1986: Astroturf Industries, Inc. formed.

2005: AstroTurf is almost out of business because of a new competitor called Fieldturf. All of the Canadian Football League (CFL) has switched to it (Except Edmonton which plays on real grass) and most of the NFL has switched to it. Many US colleges are now looking to switch. There is even talk of some golf courses in Canada using it due to the shorter growing season for grass in some of our northern cities.

Free Estimate on Artificial Grass for Your Lawn

We are offering a free estimate on artificial turf for your home or business. Our representative will educate you on the basics of artificial turf, on issues like face weight, stitch rates, nylon thatch percentages, and backings. And they will bring samples and pictures, so you can get an idea of how natural synthetic grass could feel and look on your lawn.

We currently service the Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.

Click here to complete the request form and one of our representatives will contact you to schedule a time for a no-cost, no-obligation design consultation at your home. You can also contact us directly at 818-244-4000.