Artificial turf first began re-surfacing the world in the 1960s. It creates a low-maintenance, high-durability lawn that requires little to no water. Before turf specialists and distributors, lawns were only for the wealthy. By creating a carpet-like grass that is easy to manufacture, it opened a way for the masses to enjoy something only the wealthy were able to achieve and maintain. The history of lawn care was completely changed thanks to turf distributors.
A Brief History of Lawns
Lawns as we know it have only been around a few hundred years, since around 1700 when the wealthy began landscaping their lawns to show their wealth with outdoor parties. With the invention of the lawnmower in 1830, the grounds around people’s homes became easier to maintain and animals were no longer required to keep lawns short and easy to manage. The lawnmower was a hefty machine requiring two people to use which prevented many from purchasing them. You can check this link to know more about how this started: https://tedium.co/2015/06/15/lawn-care-history-get-off-my-lawn/. Once a steam-powered motor was added, it made it much easier to mow a lawn, but it was still far from being readily available.
Lawnmowers were not widely available until 1914 when the gas-powered lawnmower was invented. People could not wait to get their hands on these machines and started a craze over lawn care that lasted into the 1930s. By then, it was no longer considered a craze, but a way of American life. Keeping your lawn was just as important as keeping your house. Without a lawn, where would your children play? Sending them out to work the fields was something for farmers and poor people. With a lawn, you were seen as living the American dream.
When Turf Hit the Market
It was in the 1960s that artificial turf began to be mass-marketed. Gone were the days of the lawnmower. The best thing you could do for your lawn was to replace it with a carpet-like material that required little maintenance and freed up your time. Turf spread just as quickly as it could be laid.
During this initial rise in popularity, turf looked and felt like plastic. It was uncomfortable, but still, a status symbol that everyone had to have. Eventually, turf began to fall out of style, being replaced by natural grass once again that required more maintenance and was much less durable.
The Current World of Turf
Today, turf is beginning to make a comeback. As more types of turf came on the market, they began to evolve into something like what we have today. Turf suppliers today can provide a comfortable and natural lawn that is free of weeds and requires very little maintenance. While turf has always been cost-effective, it is also becoming better for the environment.
The U.S. is becoming more conscious of how individuals can affect the entire planet. As we become more aware, we strive to become more eco-friendly. One of the benefits of turf is little need for water. Using less water strains our water supply less. A strained water supply can cause droughts and lead to lower freshwater levels in lakes and rivers which eventually leads to lower populations of fish.
While we strive to become more eco-friendly, turf also allows us to ditch our lawnmowers and the gas to power them. Since it is made of fibers, turf does not grow. With less maintenance, as they found in the 1960s, you have more time free to focus on living your life instead of riding or pushing a lawnmower.
All Thanks to Turf
Turf is constantly evolving, and manufacturers are always looking for ways their products can be improved. When laying turf in a yard, they also lay a special layer on top to settle between the blades to create a more natural feel. It is like dirt or sand but can also be used to create a product that is resistant to bacterial growth, keeps pet odors down, and helps prevent wear to the pad of the turf.
As turf manufacturers look to improve their products, they help create memories for families in safer environments. Children and pets can have a safe place to play and enjoy themselves while adults can rest assured their lawns are durable and easily repairable should they become damaged.
By moving again towards turf, we are deciding to better our environment by wasting less water on the grass and using more for clean drinking water. You can read more about turf maintenance here. Maintenance on your lawn may soon be a thing of the past as we move towards a turf-loving future.
The plastic-feeling lawns of the 1960s have evolved into a much more appealing product today. Finding a turf specialist in your area can have you retiring your lawnmower sooner than you would expect.
