Many homeowners may be curious about the history of artificial turf and how it’s evolved. Artificial grass has come a long way since the days when it was called Astroturf. In 1966, the sole purpose of artificial grass was to provide an all-weather surface for sporting events. The name itself came from its use at the Houston Astros baseball stadium. 
However, artificial grass has many applications today, including residential yards and landscaping for commercial spaces and leisure parks. Read on for a brief tour through the history and development of synthetic turf.
As we mentioned above, you can trace the history of turf grass back to the 1960s. Artificial turf was used solely for covering sports fields, when the first installation of fake grass back then was used at the Moses Brown School playing field in Rhode Island.
The short pile synthetic turf was rebranded AstroTurf following its high-profile deployment at the Houston Astros stadium in 1966. Although it became an iconic landmark throughout the sport, AstroTurf’s nylon fibers faced significant challenges, including high surface temperatures.
Success in Houston led to an increased demand for artificial grass playing surfaces. Subsequently, this grew the need to improve fiber technology.
In the 1980s, polyethylene emerged as the leading alternative to vulnerable nylon fibers. Significantly, the emergence of this new development opened other markets, including playgrounds and landscaping projects.
Another critical development in the history of artificial turf was the introduction of sand and rubber as fiber infill materials. Not only did these provide shock absorption and stability, sand, and rubber helped replicate the bounce and behavior a ball experiences on natural grass.
More importantly, they helped reduce the risk of injuries to athletes by providing a more natural-like playing surface.
As such, introducing infill materials proved to be a significant turning point for artificial grass. Increased stability and shock absorption further increased its popularity and demand.
Many new technologies and human-made products face environmental challenges, and artificial grass is no different. One such concern is the source of rubber used for infill.
In response, artificial grass manufacturers looked for sustainable sources. Some of these included rubber from recycled tires and organic infills.
Using recycled tires reduced the need to use new rubber and removed the significant environmental impact of disposing of these tires. Manufacturers continue to refine their production and distribution processes to improve their environmental credentials. As they continue to do this, artificial turf will become increasingly eco-friendly.
In the early days of AstroTurf, playing surfaces suffered from drainage issues, resulting in frequently waterlogged pitches. However, there have been significant technical advances in drainage and water flow management systems since then.
These systems allow the artificial grass to perform more like natural turf. As such, they channel water away from the surface, reducing standing water and avoiding potential damage to fibers during adverse weather conditions.
Throughout the history of artificial turf, consumers needs for various types of turf have been constantly evolving. There will always be some people who still want real grass without all of the maintenance hassles. Some artificial turf manufacturers have started developing hybrid systems to cater to this market.
Such systems can promote the growth of natural grass as they provide stability and aerate the soil to encourage new grass sprouts. Hybrid turf systems are popular with many sports players and athletes as they offer a familiar surface. They can also prove more cost-effective in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
Throughout the history of artificial turf, safety standards have been at the forefront. Advancements in shock absorption, minimizing abrasion, 
and increased stability have made artificial playing surfaces the preferred option for many professional sports and recreational areas.
Artificial grass has come a long way from it’s humble beginnings. The problems experienced in the early days of artificial turf have been eradicated by using infills and harnessing the power of technology. Artificial grass is a perfect choice for a host of sporting and landscaping surfaces today. This versatile surface will continue to provide safe and beautiful places for work, rest, and play as it contimues to evolve.
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