A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Artificial Grass for Playground

Playgrounds are great places for children to play outdoors, and parents always want their kids to have fun on a safe and clean surface. Whether creating an inviting, cozy, and aesthetically pleasing playground for kids in various settings such as a backyard, kindergarten, school, community, or amusement park, playground turf stands out as a favorable choice.

Check out our comprehensive guide to artificial grass for playgrounds to help you understand the ins and outs of artificial turf and how to choose the best playground turf.

Comparing safety: Natural grass vs. artificial turf playgrounds

In exploring the safety of real grass versus artificial turf for playgrounds, we offer a concise overview of key aspects, including the pros and cons, to assist in making informed decisions for secure and comfortable play areas for kids.

Aspect	Natural Grass	Artificial Turf
Fall protection	Generally softer surface, natural cushioning effect	Superior shock-absorbing properties; high-performance shock pad for optimal safety
Comfortable surface	Uneven or muddy in inclement weather, may pose challenges	Soft and springy surface for barefoot play; flat and even, minimizing tripping hazards
Chemical use	Requires fertilization and pesticides for maintenance	Maintains a vibrant appearance without chemicals
Hygiene and allergies	A common cause of allergies due to pollen, mold, mildew, and dust triggers	Minimizes these allergy triggers, and maintains hygiene through regular cleaning
Surface temperature	Tends to remain cooler	Can absorb and retain heat, but advancements in technology reduce heat buildup
Environmental impact	Requires substantial water, emissions from gas-powered mowers; contributes to oxygen production	No mowing, no watering, no fertilizing; environmental impact mitigated with eco-friendly options

Understanding artificial turf specifications

When you are shopping for playground turf, you’ll find a wide variety of products to choose from, so it’s necessary to learn the terms of the artificial grass industry. By understanding the product specifications and following our suggestions, you’ll feel confident in your ability to opt for the most suitable turf products for the playground and create a unique and beautiful children’s play space.

Playground turf materials

What is synthetic grass made of? At first, fake grass was made from nylon (PA), then polypropylene (PP), and now mainly polyethylene (PE).

Playground turf is usually made of polyethylene. Polyethylene grass is both soft and durable, and behaves most like real grass, making it ideal for playground surfaces.

Thatch layer

The curly, soft thatch layer is the hallmark of premium landscape turf products and is used to increase the realistic appearance of the lawn while providing a comfortable foot feel.

Pile Height of artificial grass for playground

The length of the tufts measured from the primary backing top surface to their tips, is usually measured in millimeters (mm). Typically, the choice of pile height depends on your preference and how you plan to use the lawn.

If you like your lawn surface to look lush and luxury, you’d better choose high-pile (30mm upwards) artificial grass. The ideal pile height for a natural-looking garden should be between 35 and 50 mm.

For areas with frequent usage and high foot traffic, it is best to choose short-pile turf. Playgrounds are subject to heavy, continuous use, so for playground grass, we recommend to select lawn products with piles of 30mm and below.

Gauge

The gauge is the measure of distance between two lines of stitched artificial grass, which plays an important role in the overall look and feel of your artificial turf. Usually using ‘inch’ as the unit, the common gauge includes 3/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 3/16 inch, 5/16 inch, 5/32 inch…

Stitch rate

Stitch rate is the number of stitches per 10cm in the stitch line direction. The gauge of a machine does not change but the stitch rate can. The higher the number of stitches, the denser the grass.

Face weight

The face weight of artificial turf is the weight of the yarn in one square yard of grass. Higher face weight means denser and more durable turf products. Artificial turf for playground with 70 ounces or higher face weight works best.

Turf backing and drainage

The role of the backing is to ensure that the fibers stay where they have been tufted. This means they need to be anchored in place to provide the correct “tuft lock”. CCGrass has different backings to choose from – latex, PU, PRT or RCX. The latter two are recyclable and 100% permeable, whereas latex and PU require drainage holes to be punched through the backing.

For most playgrounds, PU backing is sufficient. Our PRT and RCX backings are more effective drainage systems for areas prone to standing water, helping to create a safer, non-slip surface for kids.

Antibacterial artificial grass for playground

What makes it possible to have artificial grass behavior is an additive that kills bacteria. Our playground grass is designed with Patented Antibacterial Tech and has passed SGS laboratory tests. Build-in antibacterial function inhibits the growth of bacteria and mold on artificial turf, providing long-lasting protection for children. 

Playground turf padding

Playground turf padding is installed in place for shock absorption. Elastic layer pads are necessary for commercial playground turf installations. When it comes to the installation of artificial grass for the backyard playground, it is up to you to decide whether you need a shockpad.

Shockpads are fully permeable and available in multiple thicknesses, adding extra cushioning and a soft feel to the artificial turf surface as well as kids will have a safer children’s play area.

Best artificial grass for playgrounds: a quick overview

Here’s a quick summary highlighting the key features of optimal synthetic grass for play areas:

Best material	Pile height	Face weight	Turf backing	Anti-bacterial	Shockpad
PE monofilament	30mm and below	70 or higher oz/sq.yd	PU backing	Recommended	Recommended

Weigh the pros & cons of fake grass for play areas

While synthetic turf may not be ideal for every playground, let’s consider the pros and cons before deciding to install synthetic grass in your play area.

Pros	Cons
The safest playing surface for kids	More upkeep than poured surfaces
Aesthetically pleasing and versatile	High installation cost
Cleaner play area surpasses natural grass	Heat absorption
Unmatched durability
Low-maintenance

 

Pros of artificial playground turf

The safest playing surface for kids

It is common for children to fall down during playing, but you need not worry at all. Playground turf provides a softer and safer surface than materials such as rubber, tiles, soil and sand. It also absorbs impact better than either. When children fall on the turf surface, they are less likely to suffer abrasions and other injuries.

On top of that, our artificial turf products pass the Health Tests includes REACH, RoHS, DIN, EN71-3, ASTM, etc., which can prove our grass doesn’t contain any harmful components, such as lead, other heavy metals and substances of high concern.

CCGrass hold the HEALTH qualification that our grass product has been tested to more than 200 substances according to the highest industry standards on health and safety.

Aesthetically pleasing and versatile

Our playground turf has the look and feel of natural grass, maintaining the natural beauty of the outdoors in all seasons so that your children can always feel connected to nature.

CCGrass artificial turf for playgrounds is available in a variety of colors to fulfill the diverse needs of different projects, allowing you to creatively design your playground space. You can customize markings to delineate different zones and inspire additional play modes by using multiple artificial grass colors, which also can be used to create patterns or whimsical walkways.

Cleaner play area surpass natural grass

Mud and grass stains are inevitable when playing on real grass, and there are some potential threats. There may be chemical residues such as fertilizers and herbicides on the surface of natural grass, while natural plants themselves may become allergens for some children, let alone common insect bites.

Playgrounds paved with fake grass will be free from all these mud, chemicals, allergens and insects, providing cleaner, healthier play areas for kids.

Unmatched durability

For children’s playground with heavy foot traffic, synthetic grass with unmatched durability is your best choice. Our artificial grass for playground has a life span of up to 10 years and can be used continuously throughout the year yet maintains a good condition.

Specially designed for long-term and outdoor application, our playground turf applies the highest level of UV defense to ensure that the turf won’t fade and damage in the summer heat, while great stability avoids cracking during the winter.

The low-maintenance nature of artificial grass makes it an eco-friendly option

Playground turf is a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative. Synthetic turf uses far less water than natural turf and eliminates the need for chemicals to stay green and healthy. Since mowing is not required, the carbon emissions of lawnmowers are non-existent.

When you choose fake grass for your playground, you will save time and money on maintenance and upkeep. From lawnmowers to fertilizers to the time it takes to maintain the lawn, investing in astroturf for playgrounds makes a lot of economic sense in the long run.

Cons of artificial playground turf

More upkeep than poured surfaces

Maintaining faux turf requires more attention compared to poured-in-place surfaces, especially in dusty areas. Regular cleaning, with tools like a blower, rake, specialized turf brush, and a garden hose, is necessary to remove accumulated dust, sand and leaves from the turf fibers.

High installation cost

The initial investment for artificial lawns, covering materials and labor, can exceed other playground surfaces. This is due to intricate details like creating a flat, crushed stone base for drainage and incorporating shock pad and infill. While offering long-term benefits, budget considerations are essential.

Heat absorption

In hot weather, synthetic playground turf tends to become hotter to touch than real grass, but it remains much cooler than poured or rubber surfaces. A hose rinse offers a quick cooling solution, and in hot regions, self-cooling artificial grass becomes a promising choice for a more comfortable play experience.

Recommendations for the best artificial grass for playgrounds

We offer a number of turf surface options for various commercial and residential playgrounds. Here are some of our recommended products that are popular choices for playground use.

Conclusion on choosing artificial turf for playgrounds

Artificial lawn is the perfect solution if you want to provide your kids with a safe and soft playing surface. This article can help you choose the right turf product for your playground project.

We supply a vibrant range of playground turf to wholesalers, retailers, chains, and other clients globally. Our artificial grass for playground offers the safest, most advanced, and functionally comprehensive surface for play areas. If you have any questions about the product or would like a free sample, please call us at 86 25 6981 1666 or email us at [email protected].