Last Updated on September 21, 2022 by ReTurf
Like Kleenex, Band-Aid, and Q-tip, AstroTurf is a brand name that has often been used in place of the actual name of its product. Think “Hoover” for vacuum cleaner or “Xerox” for photocopying.
In the same way, people who are unfamiliar with artificial grass often use “Astro Turf” to refer to any type of synthetic grass, regardless of the manufacturer.
That’s because AstroTurf was one of the first companies to produce a type of artificial grass, back in the 1960s. The original, plastic, “space age” product was actually invented by James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright at Monsanto. It quickly became so ubiquitous that—even today—some people still incorrectly refer to all synthetic grass as “astro turf,” regardless of the manufacturer.
So All Artificial Grass Isn’t “Astro Turf”?
One way to put it is that AstroTurf is artificial grass… but all artificial grass isn’t AstroTurf.
In other words, AstroTurf is simply a brand of artificial grass—just like there are different brands of cars, TVs, and smartphones. Today, there are many different manufacturers of new artificial grass, and AstroTurf is just one of them.
When people who are unfamiliar with today’s artificial turf hear someone refer to “astro turf,” they’re usually visualizing the plasticky, bristly green surfaces of decades past—think indoor putting greens in the 1970s, or the green carpet in the now-demolished Astrodome. (Which is actually where the name “AstroTurf” came from, following a rebranding after the product was installed in the stadium in 1966.)
This early generation of AstroTurf was very different from the types of artificial turf that are available for installation in homes and businesses today. It’s often still associated in peoples’ minds with a hard, plastic, bristly feel—not something you’d necessarily want to walk on with bare feet, let alone something that you’d want to install around your house!
Today’s artificial grass products are much more realistic, and can be used for everything from small residential yards, to full lawns and landscaping for sprawling estates, to commercial spaces, to sports fields. For one thing, earlier generations of fake grass were short-pile, meaning that the individual grass blades were all the same length. This is part of what gave the fake grass of the old days its telltale “plastic” look.
Nowadays, among advances in manufacturing and materials, artificial turf is made with a longer pile, which makes it look and feel light years more like natural grass. The individual blades of grass are different lengths, just like they are in a real lawn.
Newer generations of artificial grass look and feel much more like the real thing, and professional-grade artificial turf is made from extremely soft-but-durable materials that make it hard to distinguish from the real thing. So while AstroTurf may have been the first name in “fake grass,” it’s certainly not the only name in town anymore.
New and Used Artificial Turf for Sale
If you’re considering artificial turf for your home, business, or sports field, do your research and explore your options. If you think of synthetic grass as still being the original “astro turf” of the old days, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised at how natural today’s artificial turf can look and feel—and how inexpensive of an option used artificial turf can be.
Can You Buy Used Astro Turf?
Since Astro Turf is still a manufacturer of fake grass, it may be possible to find used astro turf for sale. Since the 2000s, Astro Turf has marketed higher-pile turf systems that use infill like other turf manufacturers. Buying used turf can be a great way to get high-quality artificial turf at a fraction of the price of new turf.
And don’t forget to research installation—even if you plan to order the materials and DIY your installation, seeking guidance from experienced, professional artificial turf installers will make all the difference in how your artificial turf looks, feels, and performs.
So don’t let the image of early-generation fake grass deter you from exploring the option of artificial turf for your home or business—today’s artificial turf products are nothing like the “astro turf” of decades past.
Do your research, explore your options, and you may be surprised at how realistic (and affordable!) used artificial turf can be. Working with a reputable artificial turf installer will save you time, save you money, and alleviate some headaches. When you’re ready, contact ReTURF—we’re ready to answer your questions and assist you with your project planning needs.
