Artificial turf is the right answer to a narrow set of problems and the wrong answer to most others. We will tell you which one you have.
It earns its place in deep shade under conifers where grass has been tried twice and failed, on a dog run that no lawn will survive, on a play area taking daily traffic, and on small city yards where storing a mower is a genuine problem.
It is not an upgrade on a healthy lawn, and on a large open area it rarely reads well.
The base is the whole job
Turf laid over unprepared ground in this climate holds water underneath it, and a waterlogged base eventually starts to smell. Everything that matters happens before the turf is unrolled.
- Excavate to a real depth and remove the existing surface entirely.
- Drainage built in, tied into a route out. On a Seattle lot that frequently means connecting to an existing drain line rather than assuming the ground will absorb it.
- Compacted aggregate base in lifts, graded to fall toward the drainage.
- Sharp sand laying course, screeded level.
- Turf laid, seamed and secured, with joins glued rather than taped where it matters.
- Infill brushed in to hold the pile upright and weight the surface.
- Edge restraint, usually timber or a hard edge, so the field cannot creep.
What it is honestly like
Warmer than grass in direct summer sun. Firmer underfoot. It needs brushing to keep the pile standing, rinsing occasionally, and leaves and needles removed before they work into the surface, which on a property under conifers is a real ongoing task rather than an afterthought.
Done properly on the right site it solves a problem that nothing else solves. Done as a shortcut on a site that could grow grass, it is a large amount of money for something that ages.
Often paired with
A turf area usually arrives as part of a wider plan: a patio or path meeting it, a timber border, and planting around the edge so it sits into a garden rather than filling it.
Common questions
When is turf the right answer?
Deep shade where grass will not grow, a dog run, a play area taking constant traffic, or a small city yard where a mower is impractical. It is a specific fix rather than a general upgrade.
Does it drain in this climate?
It does when the base is built for it. The base is the entire job. Turf laid on unprepared ground in Puget Sound will hold water and smell.
Does it get hot?
In direct summer sun it gets noticeably warmer than grass. On most Seattle properties that is a handful of days a year, and it is worth knowing before you commit.
Is it maintenance free?
No. It needs brushing to keep the pile upright, rinsing, and debris removed before it works into the surface. It is much less work than a lawn, not zero work.