When we think about a high-energy soccer match, a dramatic game of lacrosse, or a fast-paced high school football showdown, we picture a perfectly green, resilient playing field — a field that lets players perform their best while keeping them safe. Often, that perfect field isn’t made of artificial turf; it’s made of certified turfgrass. So, why do professional stadiums choose this option — and why should you?
Making the Smart, Sustainable, Safe, and Durable Connection
Schools, universities, and municipalities frequently face a tough decision: Should we invest in a grass field or an artificial turf surface?
Some say that artificial turf lets you maximize usage hours. Some appreciate its low maintenance. Some view it as a “premium” option.
But these choices aren’t nearly as simple as they seem. The decision comes down to understanding the true costs — financial, health-related, and environmental — and the long-term benefits of choosing healthy, resilient, organically maintained grass instead.
The Toxics Use Reduction Connection
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell — supported by the Heinz Endowments — has studied the best practices for creating and maintaining cost-effective fields.
These fields enable greater hours of play while honoring human health and preserving our environment.
Artificial Turf: The Rising Concerns
Installing artificial turf typically involves adding a multilayer composite made from rubber, sand, and other materials. This approach might seem convenient — until we account for its true impact.
- Environmental Impact: Artificial turf typically lasts for 8–10 years. After that, much of it ends up in landfills or is incinerated, adding to growing waste problems. Some components can be recycled, but many cannot.
- Wildlife and Water Concerns: Replacing green space with synthetic turf destroys wildlife habitats and contributes to microplastic pollution. Rainwater washing through the rubber or sand infill can carry heavy metals, microplastics, and other toxic compounds into nearby streams, lakes, and groundwater.
- Release of Chemicals: Artificial turf contains numerous chemicals, many of which raise health and environmental flags. This includes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, and other toxic components that can contaminate soil, water, and air.
Health Concerns for Players — especially Children
One key concern with artificial turf is its potential health effects — especially for children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable. The materials used in many turf fields can release:
- Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and VOCs, which are suspected or recognized as hazardous.
- Lead and heavy metals, which can contribute to health disorders.
Some infill materials — made from recycled rubber — can exacerbate these problems.
While alternative materials exist, many raise their own health worries, ranging from allergy-provoking particles to the danger of mesothelioma, a form of cancer related to zeolite exposure.
Rising Heat Levels — An Often-Overlooked Concern
One of the most alarming and often-overlooked issues with artificial turf is its ability to retain and radiate enormous amounts of heat. The Penn State Center for Sports Surface Research found that:
✅ Artificial turf reaches much higher temperatures than grass — sometimes up to 60°F higher.
✅ This excess surface heat can cause heat-related injuries and skin burns in players.
Some schools, recognizing these dangers, prohibit the use of their artificial fields when the temperature reaches hazardous levels — requiring their athletes to move back to grass fields instead.
Turf Burns — An Injury and Infection Concern
Studies by health organizations, including the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, show an alarming increase in skin abrasions — or turf burns — when players slide or collide on artificial turf.
These abrasions can become breeding grounds for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), adding a significant health risk for athletes.
The Advantages of Naturally Managed Grass Fields
While many organizations consider artificial turf a convenient solution, naturally managed grass fields can provide similar or even greater performance while preserving health and reducing financial and environmental burdens.
- Cost-effective: Properly maintained grass fields are less expensive in the long run and do not require disposal after a few years.
- Safe for players: Grasses produce less abrasiveness and retain less surface heat, reducing the likelihood of injuries.
- Environmentally friendly: Grasses contribute to soil health, aid in carbon capture, aid water infiltration, and foster healthy microbial activity — all while avoiding the waste problems associated with disposal of synthetic materials.
The Power of Proper Maintenance and Soil Care
Sometimes a community’s grass field simply struggles due to poor soil conditions or a lack of proper care.
The solution is often not a complete rebuild — but a well-informed rehabilitation. This process starts with:
✅ Soil testing: Analyzing physical, chemical, and biological soil properties.
✅ Targeted care: Implementing tailored practices, adding fertilizer or soil amendments, and addressing weeds or poor draining.
✅ Controlled irrigation: Providing sufficient water without overwatering — conserving resources while strengthening root growth.
This approach lets you maximize your current resources and bring back healthy, resilient grass without needing a dramatic, disruptive rebuild.
Rebuilding when Needed
If your field cannot be salvaged due to poor soil structure, extensive weeds, or poor irrigation, rebuilding lets you start from a clean canvas — designing a field with proper soil depth, a well-engineered irrigation and draining system, and a resilient blend of grass varieties. The result is a playing surface made to perform under pressure, safely and efficiently.
All-Weather Use without Compromise
While many appreciate the all-weather ability of artificial turf — especially its resistance to rain — it’s a misconception that grass cannot be used in wet conditions.
Proper soil structure and careful maintenance enable well-designed grass fields to drain efficiently and remain playable under heavy rain.
Safe, Durable, and Aesthetically Pleasing Surface for All Sports
When you invest in a naturally maintained grass field, you’re choosing:
- Safety: A surface less prone to abrasions and injuries.
- Durability: A resilient turf that can handle heavy use.
- Beauty: An iconic, rich green color that invites players and spectators alike.
Types of Artificial Turf (and Why We Stick to Grass)
While there are many varieties of artificial turf — monofilament, texturized, fibrillated, or a combination — none can match the health, environmental, or financial benefits that a well-managed grass field can provide.
- Monofilament: Durable but stiff — not ideal for softness or shock absorption.
- Texturized: Short and dense — great for golf, less for high-energy team sports.
- Fibrillated: Durable, flat — less realistic, less resilient.
- Combination: Combining different fiber types to maximize resiliency — a sophisticated solution, but still a poor substitute for nature’s own grass.
Final Takeaway: Why Should You Choose Certified Turfgrass?
If you care about:
✅ The health and safety of your players — especially children
✅ The long-term financial health of your community’s budget
✅ The well-being of your soil, water, air, and wildlife
✅ Providing a resilient, high-performance playing surface
✅ Making a responsible, sustainable choice…
…the answer is clear. Certified turfgrass is the best option for your field.
Turn to a team of experts who specialize in growing, maintaining, and restoring natural grass fields.
The result will be a space where children can grow, athletes can perform, and communities can gather safely — today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Choose The Turfgrass Group for Turfgrass Varieties That Combine Pedigree, Innovation, and Reliable Performance.
We’ve carefully cultivated a portfolio of the finest “value-added” varieties, each backed by extensive breeding, rigorous testing, and a history of delivering outstanding results.
Our strong collaborations with private innovators and leading university breeding programs enable us to provide you with turfgrass that’s truly a cut above — perfect for golf courses, sports fields, residential lawns, and high-profile landscape projects alike.
Get In Touch With Us Today!
For homeowners who wish to learn more about our varieties or find a grower near them, click below.
To become a licensed, certified grower of The Turfgrass Group varieties, click below.
FAQs
What is certified turfgrass?
Certified turfgrass refers to grass varieties that are grown under rigorous standards and care to produce healthy, resilient, and pure grass for sports fields. It’s cultivated under careful oversight by turfgrass experts, ensuring it’s free from weeds, pests, or disease, and maintains desirable traits, like strong root structures, texture, color, and resistance to heavy use.
Why do professional stadiums prefer certified turfgrass?
Professional stadiums need a surface that’s resilient, durable, safe for players, and visually spotless — that’s exactly what certified turfgrass delivers. It can handle heavy usage, aid in reducing injuries, provide a consistent ball roll, and outperform many other surface options, all while looking beautiful under pressure. This is why you see major leagues choosing it time and again.
Is certified turfgrass really a cost-effective option?
Yes! While there might be a greater up‑front investment than choosing a lower grade grass or artificial turf, the long-term cost benefits are significant. Certified turfgrass reduces maintenance, repairs, irrigation, fertilizer usage, and the need for eventual disposal — making it a much more sustainable and cost-effective choice for your field in the long run.
How is certified turfgrass better for the environment?
Certified turfgrass naturally improves soil health, helps filter rainwater, reduces carbon dioxide, produces oxygen, and assists in reducing the effects of climate change by retaining green space. Furthermore, choosing a natural grass surface avoids adding microplastics, heavy metals, and other chemicals to the environment — a growing concern with many artificial turf fields.
Are there health concerns related to artificial turf?
Yes. Artificial turf, especially when filled with recycled rubber or other materials, may release hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics into the air, soil, and water. This can pose health risks to children, athletes, and even nearby wildlife. Naturally maintained grass avoids these health risks, offering a much safer option for players and the community.
What are some alternative materials used in artificial turf?
Some alternative materials for artificial turf infill include sand, cork, olive pits, or zeolites. While these may be less hazardous than recycled rubber, many remain less studied for their health effects. Additionally, many can raise their own issues, ranging from allergy risks to respiratory problems, further emphasizing the growing appeal of choosing a well-managed grass field instead.
How can a community improve its grass field instead of replacing it?
Often, rehabilitation is a viable way to bring a grass field up to standard. This involves soil testing, adding nutrients, aerating, overseeding, and addressing poor irrigation or compaction problems. This approach lets you reuse your existing field while reducing waste, conserving resources, and retaining a natural green space for community use.