When it comes to kids, we always want what is best for them. There are only a few who would not do everything they can to make sure their kids are safe.

The great outdoors is one of the things Australia is famous for. Moreover, it really is a great country to grow up in. We are lucky that children in Western Australia can play outside all year round, but we also have to be careful to ensure that our kids are protected – whether it is topping up regularly with sunscreen, making sure they wear a hat on sunny day, or they have suitable play equipment and safe playing surfaces under foot.

We’ve already blogged about the benefits of synthetic grass for kids’ play areas – and there are many of them! First and foremost is the fact that Australian-made synthetic grasses are non-toxic, so there is complete peace of mind whether it is the children or your pets playing on them. Of course, durability and maintenance factors are also important in keeping a safe play area for kids, but there is also the matter of impact that sometimes is overlooked.

Anyone who has spent that much time with kids or toddlers will know that they rarely want to sit still for long. Many youngsters are adventurous when it comes to playing. For most kids, the next tumble or fall is just around the corner. (Herein lays a perfect reason why concrete schoolyards are being replaced across Western Australia and in many other parts of the developed world.) We all know that hard surfaces are unforgiving when you fall and that’s why we recommend installing under-surface shock pads with many of our synthetic grass play surfaces.

Of course, a professionally installed synthetic grass surface provides reasonable cushioning compared to other underfoot options, but shock pads really make a serious difference.

The new Corimbia Estate in Perth’s northern suburbs is one of our recent installations that have used Schmitz sports impact mats underneath the synthetic grass. Green Planet Grass has installed many Multi-play synthetic grass surfaces for schools and childcare centres, but the Corimbia Estate is our first public open space.

The use of these impact mats means that shock absorbing qualities reduces the likelihood of children being hurt or injured when they are at play. Moreover, the design of the mats means they also allow drainage. So even in contoured, dynamic environment, kids are able to enjoy their playtime as much as they want, with less chances of finishing their playtime with a hard bump, a few drops of tears or worse.

The Schmitz impact mats used by Green Planet Grass have been in use across the world for more than ten years with a variety of purposes. Like the synthetic grass itself, the mats are manufactured to the highest quality standards, which are not affected adversely by the weather or other environmental factors.

As parents ourselves, child safety remains paramount for Green Planet Grass.

We often talk about synthetic turf as being a viable alternative to natural grass because of the climate in Western Australia. But when it comes to sports, even in countries where the climate is well-suited to growing lush, green grass – the use of synthetic turf is becoming more and more common.

Two major reasons for the switch to synthetic grass in sports are durability and maintenance – regardless of the climate.

Ask the groundsman at your local sports venue how to keep a top quality sports turf in premium condition and chances are you will not get a short answer. Whether it is soccer, tennis, cricket, bowls, golf or countless other sports that depend on a decent surface, the amount of work that goes into maintaining the turf is considerable.

Natural grass turf usually needs to have ongoing maintenance on a near daily basis to ensure that it is playable week in, week out. On top of that, most grounds keepers have to undertake seasonal work to prevent deterioration. It is a real science to know how to look after the turf – using the correct amount of fertilisers, water and infill as well as knowing the right times to mow and carry out countless other tasks – which most of us would not even think about.

Obviously, that kind of expertise costs a lot of money. On the other hand, the latest technology in artificial turf, which requires far less maintenance and being far less susceptible to the extremes of the weather, soon starts to save councils and clubs.

Of course, sports surfaces also take a serious pounding too. They take perhaps more stress than any other type of turf and therein lies another vital benefit of synthetic grass – it stands up to the rigours of dozens of feet twisting, turning, jumping and landing on a near constant basis, without losing performance or quality.

It is not surprising that Australian councils and sports clubs are turning to synthetic turf when you consider the scarcity of water and the intensity of sunlight. Nonetheless, it is surprising perhaps that we are following in the footsteps of those in the USA and Europe. The States have certainly been leading the way in synthetic sports turf for many years but the trend is really growing in Europe recently.

Many of the top soccer clubs in Europe now have the latest generation of artificial pitches including those in Italy’s Serie A competition. Synthetic turf has also been used in competitive international matches in Europe.

In England, ‘plastic pitches’ were ridiculed until recently, with long memories of a handful of professional football clubs using artificial turf that’s light years away from the world’s current crop of premium synthetic sports pitches.

Even though the temperate climatic conditions are ideal for growing grass in the UK, many municipal pitches have turned to synthetic grass because of reduced maintenance costs and the increased usability (synthetic pitches don’t get worn out or suffer from muddy, unplayable, patches after prolonged wet weather conditions).

In addition to public facilities, the clamour for artificial turf pitches is growing amongst professional clubs in England too. Football League clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Accrington Stanley have voiced a desire to install the latest generation of artificial turf and former Wales international Mark Hughes has also voiced his support, having seen such pitches used first hand.

With top clubs and sports facilities catering for the masses in Europe turning to synthetic grass in numbers then you can expect more of the same in Australia.

You may already have read about our growing reputation for supplying some of the best and most modern synthetic sports surfaces in Western Australia. We are proud of the various high performance facilities that we have installed and we have just broadened the Green Planet Grass repertoire to include lawn bowls, which is of course very popular across Australia.

Any bowls enthusiast will tell you that the quality of the surface is paramount to ensure reliable and consistent performance, and the two new bowling greens we are preparing to install in York will be made to exacting standards.

York is one of Western Australia’s oldest in-land settlements but the town is set to have one of the newest sport complexes anywhere in this vast state. The Forrest Oval Sport and Recreation Precinct is already home to many sports clubs and associations, but the Shire of York wants a state of the art facility that will cater to a growing population.

Two key findings of the local authority’s assessment of sports and recreation needs in the shire were the need for new, synthetic tennis courts and a realignment of the existing bowling greens to accommodate bowls adjacent to the club rooms.

Maintenance was a major factor in both of these aspects of the development, particularly the bowling greens, with natural grass surfaces very difficult to maintain in our hot, dry climate.

Average daily maximum temperatures in York – 100km inland from Perth – exceed 30 degrees centigrade between December and March, so the country town is considerably hotter than the state capital.

Another interesting fact from the Bureau of Meteorology also tells us that York’s annual rainfall is just 407mm – that’s 55 per cent of the 742mm mean received in Perth on a yearly basis. And we think water is scarce in the metro area!

Of course grass struggles to grow in such conditions, even when it is extensively irrigated so synthetic grass is a sensible choice. Once the Green Planet Grass bowling greens are installed, the Shire of York can expect significantly reduced maintenance costs. Moreover, there won’t be any need for often costly remedial works for worn-out patchy turf that only suffers in the heat of a long WA summer. That should mean both improved facilities and less of a dent in the ratepayers’ pockets in the long run.

But another reason the Shire of York opted for synthetic grass bowling greens is that they can take a much higher amount of traffic (or greater usage capacity) than natural grass greens, so that means more people would get to play more bowls – a great outcome all-year round.

Green Planet Grass will be installing two 40m x 40m bowling greens, each with seven rinks, at the Forrest Oval complex and these should be completed during the early part of 2012. We oversee every stage of the job from design through construction to installation and the same is true of the eight synthetic grass tennis courts that we will be installing on the same site.

Keep your eyes peeled for some photos of our first bowling greens!

You know the traditional Norwegian Spruce types that seem to thrive in northern Europe, particularly if there is likely to be lots of snow and ice throughout the winter – when Christmas takes place in the northern hemisphere.

Believe it or not, there are only few Christmas tree farms around Perth, notably in the northern and northeastern suburbs. Nevertheless, as far as we are aware, there is rarely any snow and a desert is not usually the most suitable place to grow most Christmas tree species.

We have nothing against natural Christmas trees of course. They certainly make a lovely addition for a traditional Christmas feel in anyone’s home. Apart from the fact that all too often you get the lovely fragrant tree home and it introduces a wide range of bugs into your lounge room. Or, even less appealing as it sheds its pine needles ten days before Christmas, leaving you with a spindly skeleton of a tree, which Father Christmas is probably not going to be impressed with when he comes to drop off your presents on a sweltering December night.

Most of us have probably become used to having a synthetic Christmas tree over the past ten to twenty years – if not longer. But some people will remember that when fake Christmas trees emerged onto the market they weren’t particularly well thought of.

Now we realise that they are much more practical and there is no shame in popping down to one of the major stores to pick one up. They’re easy to assemble, usually look pretty realistic and are easy to pack away again, stick them in the garage and they’re in just as good condition when you unpack them eleven months later. There is also very little danger of being spiked by the pine needles, or a constant need to vacuum up what has fallen off the branches.

Well, there’s not much difference when it comes to lawn. We’re probably early in the acceptance stages for some people who like their natural lawn. But many people are realising that premium synthetic grass looks just as good, if not better, than natural lawn.

Then there is the dawn of realisation that traditional grass lawns were never a very good idea for Western Australia anyway – the climate is just too hot and dry to sustain a lawn without using copious amounts of water, which is clearly scarce in this environment.

If you’ve got friends doubting the merits of artificial turf then maybe it’s time to show them what a premium Australian-made lawn from the synthetic grass specialists is all about. We believe the finished, professionally installed product speaks for itself, which is why we list installations on our website for all to see – generally, they look even better than the photos.

In addition, like our friend, the synthetic Christmas tree, there is less maintenance required, no need for water and it will save you money over its long life span.

Perth is waking up to the considerable benefits of synthetic grass and what better time to get your new lawn installed than before Christmas – then you can really enjoy the holidays.

While we regularly campaign for synthetic grass for its low maintenance costs compared to your traditional natural grass lawns, it is not suffice to say that it is ‘zero maintenance’.

To keep your synthetic lawn in top condition and the envy of your neighbours, it is highly recommended that you must be keen in handling your artificial grass lawns with minimal yet regular maintenance efforts.

So, what do you need to do to keep your lawn looking great? Well, start following a regular monthly maintenance schedule. Overlooking the importance of maintaining your synthetic grass lawn does not warrant our claim, thus it would be wise to keep it on top of your regular maintenance list to enjoy fully your investment.

Of course, there are numerous types of synthetic grass products, and Green Planet Grass recommends that high traffic or ‘interactive’ surfaces should be regularly maintained such that it lasts longer and retain the lustre of the grass blades. Artificial grass products, which are not subjected to harsh usage such as those in large landscaped areas, require lesser regular care.

Early months of your new lawn

Professional installation of your synthetic grass lawn will ensure an even distribution of infill materials over the entire surface but it is likely to take two to three months to reach its optimum condition considering that the materials only fully settle down by then. Regular light grooming while the infill materials are slowly penetrating through the grass blades would be far more recommendable than with heavy brushing.

Several Green Planet Grass products do not need any infill materials; however, it is advisable to brush the grass blades every so often to keep the blades rigid, and do it with a soft bristle.

Surface brushing

The infill materials sometimes spring out from the pile of grass. You only need to lightly brush through the blades to push it back down. This is required n order to keep the top grass fibres upright.

Interactive surfaces should be brushed regularly. It is vital that the synthetic blades are erect since the softer fibres along the surface of the grass blades are highly susceptible to tough conditions. Green Planet Grass recommends brushing at least once every month and in different directions.

On the other hand, for landscaped lawns, you only need to brush through the blades if you are getting rid of other debris such as pet poop, or for controlling weeds.

Keeping it clean

Airborne contaminants such as dust and pollen are best dealt with by natural rainfall. In areas where rain is scarce – which can often be the case in Perth– occasional water flush is beneficial to clean fibres. For lightly soiled areas it may be necessary to sponge mop with a 5% solution of mild household detergent in warm water, followed by a thorough rinsing with warm water. For heavily soiled areas, a solution of household detergent/disinfectant in warm water followed by a thorough rinsing with warm water should be used.

Removing debris

Undesirable debris should also be cleaned away from your grass surface, especially for heavily used lawns, at least once a month.

It would be more effective if you could do it manually with a brush. This will stop any organic material from developing into something more obstructive, which in turn could prove to be detrimental to the grass drainage system and further encourage growth of other organic materials.

While those less likely used synthetic lawns need less attention in this respect, but you still have to remove any organic materials such as dried leaves when necessary, and clearing it quarterly.

Weeds and surface vegetation

You may also use a moss or weed killer annually for all your synthetic grass products in order to avoid any accumulation of weeds and other vegetation. You should use a systematic water-based weed killer– if you are not sure what to use, ask your synthetic grass specialist. As the vegetation dies down, you will have to remove the decaying materials (make sure to take out the roots as well). For moss build-up, you may simply sweep the remnants.

Stain removal

The first rule here is to be prompt. Remove all solid or paste-like deposits with a spatula or table knife, and blot with excessive liquid paper towels and a clean cloth. While synthetic turf is highly resistant to staining, there are a sophisticated group of components combined to produce the final product. Some cleaning agents that are suitable for the fibres may be harmful to other components. For guidance on stain removal consult your Green Planet Grass specialist.

Animal faeces

Synthetic grass is great for dogs and other pets as it is safe, but it cannot be dug by busy paws. Nevertheless, animal faeces should be removed manually as soon as possible, and the area must be washed down with hot water mixed with household cleaning agent. You can also neutralise the faeces with a mixture of white distilled vinegar in equal amounts of water. Flush thoroughly after application.

The above are a few guidelines that should keep your lawn in great condition with minimal effort but if you have a question that’s not covered here please get in touch at info@greenplanetgrass.com.au

All too often we find that once we have our own home it brings a lot of hassle in keeping the place well maintained and in good condition. Many of us leave our parents and rent your own pad for a while, maybe with a mate or partner, and if we can save enough the Aussie dream is often to have our own place. But while you’re renting, the maintenance rarely seems to be an issue, especially if there is a grounds keeper or mower service provided as part of the letting.

What many of us find is that once we have our own place, along with a mortgage hanging around our neck, a whole lot more work comes with maintaining the place – and therefore you have to invest time and money in keeping your home up from scratch. This is especially true when it comes to garden and lawns.

Traditional lawns in Perth require extensive maintenance to keep them in prime condition – enough water through your reticulation (but not too much to attract the attention of the Water Corporation inspectors), action on weeds when they crop up, enriching with fertiliser in the autumn and spring and application of wetting agents before heavy rain. And that’s without kids or dogs who may put large patches in your grass or dig big holes in it!

For many people it is a real effort to keep the lawn in the kind of condition in which you can really enjoy it and they find they’ve spent nearly all their time making the lawn look perfect and don’t have time to actually relax and enjoy it themselves. This is one of the main reasons people in Perth choose to install synthetic grass in the first place and why not?

Most of us spend enough time working hard all week in our day jobs to not want to spend most of the weekend and evenings working just as hard over a patch of grass. Installing synthetic grass means you really can sit back and enjoy your weekends. Yes, there are benefits of saving water and money over the long term, but for many what is most precious is saving time.

We only live once so let’s enjoy our spare time, minimise garden maintenance and spend more time with family and friends without having to worry about what our lawn looks like – because with synthetic grass it is bound to look good, even with minimal maintenance. Learn to make an art of relaxing and enjoy your garden as you should with synthetic grass.

Okay, so one of the main reasons that synthetic grass is a good option for households in Perth is the lack of rainfall. But when it does rain there can be additional reasons to seek out sustainable artificial turf. It has been unseasonably wet recently (we did not get any rain at all in November 2010) but this wet winter and spring has thrown up some notable problems for those with traditional lawns – weeds.

In some suburbs rogue grasses (not the couch or buffalo that supposed to be in your lawn but imposter species) have sprung up rapidly to significant heights. Moreover, that has not to mention the broad range of other undesirable species that can invade neat blades of grass that so many spend painstaking hours tending over.

Some of the broad-leaved species smother the grass, others, with spidery limbs reach out and compete with the intended cover at an alarming rate too. It can be a battle to keep a natural lawn looking good through all seasons, even when the weather is favourable for growth. Some Perth households will not have felt the need to put their sprinklers on yet but many will have had to delve into their lawns to remove unwanted weeds.

There are usually two approaches to resolving such issues. The first involves plenty of hard toil, down on hands and knees with a small hand fork or similar weed extracting tool and probably getting a stiff back, sore knees or some other physical ailment. The second inevitably sees home owners reach for the weed killer, which can be effective but may also cause damage to the very grass you are trying to preserve. Of course, most weed killers are toxic so pet owners and those with young children have to be very careful how they use these products. Therefore, there is never an easy approach to weeds.

But what we do know is that synthetic grass can put a stop to the difficulties of weeds on your lawn. Admittedly, synthetic grass is not immune to weeds so thorough preparation prior to installation is important but the few plants that can emerge are easily removed in comparison to natural lawn – your synthetic grass specialist can give you advice on the best way to maintain your lawn. Minimal maintenance is a major benefit of synthetic grass.

There is no need to water synthetic lawn, no need for pesticides (weed killers), no need for fertilisers and no need for getting down on your hands and knees for several hours to eliminate undesirables – a synthetic grass lawn is there to enjoy, whatever the weather and taking away the maintenance is, for many, one of the strongest reasons to choose synthetic grass in the first place.

In our blogs, we have covered quite a few topics about synthetic grass but Green Planet Grass is here because we strongly believe in the quality that we put under your feet. We put the same quality under our own feet too.

Founding director, Justin, was working in Dubai when he came across the best artificial lawn he had ever seen.

Having built a home in Perth several years ago, Justin had looked at synthetic grass for his garden but didn’t find a product that he was comfortable with in the Western Australian marketplace at the time. Thoughts about synthetic lawn were parked in the harsh WA climate but an altogether different product presented itself in the even harsher environment of the Middle East.

“We weren’t actively looking for synthetic grass but the hot desert climate in Dubai means that synthetic grass was just starting to become more popular over there. When we saw the quality of some of the products available, we looked into the possibility of getting something similar for our home back in Australia.”

Thorough research revealed that there was a wide range of manufacturers across the globe producing a diverse assortment of artificial grass products. Having looked at synthetic grass producers from across America and Asia, Justin found that some of the best synthetic turf was being produced in Australia. He was quite sure that the Australian-made turf would fit in well at his home back in Perth and it hadn’t escaped his attention that many other Western Australians would like top quality turf for their lawns too.

“It was great to learn that some of the best synthetic grass on the planet was being made in Australia. The notion of using synthetic grass at home had always appealed to me because I like to relax and enjoy my weekends rather than spending hours maintaining a lawn,” Justin says. “I think a lot of Australians work hard to earn a living and want to enjoy their spare time rather than working hard even on weekends too. Luckily, we found an Australian company that solves that dilemma.”

And so Justin and his business partners went about setting up Green Planet Grass to provide WA homeowners with a reliable service to supply and install top quality synthetic lawns.

“Of course Australians generally like to buy Australian-made products but I should stress that we would never supply a product without being completely comfortable that we would install it in our own back yards,” Justin says.  “Our manufacturer really does make some of the best artificial turf available anywhere, and that’s something we discovered from extensive research.

“It is imperative for us to know that the product we supply and install will endure the test of time without deteriorating, we know it is completely non-toxic so it’s safe for kids and pets and the colour won’t fade for many, many years.”

Like many, the people behind Green Planet Grass weren’t always synthetic grass converts but they have established themselves as WA’s synthetic grass specialists since 2008 due to an unerring dedication to quality.

Schools have been one of the main types of institutions to realise the benefits of synthetic grass in recent years. And while many have made wise choices when it comes to installing low maintenance surfaces, the commitment continues to grow.

One school that has seen significant benefits of synthetic grass is Wanneroo Senior High School. The school has been so pleased with their initial communal lawn that they are now committing to another Green Planet Grass transformation.

The northern suburbs educational facility has recently undergone a significant building program including a new Performing Arts Centre and all classrooms have been refurbished. Each learning area at Wanneroo Senior High School has a computer hub at its core which enables information technology to be fully embedded in all teaching and learning programs.

But outside on the school grounds, other significant transformations has also been taking place too that has brought a fresh green feel to the students’ surroundings. It doesn’t need to be watered and maintenance is minimal, so the school has seen significant benefits since our first installation.

Green Planet Grass is now working with Wanneroo Senior High School to maximise the sustainability of communal areas through their second installation.

It is a common challenge for schools to enhance their old and inadequately maintained facilities to appeal and encourage students to make the most of lounge areas. To fulfil this need, Green Planet Grass provides a wide selection of soft polyethylene material, high quality, and long-lasting synthetic grasses for heavily used areas and playgrounds.

The various synthetic grass products transformed spaces like those at Wanneroo Senior High School and successfully created a very attractive, all year-round playground and multi-purpose area. Green Planet Grass has a very reliable in-house installation team and designers to ensure that every job is appropriately done right from the designs, supply, up to the installation, you can be sure that every job is performed with utmost attention to details.

Synthetic playgrounds for schools can incorporate various bright colours to create pleasant surroundings for the activity areas including hop scotch, running tracks, four squares and many others. Extra line markings can also be included for sports like basketball, tennis, cricket, 5-aside to create an all-purpose playing area.  Green Planet Grass also utilises rubber shock pads beneath the synthetic fibres to eliminate any dangers that can lead to injuries.

Synthetic grass helps schools like Wanneroo to have a safer, more convenient, and comfortable environment with a long lifespan of products that can be used all throughout the years.

During the second weekend of October, Green Planet Grass exhibited at the HIA Spring Home Show in Perth as part of our ongoing relationship with the Housing Industry Australia, also known as HIA.

HIA is Australia’s widest residential and building organisation with members including trade contractors, builders, professional designers, suppliers, manufacturers, and bathroom and kitchen specialists.  Green Planet Grass became an HIA GreenSmart Regional Partner in 2010 in recognition of our commitment to environmentally-responsible products around the home, and we are the only synthetic grass company with HIA GreenSmart accreditation.

HIA is Australia’s voice in the home building industry and the HIA Logo is proudly displayed with a badge of professionalism and excellence on building construction sites all over Australia. We believe our status as a GreenSmart Partner gives customers confidence in the quality that we bring to lawn installations in residential settings, in a similar way that our Australian-made mark highlights the excellence of the products we sell.

HIA offers leadership and recognises land developments and residential buildings that are environmentally-responsible through the assistance of the GreenSmart program, which has been established in 1999. The program promotes durable, affordable, and cost-effective environmental solutions for residential construction and design.

GreenSmart companies provide leadership and support in producing sustainable homes, developments and building products for the housing industry, and Green Planet Grass has led the way in championing the water conservation benefits of synthetic grass in Western Australia.

The objective of Green Planet Grass is to help Australian citizens in coping up with the fast changing climate in Australia by offering a wide selection of high quality and modern synthetic sport surfaces and synthetic lawns which can save water, money and time, and allow individuals to enjoy the numerous advantages of the product all throughout the year.

Green Planet Grass values outstanding service and they provide clients with excellent service with integrity and proper work ethics. As WA’s synthetic grass specialist, our devoted staff consistently strives for distinction in all departments. Green Planet Grass focuses on enhancing the market value of its products through quality, integrity, product research and development, and reaching out to customers by understanding their needs.

Although the company is fairly youthful, having started operations in Perth during 2008, Green Planet Grass has a team of experienced, skilled, and professional technical staff who has developed and founded a strong foundation for the business. The management team has more than fifty years of experience in the synthetic grass, building and sports construction business, and has been known as the top provider of complete turnkey solutions.

Being an HIA GreenSmart Regional Partner give our customer’s confidence in sustainable solutions that we provide around the home. But we don’t stop looking for environmentally responsible ways of improving our business and we are always striving to be more GreenSmart.