How to Design a Multi-Functional Backyard with Outdoor Artificial Turf

Synthetic Turf Treasure Coast • January 21, 2022

Ambitions for outdoor projects are often high, but with good reason! In today’s day and age, it is easier than ever to create the yard of your dreams, even if that means designing a multifunctional backyard using artificial turf!

Artificial grass in florida

There are many things that you are able to do with your yard whether it be a pet haven, a gardener’s dream, an area to hang out and have campfires with friends, or any number of other things that it can become! This can be accomplished by installing artificial grass in florida without worry of negatively impacting any of those things! 


Yes, you are able to grow gardens in a yard of artificial turf! Yes, you can foster dogs with a yard of artificial grass! Yes you can still host parties and fires with astro turf! Whatever function you want your yard to meet, you can do so with some type of artificial turf, believe it or not. In order to achieve these residential goals, you need to know what type of turf you are looking for, and how to begin the design process when that decision has been made. This opens the door to multiple uses for your yard as well as specifications that may be needed as far as turf goes if pets or others are involved.

No matter what your needs may be–gardening, party hosting, pet fostering, playground-experimenting, or other–they can be met with an individualized artificial turf design to create the ultimate yard of your dreams.

Where to Begin

Often the prospect of projects this large and with this many details involved can be intimidating, but in order to achieve your yard goals, you have to start somewhere. Most people find that in order to begin the design, you have to understand any structures you need to work around (i.e. pool, fountain, stonework, etc) and what you need this yard for. If your only hope is to have a nice-looking, rectangular artificial grass lawn, your design will be very straightforward. On the other end of the spectrum, however, if you are looking to have a garden, adopt a couple dogs, have a central playground for your kids, and work around a pool, the design for your turf’s layout will be quite different.


When this is the case, it is important to get an official estimation of costs and then follow through with a turf installation company or have a conversation with someone who has experience and can guide you through the process. Laying turf in and of itself is not altogether difficult, but each addition to the functions of your backyard can drastically change the cost and time spent on this project.

  • What do you put under outdoor turf?

    Just like any other structure, there is a foundation of some sort of underlayment when installing artificial grass. For roads there are multiple layers under the cement itself, and houses have a strong foundation built before any walls are put up, so why should outdoor turf be any different? The most common foundation to lay for artificial turf is a type of geotextile paper that creates a strong drainage system on top of the high-quality foundation it lays for the artificial turf used throughout the yard or area being covered.

  • What do you put around fake grass?

    There are various options to border artificial turf, but one of the most commonly used is cement. This is a permanent option as a border, but many times is what customers find to look most attractive and create the sharp edges to their yards or projects that they desire. Some other options include plastic landscaping borders, gravel, bark, paving stones, and wooden logs. Ultimately, the border can be made of several materials and it comes down to whatever desire the customer has for the physical appearance as well as the permanency of the border. As stated initially, cement is a permanent option as opposed to gravel, bark, and other shifting materials, but the quality and strength of the border is much higher than that of the other as well. In the end the border should meet whatever needs the customer has, whether it be permanency or attractiveness–or both.

  • How do I prepare my yard for artificial grass?

    The preparation step for installation of artificial turf depends on whether you are completing the project yourself or hiring a professional company to do so. If a company will be installing the turf, you can mostly step away and allow them to do their job after removing any debris or large obstructions in the yard (for instance, a car). On the other hand, however, if you are completing the project on your own, it is important to research all steps involved. In order to prepare your yard you should rid it of debris and plantlife (including grass). A foundation should be laid and any further steps may depend on the type of turf, as some come with pellets or geotextile papers.

  • How do you make astro turf look good?

    The word “good” is relative as it is compared to a yard, but most often it is meant to ask if the yard under inspection looks natural. To measure whether or not turf looks good, people often inspect it in comparison to grass (i.e. does it stand up straight, is it a natural color, how soft does it feel, etc.). In order to make sure that your artificial turf looks good, it is important to make an investment in a material and installation company that you have researched and can rely on.

In Conclusion

Overall, in order to build a multi-functional backyard using artificial turf, you need to understand your own needs. This includes inspecting your lawn for any structures you will be working around or including in your design. Then you need to research what type of turf you plan to use and what kind of foundation it requires.


Preparing your yard is the next step and then you can put your design to use!


About the author

Kathy Leavell

Kathy Leavell is the founder and owner of Synthetic Turf Treasure Coast, a leading provider of synthetic grass solutions for residential and commercial properties in Florida. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Kathy has become a recognized expert in synthetic turf installation, maintenance, and repair. Under her leadership, Synthetic Turf Treasure Coast has earned a reputation for exceptional customer service and high-quality workmanship.


Prior to starting her own business, Kathy worked in sales and marketing roles at several major synthetic turf manufacturers.

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