A
new natural turfgrass and synthetic turf hybrid sys-
tem has entered the US market as a product named
XtraGrass. The message that this can be a good thing
for sod producers is coming from one—James Graff,
co-owner of Graff 's Turf, Fort Morgan, CO.
"Some folks have a tough time wrapping their head around
a sod producer and a synthetic turf company working together,"
says Graff. "I think we can have our differences and our prefer-
ences. We want to see a natural grass field go in. They want a
synthetic field that plays like a natural grass field. Those are
separate goals. But when we combine them in a hybrid system
we have a solution that keeps natural grass on the field while
gaining the durability of synthetic turf. It's an opportunity to
work with the strengths of both because, in the end, we all want
the same thing: a safe field that plays well."
20 SportsTurf | September 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com
NEW NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC
HYBRID TURF SYSTEM
FIELD SCIENCE
This operator is topdressing sand over the synthetic base.
Left: This XtraGrass field installation shows the surface shortly after the sand top-
dressing and overseeding have been completed. Right: Natural grass roots are shown
extending down through the synthetic backing.
This close-up view shows sand being topdressed over the synthetic base.
All photos by James Graff.
