Short answer: infill is the granular material brushed in between the turf fibers. It weighs the turf down, holds the fibers upright, adds cushion and protects the backing from the sun. In Florida lawns, sand-based infills are the standard, with zeolite or coated infill in pet areas.
Infill is the part of an artificial lawn nobody sees and many installers skimp on. Without enough of it, turf wrinkles, fibers lie flat, and the backing ages faster in the sun. With the wrong kind, pet areas smell or the surface gets hotter than it should.
Clean, rounded silica sand is the most common and most affordable infill for landscape turf. It's heavy, stable and drains well.
Sand with an acrylic or polymer coating. It doesn't compact as easily, is gentler on the fibers, and some coated infills are antimicrobial, which makes them a good choice for pet areas.
A natural mineral that traps ammonia, the cause of urine odor, and releases it when rinsed. It's the infill I recommend most for dog runs and pet areas in Florida. It also holds a little moisture, which helps cool the surface after a rinse.
Rubber infills give the cushion athletic fields need, but black rubber gets hot in the sun and isn't what most homeowners want in a backyard.
Cork, coconut fiber and similar infills stay cooler, but they can float or break down in heavy rain, so they need more upkeep in South Florida.
The amount depends on the turf's pile height and density, and the manufacturer specifies it. Infill settles and washes out over time, especially in high-traffic areas and after heavy rain, so it should be checked once a year and topped up where it has thinned. That's part of our turf maintenance.
Without infill, turf blades lie flat, the turf can shift or wrinkle, and the backing is exposed to the sun. Infill gives artificial turf systems their weight, their feel and much of their drainage performance, and choosing the right infill is as important as choosing the right turf.
Much of what you read about infill comes from sports fields. There, the primary infill is often sand and crumb rubber, rubber and sand mixed for cushion and support, with crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires. That system is used for sports because athletes need the shock absorption. In a backyard, the type of turf is different and so is the right infill: acrylic-coated sand or silica sand for the lawn, and zeolite where kids and pets play, without the heat of black rubber.
Infill particles sit between the fibers but still let water through to the backing and the base. Compacted or dirty infill drains poorly, which is one reason pet areas smell. Infill density, measured in pounds per square foot, matters too: too little and the turf blades lie flat and the turf wrinkles; too much and it looks sandy. Brushing and periodic infill replenishment keep the infill system loose and draining, and proper infill is part of every professional synthetic turf installation.
Does all artificial grass need infill? Most landscape and pet turf does. Some turf products for balconies and indoor use are made to work without infill.
What are the different types of infill for artificial grass? Silica sand, coated sand, zeolite, crumb rubber and organic infills are the main infill options for artificial turf. Each infill type suits a different use, and the infill material should match the turf products it goes into.
Can I change the kind of infill later? Yes; infill can be topped up or partly replaced, for example by adding zeolite to a pet area.
The benefits of artificial grass, a natural look, good drainage and a soft feel, depend on the turf and infill working together. That's why we choose infill with every synthetic turf installation.
The right infill makes good turf perform. Choose it for how the area is used, put in the amount the manufacturer specifies, and top it up when it thins.
