Does Artificial Turf Drain Well?

The information about easy-care artificial turf often fails at the point of water flow. While well-built artificial turf systems do drain well, whether or not a particular turf product drains well is less important than the base, the slope, and the overall drain plan of the area where the turf will be installed.

Does Artificial Turf Drain Well? The Short Answer

Why is Artificial Grass Pooling? The answer to this question can be found in the three main parts that affect how well an artificial grass field drains:

1. The Artificial Grass Perforated Backing - how fast water passes through the turf

2. The Turf Infill - how the infill helps or hinders the drainage of the turf

3. The Sub Base for Artificial Grass - how fast water moves below the turf surface

When these parts are not suited to each other or when the ground below the turf is made of heavy clay soil, you can end up with a situation where the grass is pooling.

How Artificial Turf Is Supposed to Drain

Drainage systems are typically laid out in layers.

• Surface: water falls down from the blades of grass.

• Fill layer: water moves through the fill or around it.

• Backing layer: water passes through holes or is a flow-through backing.

• Base: water runs through a compacted aggregate layer.

• Subgrade soil: subgrade soil can take the rest of the water or move it sideways to drains.

Hence, a good lawn made of artificial grass should not have dramatic water runoff when it is well laid out. Most of the water should move through it rather than across it.

Artificial Turf Drain Rate: What Counts as Good?

Searching for the drainage rate of the best artificial turf can lead to much confusion, since there is no single number for drainage, as it is a system.

A turf can have a strong backing, yet turn out to be a poor choice if the base is not good enough. If the base holds water, the whole yard will turn into a shallow tub, with puddles and soft areas.

Artificial Turf vs Natural Grass Drainage

For information on comparing the drainage of artificial turf versus natural grass, see the article above.

• Natural grass can soak up water and then release it. Compacted soil and thick thatch, however, can create areas where water can collect and form puddles.

• Synthetic turf does not absorb water, but it can move it very fast, depending on the base and the surrounding soil.

In a lot of rainy locations, for example, artificial lawns are better than muddy grass—as long as the turf has been installed with very wet weather in mind.

Best Artificial Turf for Rainy Climates

Artificial turf for rainy climates needs to be good quality and have the correct build (not just look good on the surface).

• Perforated backing with even hole spacing

• The backing won’t wrinkle or sag in low areas.

• Fibers and thatch that stay open and don’t mat down.

• Infill that supports good turf infill drainage performance.

Also check that the manufacturer can support your site requirements, such as clay soil, a high water table, shady areas, etc.

The Main Cause of Pooling: Base and Grade

Problems with drainage on artificial turf surfaces typically stem from poor installation practices. The two main factors that determine the performance of a turf surface are the slope and the base underneath it.

Slope Requirements for Artificial Turf Installation

Although the turf is permeable, a slight fall is required to ensure that water does not collect on the surface. The fall should be sufficient to allow water to drain away from buildings and flow off to a suitable point of discharge.

Sub Base for Artificial Turf Drainage: Material Matters

A suitable base for an artificial grass surface is typically made up of a clean, angular aggregate that is capable of being compacted to form a solid but porous base.

When comparing a crushed stone base with a decomposed granite base, crushed stone is generally better at providing consistent drainage and is stronger when correctly installed and compacted. Decomposed granite, on the other hand, can be very hard when compacted and may even restrict flow if installed incorrectly.

• When choosing between the two, consideration must be given to the type of soil that it will be installed on, the expected levels of rainfall, and whether or not drainage channels are to be incorporated into the design.

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Why Is Artificial Grass Pooling? Common Failure Points

Artificial grass pooling, why? Here are some common reasons:

• Low spots in the base of the grass

• Over-packed or sealed grass base

• Fine dust or silt has filled the voids between the grass fibers

• Wrong infill has been used, or too much of it

• Heavy clay soil that has nowhere for water to go

• Edges of the lawn that trap water

How to Fix Standing Water on Turf

How to Fix Standing Water on Turf: The Smart Fix for Puddles!

1. Find the low points first 

2.  Mark them out after a rain shower or by conducting a hose test.

3. Check the base shape 

4.  Fix it by lifting the turf, regrading the base, and compacting it again.

5. Improve the base flow 

6.  Do a rework of the top layer of the turf using clean, angular aggregate.

7. Add a drain where needed 

8.  In the worst areas of standing water on turf, create a drain line that ties into a safe outlet.

How to Improve Turf Drainage Without Replacing Everything

In order to improve turf drainage without replacing everything in the yard, there are a number of smart things that can be done to improve turf drainage.

• Install a drain line in the worst area of the yard and then tie it into a safe outlet.

• Rework only the problem area or section of the yard, and then relay the rest of the turf in that section or area of the yard.

• Finally, to improve turf drainage, switch the current infill that is being used in order to improve turf infill drainage performance.

A French Drain for Artificial Lawn: When It Makes Sense

A French drain for artificial lawn is going to help in a number of different situations.

• If you have a yard that is made up of clay soil, then a French drain for artificial lawn is going to be able to help improve the soak-in of the water, thus improving the turf drainage.

• A French drain for artificial lawn will help when there is a lot of roof runoff or nearby runoff that is going to overwhelm the area.

Finally, a well-made French drain for artificial lawn is going to be able to catch any subsurface water and then move it to daylight, a dry well, or another legal outlet. Thus, in the end, a French drain for artificial lawn is going to be able to turn chronic puddles in the yard into a minor issue.

Artificial Turf Flooding Solutions for Heavy Storms

Solutions for flooding of artificial turf lawns can be incorporated into the basic site work before the lawn is installed. For intense rainfall at specific locations, the following solutions can be planned into the lawns installed at those locations.

• A thicker base with clean, angular aggregate can be specified.

• A high-flow backing can be specified, and clog-prone infill can be excluded from the specification.

• Perimeter and cross-yard drains can be specified in the main flow paths.

• Runoff from roofs above lawns must be directed into solid pipes and not onto the turf.

• The design must prevent water from collecting in low areas near patio areas, curbs, and edging.

Pets and Drainage: Can Dogs Pee on Artificial Turf?

Can dogs pee on artificial turf? Yes, but cleaning and odor control are involved.

Urine creates a number of problems on any surface, not just drainage problems. The liquid will evaporate, but the salts in urine will not and can cause problems.

• High-use areas of artificial turf need to be rinsed often.

• There are enzyme-based cleaners for turf made specifically for odor control.

• Choose the best infill and underlay for pets.

• Make sure the base of the turf drains fast to prevent liquid from sitting.

Fast drainage reduces odor, but doesn’t eliminate the need for frequent rinsing.

Cost and Value: How Much Is Artificial Turf?

Changes to drainage can affect both the performance and the cost of your new artificial turf. We often get asked how much does artificial turf cost and how much is artificial turf. As you can imagine, the quotes provided can vary greatly.

The main cost drivers regarding drainage are:

• Base depth and material, especially in very poor soils

• Grading and site access for work required

• Drain add-ons such as trenches, pipes, and outlets, for example

• Demo of existing turf, roots, and old concrete, etc.

• Premium backings for quick flow, etc.

If a quote appears to be too cheap, then it is likely that the base preparation and drain work required to prevent pooling of water will have been overlooked.

Choosing Help: Artificial Turf Installation Companies

If you are looking to compare the best artificial turf installation companies, then take a closer look at how they build for water rather than just what they sell.

If you are searching for artificial turf installation companies near me, then ask each of the companies listed the following questions:

• How do they set the slope and the final grade?

• What base depth and material do they use?

• How do they handle clay soil and slow-drain subgrades?

• Will they add drains when required, and where will they be placed?

• How do they prevent edge damming and low spots?

• What is covered in the warranty?

The best installers treat the job of drainage as a small engineering job and not as an afterthought.

Quick Takeaway: Does Artificial Turf Drain Well?

Yes, artificial turf can drain well when installed with the proper components and system to allow adequate water drainage and flow through the turf system. In short, turf itself does not determine how well a yard drains but rather how the turf system as a whole is installed. By incorporating the correct base, proper compaction, desired grade/slope, and appropriate underlayment/soil, artificial turf can prove to be the superior solution for lawn drainage in rainy climates. Although natural grass is able to absorb and then subsequently release water that has been absorbed into the grass, in many cases the compacted soil and high concentration of grass thatch can still cause water to pool on the surface and create an unhealthy lawn and messy backyard. In contrast, artificial turf does not absorb any water, but instead allows water to drain quickly through the turf’s backing and base. The benefits of artificial turf over natural grass for lawn drainage come when the entire turf system is properly designed and installed for the specific water loads that it will encounter. Artificial turf systems with the proper thick, clean aggregate base, high-flow turf backings, and added site drains can outperform mud-filled natural grass areas in high-rainfall locations. This article will explore artificial turf drainage systems in further detail, focusing on factors such as turf drainage holes, backing layers, infill materials, turf bases, French drains, turf slopes, lawn drainage problems, and how to repair a lawn with standing water on existing turf without having to completely replace the entire lawn.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Artificial Grass and Lawn Drainage

Q: Does the actual turf decide how well a yard drains?

A: No, the turf itself does not decide how well a yard drains. Rather, it is the rest of the turf system (i.e. the base, compaction, slope/grade, and soil/underlayment) that determines how well the yard as a whole will drain. The turf itself, with its perforated drainage holes, can often move a lot of water through it and distribute it evenly across the lawn when installed over a proper base, on the right grade, and over the correct underlayment/soil.

Q: What causes pooling of water on a lawn with artificial grass, even when the grass itself contains many drainage holes?

A: As mentioned above, even with high-flow turf and numerous drainage holes in the turf, a yard with artificial grass can experience numerous instances of standing water and pooling of water on the lawn, often due to problems with the base and/or grade of the lawn. Many instances of artificial grass lawn puddling occur as a result of one or more of the following:

1. Low areas in the lawn that cannot drain properly

2. Overly packed down or even sealed-in turf bases that prevent water from flowing through the turf

3. High concentrations of turf fines (small pieces of grass from the manufacturing process) that clog up the many holes and gaps between blades of grass and prevent adequate water flow through the turf

4. Inadequate or even incorrect use of artificial grass infill materials

5. Poorly draining or even water-logging-prone soils

6. Inadequately designed or installed lawn edges

7. Inadequate turf slope (the angled pitch of the lawn) to allow for proper water flow

When installing artificial grass turf on a lawn with a base that acts like a shallow tub, then it is often said that the lawn with the artificial turf will have nowhere for the water to go.

Q: How do I fix standing water on my existing lawn with artificial turf without having to completely replace the entire lawn?

A: Fixing water problems on an existing lawn with turf requires a methodical, targeted, and step-by-step approach to repairs in order to find and fix the specific problems in the base and/or grade that are allowing water to collect and sit on the surface of the lawn. Instead of a complete tear-out and full replacement of the entire lawn, standing water on existing turf can be repaired by marking and then lifting and regrading only the affected, low areas. Furthermore, water problems on an existing lawn can also be addressed by improving the flow of water through the base by reworking or replacing the top portion of the existing base with clean, loose, and properly angular aggregate. Finally, in particularly stubborn or persistent instances of water collection, adding a drain line (such as a hidden sub-surface French drain) to the affected area and tying it to a suitable and safe outlet can also be a very cost-effective solution. Note, however, that full replacement of the lawn with new turf will likely be required in cases where the base below the turf has failed and become permanently sunk or warped.

Q: Crushed Stone (Aggregate) vs. Decomposed Granite (DG) for Lawn Base Drainage – Which is Better?

A: The two most common base materials for artificial grass turf systems (i.e. crushed stone and decomposed granite or DG) can provide excellent lawn drainage when installed properly. The two primary base materials for artificial grass systems (i.e. crushed stone/aggregate and DG) can provide excellent lawn drainage when installed correctly, but only the correctly installed and adequately thick crushed stone base (typically installed at around 4-6 inches deep and compacted to a suitable density) will provide the superior and consistently high levels of lawn drainage, and further, will also offer greater structural strength and stability, than DG. Decomposed Granite, while it can provide good drainage when properly installed, can become very compacted and cause flow to be greatly reduced or even to come to a complete halt in a short amount of time if not installed with the proper compaction techniques, adequate depth, and with the correct addition of other materials. Therefore, for most lawn drainage purposes, properly installed and thick enough crushed stone/aggregate lawn bases are typically the superior choice. However, as with all things, the best choice for a lawn’s base between the two (i.e. crushed stone vs. DG) depends on a variety of factors including the existing soil type, the local rainfall, and whether additional site drains will also be needed. Many high-rainfall areas and locations with heavy clay soils are able to use thicker, clean crushed stone bases to even greater advantage in terms of lawn and site drainage than in locations with less rainfall and lighter soils.