A turf surface (80) comprising: (a) a reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (b) a removable root-permeable backing (60) located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (c) a layer of growth media (42) located on the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); and (d) natural grass plants (30) having roots (32) extending downwardly through the layer of growth media (42) and the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10) and the removable root-permeable backing (60); wherein, in use, prior to being laid at a destination site, the removable root-permeable backing (60) is separated from the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10), so that any roots (34) which engage with and extend through the removable root-permeable backing (60) are substantially removed from the turf surface (80).

Compositions and methods are presented in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

Arrangement for adjusting the soil moisture of a sports field, the structure (S) of which contains a field surface (P), a tread layer (9) below the field surface (P), and a support layer (T) formed below the tread layer (9), and the tread layer (9) is separated from the support layer (T) by a separating layer (V), a network of drainage pipes (6) is arranged in the support layer (T) and connected to a pool (M), and the support layer (T) is lying on a waterproof film (4). The basin (M) is provided with a filling valve (26) and a sluice opening (13) the lower flow level (A) of the latter is arranged below the upper level of lower crushed stone layer (A).

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly oriented projections that define channels suitable for fluid flow along the top side of the core when the underlayment layer is positioned beneath an overlying artificial turf assembly.

A hybrid grass support structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 710) comprising a growth medium layer (102), a stone wool layer (104) positioned below the growth medium layer, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers (106). The growth medium layer comprises a growth medium. The synthetic grass fibers are incorporated at least into the growth medium layer.

A customizable tile system includes a tile disposed atop a surface; a forced fluid system comprising a pipe disposed below the tile and operatively coupled to a pump; a bladder operatively connected to the pipe, wherein the bladder is selectively inflatable; a sensor operatively coupled to the bladder; and a control system operable to control the pump. The control system includes a processor in data communication with the sensor, and computer memory, the computer memory comprising a program having machine readable instructions that, when effected by the processor, predicts a location of an impact upon the tile and selectively forces fluid through the pipe to inflate the bladder prior to the impact upon the tile.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises plurality of panels, each panel comprising a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of top projections. The top projections form top side water drainage channels. The panels have edges, with the edges of one panel abutting the edges of adjacent panels, thereby forming a drainage path between adjacent panels. The panel edges have vertical support extensions that extend into the drainage paths between adjacent panels. The vertical support extensions have an upper surface for supporting an artificial turf assembly overlying the turf underlayment layer, and the panel edges having one or more complementary indentations corresponding to vertical support extensions of adjacent panels. When the panels move toward each other, thereby closing drainage paths between adjacent panels, the vertical support extensions are received in the corresponding indentations.

An artificial turf system includes a turf assembly having a turf backing and stands of artificial grass blades extending from the turf backing to form an artificial turf layer. Infill material is placed in between the blades of artificial grass and on top of the turf backing. The infill material has a composition of sand in an amount within the range of from about 80 to about 98 percent of the infill by dry bulk weight, and organic particles in an amount within the range of from about 2 to about 20 percent of the infill by dry bulk weight.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly oriented projections that define channels suitable for fluid flow along the top side of the core when the underlayment layer is positioned beneath an overlying artificial turf assembly.

A rod for collecting water or transporting water structured to result in capillary spaces between it and other similar-shaped rods when such rods are adjacent to one another. The rod has a cross-sectional shape with one surface portion of the rod being a greater distance from the center of the rod than another surface portion of the rod. The rods can be laid together in an assembly or prefabricated into an assembly that provides an efficient, high capacity water collection and/or transportation system that is resistant to clogging.