Surface for sports and other uses

A method of forming a playing surface comprising:

• (a) forming a foundation;
• (b) placing more than one piece of synthetic grass turf on the foundation, the synthetic grass turf having a plurality of synthetic grass fibers extending generally vertically upward from a backing material;
• (c) placing a porous mesh material on the foundation between the foundation and the backing material of said synthetic grass turf so that the mesh material underlies adjoining edges of said pieces of synthetic grass turf;
• (d) filling the synthetic grass turf with a growth medium so that a top of the growth medium is approximately at the same height as a top of the synthetic grass fibers;
• and
• (e) sowing natural grass on top of the growth medium so that roots of the natural grass plants extend downward through the synthetic grass turf, through the mesh material, and into the foundation and so that blades of the natural grass plants extend upward from a top of the growth medium to form a playing surface of natural grass.

A playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) a plurality of pieces of synthetic grass turf located on top of the foundation so that the edges of the pieces of synthetic turf are placed adjacent each other to form a continuous surface of synthetic grass turf, the synthetic grass turf including a backing material and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers extending generally vertically upward from the backing material;
• (c) a porous mesh material located between the foundation and the synthetic grass turf in the region of the edges of the synthetic grass turf so that the mesh material underlies the adjoining edges of the pieces of synthetic grass turf;
• (d) a layer of growth medium disposed in the synthetic grass turf to a depth sufficient to substantially fill the synthetic grass turf to the top of the synthetic grass fibers;
• and
• (e) natural grass, including blades and roots, planted in said growth medium so that the roots extend downward through the growth medium, the backing material, and into the foundation and so that the blades extend upward from the top of the layer of growth medium to form a playing surface.

A playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) a synthetic grass turf located on top of the foundation and including a backing material, a fleece material, and a plurality of synthetic grass fibers, the fleece material being located on the underside of the backing material and being attached to the underside of the backing material, the synthetic grass fibers extending through the backing material and the fleece material and extending generally vertically upward from the backing material in approximately the same direction;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed in the synthetic grass turf to a depth sufficient to approximately fill the synthetic grass turf to a top of the synthetic grass fibers;
• and
• (d) natural grass plants, having grass blades, crowns, and roots disposed in the growth medium, the roots extending downward through the growth medium, the backing material, the fleece material, and into the foundation, the crowns being located at or slightly below the top of the synthetic grass fibers and the grass blades extending upward above the top of the synthetic grass fibers to form a natural grass playing surface.

A grass playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation,
• (b) an artificial grass turf located on top of the foundation, the artificial grass turf having generally vertically upright fibers mounted in a porous backing material;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed in the artificial grass turf to a depth at least approaching the top of the fibers of the artificial grass turf;
• and
• (d) natural grass plants having grass blades, crowns and roots, the grass plants disposed in the growth medium, the roots extending downwardly through the growth medium, the artificial grass turf, and into the foundation, the crowns being located slightly below the top of the artificial fibers and the grass blades extending upwardly above the top of the fibers forming a playing surface of substantially natural grass.

A grass playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) an artificial grass turf located on top of the foundation, the artificial grass turf having generally vertically upright fibers mounted in a porous backing material, the fibers having at least one free end and extending upward in the same general direction;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed in the artificial grass turf to a depth at least approaching the top of the fibers of the artificial grass turf;
• and
• (d) natural grass plants having grass blades, crowns and roots, disposed in the growth medium, the roots extending downwardly through the growth medium, the artificial grass turf and into the foundation, the blades extending upwardly above the top of the fibers forming a playing surface of substantially natural grass.