Sports playing surfaces with biodegradable backings

A playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) a synthetic grass turf located on top of the foundation comprising a single backing partially but not entirely formed of a biodegradable material, and a plurality of generally upright fibers mounted in the backing;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed on top of the backing of the synthetic turf to at least partially fill the fibers;
• and
• (d) natural grass plants having grass blades, crowns, and roots disposed in the growth medium, the blades extending upward above the top of the layer of growth medium to form a playing surface, and the roots extending downward through the growth medium while intertwining with the fibers, extending through the backing, and into the foundation wherein the biodegradable material of the backing is selected to decompose after a predetermined period of time and whereby a non-biodegradable portion of the backing maintains the fibers in place during use, so that the single backing initially has optimum structural integrity to facilitate handling during installation but after installation becomes more root permeable to facilitate root growth therethrough.

A playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) a synthetic grass turf located on top of the foundation comprising a single woven backing which is partially but not entirely formed of a biodegradable fabric, and a plurality of generally upright fibers mounted in the backing;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed on top of the backing of the synthetic turf to at least partially fill the 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 while intertwining with the fibers, extending through the backing, and into the foundation, and the blades extending upward above the top of the layer of growth medium to form a playing surface, whereby a non-biodegradable portion of the backing maintains the fibers in place during use, so that the single backing initially has optimum structural integrity to facilitate handling during installation but after installation becomes more root permeable to facilitate root growth therethrough.

A method of forming a playing surface, comprising:

• (a) providing a foundation;
• (b) placing a synthetic turf on top of the foundation, the synthetic turf comprising a single backing which is partially but not entirely formed of a biodegradable material and a plurality of generally upright fibers mounted in the backing;
• (c) applying a layer of growth medium on top of the backing of the synthetic turf to at least partially fill the fibers;
• (d) sowing grass on top of the growth medium;
• and
• (e) growing natural grass plants within the layer of growth medium, the natural grass plants having grass blades, crowns, and roots disposed in the growth medium, the roots extending downward through the growth medium while intertwining with the fibers throughout the length of the synthetic fibers, extending through the backing, and into the foundation, and the blades extending upward above the top of the layer of growth medium to form a playing surface, whereby a non-biodegradable portion of the backing maintains the fibers in place during use, so that the single backing initially has optimum structural integrity to facilitate handling during installation but after installation becomes more root permeable to facilitate root growth therethrough.

A playing surface comprising:

• (a) a foundation;
• (b) a synthetic grass turf located on top of the foundation comprising a backing having a primary and a non-latex secondary, the non-latex secondary being biodegradable after installation and including urea formaldehyde, and a plurality of fibers mounted to the backing;
• (c) a layer of growth medium disposed on top of the backing of the synthetic turf to at least partially fill the fibers;
• and
• (d) natural grass plants having grass blades, crowns disposed within the layer of growth medium, and roots disposed in the growth medium, the roots extending downward through the growth medium while intertwining with the synthetic fibers, extending through the backing, and into the foundation, and the blades extending upward above the top of the layer of growth medium to form a playing surface, whereby the non-latex secondary degrades after installation to enhance the root permeability and the water permeability of the backing.