The term “synthetic turf” conjures images of unconvincing tufts of plastic, grass-like fibers rolled out similarly to carpet across an expanse of outdoor space. It’s a tacky, no-maintenance alternative to a lawn or the 18 holes of a mini-golf course, impossibly green and improbably perfect.
Or is it?
Like most things, synthetic turf has come a long way since the bygone era of Astroturf. These days, the materials are better, the look and feel more natural, the variety greater. It was these advancements, along with their multiple advantages, that inspired Charlestonian Marty Huggins to establish Palmetto Moon Synthetic Turf in 2007. At the time, Huggins had purchased another small business that was basically running on autopilot and found himself “ready for a new challenge,” as he recalls. “I happened to be reading an issue of Entrepreneur and saw an article discussing the benefits of artificial turf and how it was very popular on the West Coast because of drought conditions and water restrictions.”
Interest piqued, Huggins visited one of the manufacturers in Dalton, Georgia. What he saw there impressed him, so he attended training classes and became a certified turf installer before starting his company. Now in its second decade of operation, Palmetto Moon has worked on everything from residential to commercial projects throughout South Carolina—naturally, its namesake—and has expanded its service area from as far north as Charlotte, North Carolina and south to Savannah, Georgia.
Recreational and dog parks, playgrounds, pool turf and full residential and commercial lawns are all part of the company’s project portfolio, though Huggins says that 80% of Palmetto Moon’s work is residential—and he prefers it that way. “I love working with homeowners to transform an ugly, unused yard into something the whole family can enjoy, whether it’s artificial lawn or a putting green or pool turf or a combination of projects,” he says.
Still, the commercial side of the business is one he enjoys for different reasons. “We are subbed out by many large companies and builders to do rooftop spaces, dog parks and doggie day cares, apartment complexes, etc.,” Huggins notes. “The fact that they continually use us on their projects is satisfying because we know that the repeat business is a direct result of the quality of work we’ve done on their prior project.”
Repeat business is crucial, of course. But, as Huggins points out, that only comes with a proven quality of work. As does edging out competitors in a continually growing market. “We have a lot more competition than we had 18 years ago, and staying ahead is imperative,” says Huggins. “We do that through team training and continuing education. A quality install is what sets any turf company apart from the competition—and we often have to reinstall what other companies have already done, unfortunately. Our five-star reviews on every platform speak volumes on our company and the quality work that our installation teams do, and we’re incredibly proud of that. Of course, choosing a quality manufacturer is also key, because they stay on the cutting edge of turf technology. Developing new grass types, improving yarn quality and creating heat-reducing turf are all priorities for the manufacturers we choose.”
These new synthetic grass types have been developed to be more realistic and mimic different species of grass, including Zoysia, Bermuda and Fescue. Palmetto Moon carries only American-made turf made with the best yarn in the industry, which means that the turf it installs doesn’t get as hot as that of other manufacturers, who use cheaper yarn. “Our turf is, on average, 15 degrees cooler than most others, and the infill we use utilizes evaporative technology to release moisture back into the turf, which helps keep it 30 to 50 degrees cooler than if regular sand is used,” Huggins explains.
Durability and maintenance are additional selling points. “Our turf looks realistic, but dogs can’t dig it up or tear it up,” Huggins says. “Pet waste is also easier to clean up. My oldest dog park just turned 18 years old, and the original turf is still there, which speaks to how durable it is. When it’s used in pool areas, the pool stays clean as no edging and mowing is needed. That’s a big issue for a lot of clients. In cases of yards having a lot of oak trees or too much shade, dogs digging up and tearing up the yard, the grass not growing in general or clients just being tired of the upkeep and maintenance costs, even the irrigation costs, these are all problems that can be solved by artificial turf. Maintenance is minimal, requiring only a leaf blower or a turf rake, and we provide turf maintenance on the rare occasions a client requests us to come use a power sweeper for a professional fluff up.”
As sustainability has become more and more of a topic, synthetic turf is also notable for the ways it conserves resources and reduces environmental impact. “Our tagline is, ‘We make it easy to go green’—both from a green grass standpoint as well as an eco-friendly one,” Huggins says. “The lack of need for irrigation conserves water, and you’re also not using any chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides to harm the environment and contaminate the water table. In the end, it’s a much safer environment for both families and their pets.” *
Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on X at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
