The Natura™ Story
Who Is Natura?
We are a St. Louis, MO based company made up of people who are curious and who want to make a difference in our world. While we are a manufacturer, we see ourselves as much more – we aspire to be problem solvers.
Natura™ is a GrassWorx innovation. We have been making products with the qualities and benefits of real grass for over five decades. While we do create plastic artificial turf products, we do so while keeping the earth, people and our pets in mind. Natura, along with all of our hybrid turf products, offer a significantly lower carbon footprint to the traditional alternatives – and we think we can do more – and we will continue to innovate with the goal in mind to make products that solve real problems in new ways.
For Natura, specifically, we are proud to offer a product that allows the earth to breathe. Byproducts of producing a product with direct perforation are lower heat and less odors. The earth does her thing…we are just the protective layer above her, that allows your dogs to run above the mud and engage with real smells of the soil below – all the while protecting the regenerative portion of vegetation, so it can regrow.
We believe that you should not do more than you need to to solve your dog exercise yard issues, we are confident that Natura is this solution.
How it started
Our parent company, GrassWorx, LLC, a privately-held St Louis, MO business, began making AstroTurf® back in the 1960’s when it was part of a large, multi-national corporation. Chances are, you’ve owned or seen our doormats before. Since then, many other effective uses have been born from our interpretation of artificial turf. Recently we developed the Insta-Turf® Soft Armor line of products that promote the growth of vegetation where it typically has difficulty growing. Our erosion control products secure the ground in the face of rushing water – protecting the environment and keeping the beauty of real green growth.
That brings us to the Natura™ turf. As pet owners and dog lovers we saw a real problem that existed in many backyards – unsightly, worn paths left by our four-legged family members. We knew that our product design not only would protect the natural turf and ground, but the blades of the Natura turf would act to remove excess debris from paws and feet. Further, we understand that a dog’s anxiety level is reduced when they can properly engage with their natural surroundings. Natura allows dogs to smell the earth’s natural scents and they can have a better understanding of their surroundings.
We are sure that this product will bring joy to your family and save resources for your dog business; it will reduce the time you need to clean your pup’s paws before they come inside and it will improve the look of your yard immediately…and for years to come.
More Information About Natura Hybrid Turf
What is Natura?
Natura™ is a lightweight hybrid turf that is designed to facilitate grass and vegetative growth through the perforated openings in the turf. The term “hybrid turf” means that it provides the simultaneous benefits of both natural turf and artificial turf. Natura is designed for pet owners and commercial pet businesses to both protect their ground from the wear of their dog’s paws and to facilitate real grass growth where it would not grow before. People who have heard of us usually say, “you’re the turf that grass grows through!”.
Growing grass through Natura
While Natura does not, itself, contain seeds, our patent-pending perforated design allows for sunlight, moisture and CO2 to pass down through the turf to the ground and seeds below. It facilitates germination and protects the grass’ crown against moderate traffic such that the plant canopy has the potential to recover. When grass grows successfully through Natura it will cause the turf to essentially “disappear” from view under the canopy of the vegetation. We have found that nearly all vegetative cover plants will grow through Natura. When cool season grasses become dormant, you may notice the green color of Natura contrast to the brown of the dormant grass.
Natura is unaffected by most liquids and solids, including urine, feces, lawn fertilizers and chemicals. Natura is made 99% from recyclable polyethylene with “turf blades” that stand ¾” high. This height is far below the standard 3-4″ normal mower deck height meaning you can mow directly over Natura. The turf is designed with a patent-pending reflective pigment to minimize heat and consequential “seedling burn down”.
You don't have to grow grass through Natura
There are situations where you may not want grass to grow. Natura is still a great solution. When you can’t grow grass or you don’t want to, because you don’t want to have to mow over it, you can place Natura over a layer of sand. This sand layer will prevent grass and weeds from growing through, while still allowing liquids to pass through the turf. What’s even better is that Natura looks like grass when installed because of our blades, so you get the beauty of a grass yard without the on-going maintenance.
Disposing of Natura
When the performance benefits of Natura are no longer needed or when Natura is no longer performing, Natura can be pulled up from the ground and sent to recycling. The fiberglass wire on the underside should be disposed of before recycling the turf itself.
We like to have fun around here at Natura turf. We love dogs and want the best for them, and we value the natural benefits of real grass combined with the innovation of artificial turf. We think there’s no better combo than grass, dogs, and Natura turf; that’s why we wrote up this little love letter from grass to dogs—to put into words the wonderful connection between grass and dogs. We hope it brings a smile to your face the way it did to ours.
An Ode to Dogs...from Grass
Look, I get it. Dogs are man’s best friend. As a humble blade of grass, I don’t usually get jealous—and people don’t often put their ears close enough to the ground to hear me, anyway—but I think it’s about time I expressed my love for our four-legged friends.
As a blade of grass, my perspective on dogs may be limited (I don’t have eyes or ears) but I have witnessed their presence and their activities countless times. I mean, I’m grass. I’m your lawn, your dog park, your dog yard. Who knows dogs better than me?
Perhaps what I love most about dogs is their curiosity about the world. Most of the time, I’m content just standing by and letting life happen around me—but dogs are different. They want to be a part of everything. Whenever a ball lands on me or a squirrel scampers over me, dogs are there to investigate.
I’ve never smelled anything in my life, so I wouldn’t know what I smell like, but it must be good! Dogs love nothing more than sticking their noses into grass like me and giving it a big old sniff. Eau de rhizome, that’s what I call it. Dogs never fail to flatter me.
Dogs are simply the best. They jump and play and roll around on me. They tickle me with their snouts and sometimes I give them a tickle back. Some of the most precious moments of my life are when dogs rest their bellies on me to cool down on a hot summer day. I am overjoyed when they paw at me and give me a little haircut with their teeth.
They leave little footprints in me when they walk and they make grass angels when they roll around on their backs. What’s not to love about dogs? Dogs give me the attention I deserve.
Sure, sometimes they do their business on me. It’s only natural. I’m grass: I love natural. They give me much needed moisture on a hot day or fertilizer when I’m not feeling my strongest. I’m a simple blade of grass; I’m not squeamish.
Sure, dogs are man’s best friend, but grass is a friend to everyone! I don’t get sore when humans give me a shave when my hair gets shaggy. People and dogs alike love the way I look and feel. What’s the alternative? Mud, gravel, concrete, artificial turf. I have nothing against those guys, but ask anyone—dog or human alike—what they think of grass and they’ll tell you, grass just has it goin’ on! I’ll admit, sometimes I need a little help. Toss some grass seed around, throw some water from the hose my way. Anything that keeps me from dying and turning into a dirty mud pit. It’s the least I can ask.
As much as I love dogs, sometimes I get tired and torn up when I have dozens of paws running and digging on me all day, every day. I wish there was some way I could keep on hanging out with dogs (tons of dogs!) without ruining the way I look and feel. Oh well, I’m just a blade of grass. There’s only so much I can do.
So this goes out to you, dogs. I love you, and I’m always game for a roll or a sniff. I hope the feeling’s mutual, and to be honest, I get the impression you feel the same way.