Getting the best artificial grass in Palmerston North is less about the turf roll than about what sits under it, because the excavation, base course and drainage decide whether a synthetic lawn stays flat and free draining. Artificial grass in Palmerston North has to handle wet winters and the heavy clay and silt soils common across the Manawatū, so specification and site preparation matter as much as pile height. This part of the trade is served largely by companies based in other centres, which work into the region through their own crews or approved local installers, among them ThinkTurf out of Wellington and Urban Turf Solutions, which manufactures its own turf in New Zealand.
1ThinkTurf
Think Turf was formed in 2011 and supplies and installs artificial grass lawns to the Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatū and Whanganui regions, working into Palmerston North from a showroom in Petone. The work runs from home lawns, decks and balconies through to kindergarten and school play surfaces, commercial fit outs and sports areas. It suits homeowners who want to see and handle turf samples in person before committing, and schools needing a certified fall protection system under play equipment.
Services
- Artificial grass lawns for homes, decks, balconies and rooftops
- Playground and multi-use surfaces for kindergartens, childcare centres and schools, with shock pad fall protection
- Cricket pitches, tennis courts and multisport surfaces
- Home putting greens through its Your Own Green service
- Synthetic turf maintenance and repairs
Highlights
- Formed in 2011
- Petone showroom open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm
- Five to eight year turf product warranty, 25 year product warranty on shockpads and a two year workmanship guarantee
- Shock pad systems certified to Australia and New Zealand standards, with yarn free of lead and heavy metals
Location & Contact
Name: ThinkTurf
Address: 94 Sydney Street, Petone, Wellington
Phone: 04 939 6950
Website: thinkturf.co.nz
2Urban Turf Solutions
Urban Turf Solutions is a Kiwi owned artificial grass manufacturer that runs the process from design through to the production line and sells factory direct rather than through retail. It supplies Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū from its Auckland base, working with a network of local contractors who handle excavation, base course and the full installation. The range spans landscape lawns, dog turf, playgrounds, putting greens and sports surfaces, so it suits both a single backyard and a school or club project.
Services
- Supply and installation of artificial lawns for backyards, front lawns and landscaping
- Dog friendly synthetic turf with free draining backing
- School, daycare and playground turf, including its Urban Play range
- Putting greens, cricket wickets, tennis courts and multi-sport surfaces
- Trade materials including joining tape, adhesives and silica sand infill
Highlights
- Vertically integrated manufacturer producing its own artificial grass
- Nationwide network of approved installers and dealers
- UV stabilisers blended into the yarn for New Zealand sun exposure
- Custom sizes cut at the factory to suit the layout and reduce offcuts
- Acrylic sports surfacing alongside synthetic turf, including padel and pickleball courts
Location & Contact
Name: Urban Turf Solutions
Address: 42 Porana Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland 0627
Phone: 0508 872 268
Website: urbanturfsolutions.co.nz
3Unreal Lawns
Unreal Lawns and Courts is a New Zealand owned, family run business established in July 2017, trading from a head office in Frankton, Hamilton. Palmerston North projects are managed by Unreal Lawns and carried out by selected installation partners, while larger sports, education and specialist commercial jobs are completed by its own team. Its stated Manawatū service area covers Awapuni, Hokowhitu, Kelvin Grove, Milson, Roslyn, Terrace End, Ashhurst and Feilding.
Services
- Artificial grass supply and installation for home lawns and pet friendly backyards
- Playground and childcare surfacing with certified shockpad underlay
- Sports turf, multi-sport courts and home putting greens
- Turf supply and technical support for landscapers, trade professionals and DIY installers
Highlights
- Established on 7 July 2017 and family run
- Cool Turf 5-in-1 heat reducing yarn technology
- FlowTech fully permeable backing and organic zeolite infill for pet lawns
- SafeBase certified shockpad system tested for critical fall heights in schools and early learning centres
- TrueRoll hybrid surfaces engineered for ball roll on putting greens and multi-sport courts
Location & Contact
Name: Unreal Lawns
Address: 6 Goodfellow Place, Frankton, Hamilton 3204
Phone: 0508 867 325
Website: unreallawns.co.nz
4SmartGrass
SmartGrass NZ supplies and installs synthetic grass around the country from its New Zealand headquarters at Kainga, north of Christchurch, with further showrooms in Lower Hutt and East Tāmaki. Palmerston North enquiries are quoted through a free measure and quote visit before any work is booked, covering home lawns, dog runs, preschool and school surfacing and sports areas. It suits householders who want a fixed warranty position confirmed in writing before the job starts.
Services
- Artificial grass supply and installation for home lawns and dog owners
- Preschool, primary and high school surfacing
- Hockey, tennis, cricket, football, rugby, golf and multi-sport turf
Highlights
- Ten year Diamond Warranty on its turf
- UV colour fade protection and Stable Shape Technology built into the yarn
- Showrooms in Christchurch, Lower Hutt and East Tāmaki, with walk ins welcomed at the Christchurch head office
- Free measure and quote before a booking is confirmed
Location & Contact
Name: SmartGrass
Address: 7 Waimakariri Park Drive, Kainga, Christchurch 8083
Phone: 0800 887 369
Website: smartgrass.co.nz
Artificial Grass in Palmerston North at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| ThinkTurf | Formed in 2011 |
| Urban Turf Solutions | Vertically integrated manufacturer producing its own artificial grass |
| Unreal Lawns | Established on 7 July 2017 and family run |
| SmartGrass | Ten year Diamond Warranty on its turf |
How to Choose the Right Artificial Grass in Palmerston North
- Ask what the quote includes below the surface. Excavation depth, base course, compaction and edge restraint drive most of the cost and decide whether the lawn stays level.
- Check the drainage plan for clay and silt ground. If you have dogs or a shaded, boggy corner, ask for the permeability rate of the turf backing.
- Read the three warranties separately. Turf product warranty, shockpad warranty and workmanship guarantee are different documents with different terms and durations.
- Match the specification to the use. A landscape turf around 35mm to 40mm suits a family lawn, while playground and sports surfaces need certified fall heights or defined ball roll characteristics.
- Confirm who does the work on site. Several companies selling artificial grass in Palmerston North supply from another centre and subcontract installation to regional crews, so ask which installer attends and who carries the guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palmerston North Artificial Grass
How much does artificial grass cost in Palmerston North?
Suppliers serving the Manawatū rarely publish a fixed rate per square metre, because the largest single cost is preparing the ground rather than the turf itself. Removing existing lawn and topsoil, laying and compacting a base course, and adding retaining where the ground falls away are all labour intensive and vary site by site. Expect a measure and quote visit rather than a price over the phone, and ask for the base preparation to be itemised separately from the turf.
What is actually involved in laying an artificial lawn?
The existing turf and topsoil are stripped out, a compacted aggregate base course is laid to create a flat, free draining platform, and a timber or similar edge is fixed to hold everything in place. The turf is then rolled out, joined, trimmed to the edges and dressed with a sand infill that helps the fibres stand up. Most of the labour goes into the base, which is why two jobs of the same size can be priced quite differently.
Do I need council consent to lay artificial grass?
Laying an artificial lawn at ground level is normally treated as landscaping rather than building work, so a building consent is not usually required. Larger areas can still matter for stormwater and site coverage rules, particularly on a small section or where drainage is being altered, and retaining walls over a certain height have their own consent thresholds. Check the district plan and stormwater requirements with Palmerston North City Council before committing to a large area.
Is artificial grass suitable for dogs?
Yes, and it is one of the more common reasons Manawatū households make the switch, because it removes the winter mud that dogs otherwise track indoors. Look for a fully permeable backing so urine drains straight through into the aggregate below rather than sitting on the surface, and ask about infill choices, since some suppliers use a zeolite based infill that traps ammonia rather than masking the smell. A secured timber edge also stops dogs lifting the turf at the perimeter.
Which parts of Palmerston North and the Manawatū do installers cover?
Artificial grass in Palmerston North is largely supplied by companies based in other centres, which quote by site visit and install using regional crews, so coverage usually extends across the whole city and out into the surrounding Manawatū towns rather than being limited to particular suburbs. If you are in an outlying area, or on a lifestyle block with restricted truck access, confirm at the enquiry stage that your address is covered and ask whether travel is charged separately. Access for a digger and a truck is worth mentioning early, because it changes how the base course is brought in.
How long does artificial grass last, and what does the warranty cover?
Product warranties in this market commonly run from around five to ten years and cover fibre degradation and colour fade rather than general wear, while workmanship guarantees on the installation are usually much shorter. Shockpad systems used under playground surfaces are often warranted separately and for far longer. Whatever the written warranty says, work done for you also carries rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act, which Consumer NZ explains in plain terms.
Does artificial grass get hot in the sun?
Synthetic turf does warm up more than a natural lawn on a still, sunny day, since the fibres absorb heat and there is no evaporation to cool the surface. Several suppliers now sell yarn with heat reducing or reflective technology intended to lower surface temperature, and a light hose down cools a lawn quickly if it is being used by children or pets. Shade from a tree, pergola or fence makes a noticeable difference through a Manawatū summer.
Can I lay artificial grass myself?
Yes, and several suppliers sell turf, joining tape, adhesive and infill directly to people doing their own installation, some with written guides or a dedicated DIY supply service. The turf itself is the straightforward part. The excavation, base course and compaction are heavy work and are where most self installed lawns go wrong, so it is worth being honest about whether you have access to a compactor and somewhere to take the spoil.
How We Chose the Best Artificial Grass in Palmerston North
Every business in this guide was found by searching for artificial grass in Palmerston North, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Palmerston North, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.