2021 Landscape Installation of the Year Award: Residential Category

Michigan Residential Wetlands 

Wetlands in the State of Michigan are a highly protected resource and ecosystem making a recent installation of artificial grass at a West Bloomfield Township Michigan home a groundbreaking project for the turf industry.

What began as a custom putting green project replicating the 12th hole at Augusta National quickly became a complex 20,000 sq. ft. landscaping project connecting the client's family and friends to nearby Upper Straits Lake. With considerations regarding the impact of the project on the Lake's fragile wetlands, special permission needed to be obtained by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

Approval for the inclusion of artificial grass from the home, through the Lake's wetlands, and to the Lake itself was made possible by selecting SYNLawn's SYNAugustine 547 landscape grass, the first and only USDA Certified BioBased landscape grass product. The BioBased product took less time to approve than usual by the Zoning Board of Appeals as additional construction details were submitted ensuring proper drainage. Additionally, the floodplain was laser graded within a ½” over a 10’ run to ensure compliance.

The approval by the EGLE sets a significant precedent for the Synthetic Turf Industry in the State of Michigan and a unique case study for the industry as a whole. Advances in plant-based sustainable technology within SYNLawn's BioBased turf products are paving the way for the continued acceptance, adoption, and implementation of synthetic turf impacting our communities and ecosystems.