Opened in September 2018 beside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 11-acre Home Depot Backyard needed natural grass that could deliver a professional look while standing up to intense tailgating traffic and regular vehicle loading. Profile Porous Ceramic (PPC) Greens Grade blended with sand was selected after alternatives such as fiber fill and grass pavers failed testing. The sand-based rootzone improved water and nutrient holding, oxygen levels and drainage, enabled essential cultural practices like core aeration, and helped the turf establish in 60 days and withstand roughly 700 cars each weekend.
Key Points
- 11-acre greenspace beside Mercedes-Benz Stadium designed for tailgating, flexible sports fields, playgrounds, paths and community programs.
- Challenge was to grow natural grass with a professional look and feel that endures substantial foot traffic and heavy vehicle use, including roughly 700 cars every weekend.
- Testing compared a grass paver product, a fiber fill option and a sand/Profile Porous Ceramic (PPC) Greens Grade rootzone blend; the sand-based PPC solution was chosen.
- PPC greens mix improves water- and nutrient-holding capabilities, increases oxygen and drainage, resists compaction, eliminates localized dry spot, and makes maintaining the turf much easier and more consistent in the long term.
