Pile Height Guide — Family-owned, 4.9★ rated, 15-year warranty
Pool season in Dunwoody runs long, and that means your backyard gets a lot of traffic—especially around Georgetown and Winters Chapel where families crowd together for summer barbecues. The problem with natural grass around a pool? It turns into mud, it clogs your filter system, and those clay soils we've got here in DeKalb County don't drain fast enough to keep up with splashing kids and wet feet. Artificial turf designed for pool decks solves that completely. You get a clean, barefoot-friendly surface that drains instantly, won't turn into a swamp after a heavy rain, and honestly looks better than struggling St. Augustine in the shade pockets that come with these older Dunwoody neighborhoods. The right pile height makes all the difference—too short and it feels harsh underfoot, too tall and it traps moisture and debris. We've installed dozens of pool-adjacent lawns in your area, from the neighborhoods near Brook Run Park to the estates around Dunwoody Village, and we've learned exactly what works in this climate and what doesn't.
Dunwoody's terrain presents specific challenges for pool landscaping. Your soil is that notorious DeKalb clay—dense, slow-draining, and prone to staying wet. When you're installing pool-side turf, drainage matters more than it does in regular lawn areas because standing water breeds algae, mold, and that unpleasant swamp smell. The other factor is shade. Lots of properties in Georgetown and around the older neighborhoods have mature trees that create dappled light all afternoon. Natural grass struggles there; artificial turf doesn't. For pile height specifically, pool decks usually call for something in the 1.5 to 2.25-inch range—dense enough to feel soft on bare feet and hide minor wear, but short enough that it dries completely within an hour of heavy use. Many Dunwoody properties sit on suburban lots with mixed sun and shade, so you're not dealing with the full-day scorch you'd find in open areas near Perimeter Mall. Your HOA guidelines matter too—check your covenant restrictions before installation, since some Dunwoody neighborhoods have specific turf specifications. We always recommend subsurface drainage systems here because of the clay; standing water above or below artificial turf is your enemy.
Most homeowners in your area go with 1.75 to 2-inch pile for pool decks. It's soft enough that kids and adults don't complain about bare feet, drains faster than taller options, and handles the wet climate around Dunwoody without trapping moisture. We sometimes go shorter (1.5 inches) if the pool gets heavy daily use, longer (2.25 inches) if the deck is also used as general lawn space.
Yes. Our DeKalb clay doesn't drain naturally, so poolside turf absolutely needs a subsurface system—usually perforated pipe and base rock. Without it, water pools underneath and creates mold, algae, and foul odors. It's not optional in Dunwoody; it's essential. This adds to your cost upfront but saves headaches for years.
Completely. That's actually one of artificial turf's biggest advantages over natural grass. Georgetown's mature trees cast shade all afternoon, and natural grass dies back there. Artificial turf thrives in shade, doesn't need sunlight, and you won't see dead patches around your pool the way you would with sod.
Quality 1.75 to 2-inch pool turf drains in 30 minutes to an hour depending on your subsurface system. Without proper drainage, it stays wet much longer. In Dunwoody's humid summers, that matters—you want bare feet dry and comfortable almost immediately after the kids get out of the pool.
Call (706) 701-8873 or visit instant.lawnlogicturf.com — 60-second quotes, no pressure.