How to care for artificial grass
An artificial lawn is one of those low-maintenance alternatives to real grass, although some people think this will mean no maintenance at all. While fake grass won’t require mowing or watering like a traditional lawn, there is a bit of upkeep that is required to make sure it remains in tip-top condition.
A little really does go far, and carrying out light maintenance tasks every month can save you on a massive job if you leave it for too long. Small tasks such as cleaning, weeding, and brushing will make sure that your artificial grass remains in good condition for many years.
Here are the steps to follow on the right way to care for artificial grass:
1 Brush It
When artificial grass is newly laid, the sand infill will gradually structure the turf. To make sure your turf is in optimal condition once it settles, you need to allow it to settle. Once this process is complete, your lawn is going to require a bit of maintenance. This will include brushing the lawn with a natural, stiff bristle broom.
When brushing change the direction frequently, to make sure the turf pile remains upright and bouncy. Brushing your fake grass is not a difficult or demanding task, yet it will result in a noticeable difference when it comes to the condition and appearance of the lawn.
Areas that receive high foot traffic might need more regular brushing to stop the blades from flattening.
2 Keep Your Artificial Grass Free From Debris
Artificial grass comes with a type of membrane backing that allows water to run through and lowers the risks linked to unwanted weeds or plants that typically grow through traditional grass patches. However, some moss and weeds are tenacious which means they can come through, so it is better that you are prepared along with knowing how to deal with moss or weeds if they happen to appear.
Unlike weeding real grass, you cannot dig through artificial grass using a fork or a trowel. Instead, you can either remove the top part of the weeds as soon as they grow through the lawn which won’t deal with the roots, or you can use a weed or moss killer. Make sure that the solution is water-based to prevent damaging the artificial turf. As soon as the weeds or moss dies, brush them away or pick them up by hand.
Organic debris which includes dead plants and leaves should also be removed as soon as possible. Allowing organic matter to build-up can harm the drainage of the lawn and promote weed growth. Two ways to get rid of this debris includes using a blower or removing the waste by hand.
3 Remove Stubborn Stains
Artificial grass is made from a resistant material which usually means that marks and stains should be easy to remove. Using soapy and hot water is the best approach (dishwashing liquid works well for this task). Tougher marks such as oil are easy to remove with a cloth soaked in mineral spirits. While it is possible to use diluted detergents, most artificial grass experts will recommend sticking to a specific cleaning product for artificial lawns to prevent any damages. When it comes to cleaning up messes caused by a pet, remove the waste as soon as you can and then wash down the area with a solution of soapy and hot water.
Other Maintenance
While brushing your artificial grass should be taking place at least once a month, there are maintenance and care tasks that should be taking place during specific seasons. For example, during summer when you spend a lot more time outdoors, the areas that receive the most foot traffic will need extra care.
While artificial lawn won’t suffer the effects of frost, the regions that receive heavy snowfall needs to be left to naturally melt. Trying to remove ice and snow that is compressed can damage your artificial lawn or thin out the fake grass blades.
Additional Tips
- Avoid point or sharp objects from contacting synthetic grass. This will include football or rugby studded boots, broke glass, or stiletto shoes.
- Avoid using strong detergents or harsh chemicals such as bleach on an artificial lawn. Soapy and hot water is more than enough when it comes to cleaning away stubborn stains.
- Keep adhesives and chewing gum far away from a synthetic lawn.
- Do not park your car on an artificial lawn.
- To lower the debris and leaf litter that lands up on your synthetic lawn, make sure over-hanging trees and hedges are cut back.
- Avoid keeping or using heat sources on your artificial grass. Fireworks, bonfires, and smoking are all no-nos. If you want to use a barbecue, make sure it is positioned on a solid and safe surface such as a slab or gravel. It is also important to make sure your barbecue is far away from your lawn to avoid damages that would be impossible to repair if the grass is exposed to the heat of burning coal.
- Keep a watch over damages that your pets or kids can cause to an artificial lawn. In most cases, dogs won’t be interested in digging up artificial turf, but if they have decided that this is a good digging spot they can rip up the underlay. At the same time, if your children start purposely picking the blades off, keep in mind that fake grass will not grow back. Artificial grass can be a wonderful addition to your home for both your pets and your kids, but just be mindful of how they plan to treat it.
Final Thoughts
We hope these ideas and advice will assist you in maintaining your newly laid artificial lawn for years to come. If you have any other questions or concerns about your synthetic grass it is best to contact the company that installed your grass for the best advice. An artificial lawn is an investment that should be well researched before you go ahead with your purchase.