LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Artificial grass will change the way you clean your property. Its low maintenance will enable you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Alternatively, you’ll be able to concentrate on other projects instead of working on the grass.
While you save precious hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is entirely maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic turf looking the best, follow the directions provided.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How often you clean your artificial turf will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from other plants? Do you have children playing in the yard? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial turf is in an open space, away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you might require your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. Of course, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will constantly demand some effort.
Here are some universal guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks will break down on the grass surface and cause premature wear and tear. Larger limbs can even stab the grass. Start by eliminating things like children’s or pet toys and other larger objects that are simple to remove by hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for easier removal.
DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF
If you discover paint, crayons, chewing gum, lipstick, or tree sap on your grass, you can start by trying to gently rasp the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t by mistake cut off the turf blades you are cleaning because it can result in bald spots. Begin from the bottom of the grass blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to thicken them before scraping them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a cloth by drenching the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
REMOVING PET WASTE
If you have dogs, you know your turf is their bathroom. Many pet owners are concerned that artificial turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s wrong! If you have dogs, we suggest you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. However, cleaning is still manageable even if you get normal artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you merely allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then clean the surface with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will flow through just like any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Additionally, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Take a look at this article to see some of the most frequent questions about synthetic turf for dogs.
WHAT TO DO REGARDING LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Sometimes that mess might happen on your artificial grass. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your grass, or your kid might drop a juice box… you know how it goes. But cleaning up simple stains like coffee, alcohol, soda, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are easy.
- Clean spills as fast as possible making sure they don't leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
- Next, clean the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
- Wash thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the soap.
- If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the procedure once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If you’ve spilled something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how tough it can be to eliminate it. You should be cautious utilizing any of these around your artificial grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can do.
- Wear protective clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should contemplate about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, start by dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of artificial grass with the rag. You must make sure the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Gently rinse the grass with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain remains, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
Most stains can be cleaned from your turf, but some objects may permanently damage the grass that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the most common ones that can be the most problematic.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic grass do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to worry about your lawn going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should think about adding a gravel area or stone patio to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not use fireworks or anything else that may cause fire damage on your artificial turf.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your artificial turf, so be extra careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create spots of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your synthetic turf. If you have to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we definitely recommend you lay some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Synthetic turf can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not recommended. Because of the twisting motion in the wheels, it can wreack havoc to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull away from the backing material and lead to damage over time. The heavy weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.
USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS
Sharp items can tear or cut your synthetic grass. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged gardening tools, sharp furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your synthetic grass, you should be utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
The majority of Austin homeowners do not have to spend much time on the maintenance of their synthetic turf. Still, we suggest you to consider enforcing a schedule cleaning schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You should eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick cleaning if you haven’t received precipitation recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step process you can do for Standard care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the turf frequently, more so after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Clean regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to eliminate any dust or pollen. This step can often be skipped if you live in an area with plenty of precipitation.
Step 3: Brush the grass opposing grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposite the grain will also block the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for at least 30 minutes before continuing with normal activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year after your installation, you should consider having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels checked by Southwest Greens of Austin.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have pooled water on your synthetic surface, moss, mold and mildew can grow. These generally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic grass. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you complete these steps easily.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Useful for rinsing the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the artificial surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove small debris more effortlessly. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner also.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to avoid metal rakes because they will cause damage to the turf. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic grass look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Artificial turf is an excellent choice for Austin homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic grass.
If you are yet to get synthetic turf for your yard or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.