LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic grass will transform the way you clean your property. Its low upkeep will enable you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on another projects rather than maintaining the grass.
While you save countless hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean artificial grass is completely maintenance-free. To keep your artificial turf looking great, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How regularly you maintain your artificial grass will rely on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from trees? Do you have young kids playing in your backyard? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will drop leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial turf is in an open part of the property, away from trees, plants, pets and children, you might require your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. Obviously, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, in short it really depends, but will eventually need some effort.
Here are some broad guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO DEAL WITH LOOSE DEBRIS
Sticks or leaves are loose debris which can start to fall down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Larger limbs can even stab the grass. Start by eliminating things like children’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are easy to remove with hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris utilizing a leaf blower to one edge of your lawn so you can collect for simple removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you have lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your turf, you can initiate by trying to softly scrape the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t unintentionally cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can result in bald spots. Begin from the bottom of the grass blade and brush the fibers in multiple directions. If the sticky object don’t come off, try freezing 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 damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
DISPOSING OF PET WASTE
If you have dogs, you know your turf is their bathroom. Many pet owners are concerned that synthetic turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s not true! If you have cats, we suggest you get pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleanup is still easy even if you get normal artificial turf. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you just allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then cleanse the area with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through just like any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Check out this article to see some of the most frequent questions about synthetic grass for pets.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Sometimes that mess might happen on your artificial turf. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your grass, or your child might drop a juice box… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are simple.
- Clean spills as soon as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to start.
- Next, clean the surface with a mixture of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
- Wash thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the detergent.
- If the spot is still visible, you can repeat the process once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If the spillage is of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how tough it can be to remove. You should be careful utilizing any of these around your synthetic grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.
- Wear safety 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, initiate by dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic turf with the cloth. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Gently wash the grass with a hose and blot up any surplus liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still there, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
The majority of stains can be removed from your turf, but some objects can permanently damage the grass that you should take care to avoid. Here are the most common ones that can be the most problematic.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and artificial turf do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to bother about your lawn going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your lawn, you should consider adding a stone patio or gravel area to build 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 have negative reaction with your artificial grass, so be very careful when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can leave areas of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your synthetic grass. If you need to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we strongly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Synthetic turf can take heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not suggested. 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 out from the backing material and lead to tearing over time. The heavy weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the grass.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp objects can cut or tear your synthetic grass. The sharper the item is, the worse the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged garden tools, pointy furniture feet, and household tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should be using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
ROUTINE CARE
Many Greenwich homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic grass. Still, you should think about enforcing a schedule maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You must remove loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick cleaning if you haven’t gotten precipitation recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a simple 4-step process you can do for Standard care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the surface regularly, particularly after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Wash often with a hose. Cold, clean water will help wash away any dust or pollen. This step can often be skipped if you live in an area with lots of precipitation.
Step 3: Brush the grass opposite the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing against the grain will also prevent the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for a minimum o 30 minutes before continuing with regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year after your installation, you should consider having your turf professionally groomed, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Connecticut.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your artificial turf, moss, mold and mildew can grow. These usually look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic turf. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you finish these steps easily.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for cleaning the grass when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the artificial surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate small debris more easily. One that has a reverse option is really useful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner also.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely avoid metal rakes cause they will cause harm to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Artificial turf is a fantastic choice for Greenwich homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your artificial turf.
If you are yet to get artificial grass for your yard or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.