WORK LESS, PLAY MORE
Artificial grass will change the way you clean your property. Its low maintenance will allow you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Rather, you’ll be able to concentrate on another projects instead of working on the grass.
While you save countless hours working on the lawn, that doesn’t mean artificial grass is totally maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic surface looking the best, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How frequently you clean your synthetic turf will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from other plants? Do you have young kids playing on your lawn? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?
If your synthetic turf is in an open part of the property, further away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you might require your work cut out when it comes to frequent maintenance. Of course, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, the short answer is that it really depends, but will constantly need some effort.
Here are some broad guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS
Sticks or leaves are loose debris which will fall down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even pierce the grass. Begin with eliminating things like kid’s or dog toys and other larger objects that are simple to remove with hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We recommend you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner of your lawn so you can collect for easier removal.
DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF
If you find chewing gum, paint, crayons, lipstick, or tree sap on your turf, you can begin by trying to delicately scrape the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t by mistake cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can create bald spots. Begin from the bottom of the grass blade and brush the fibers in multiple directions. If the sticky object don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to solidify them before scraping them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a cloth by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
REMOVING PET WASTE
If you have cats, you understand that your turf is their restroom. Many people worry that synthetic grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s not true! If you have cats, we suggest you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. But, cleaning is still easy even if you get normal synthetic turf. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you simply permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then wash the area 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 areas with water. Furthermore, 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 regarding synthetic grass for pets.
WHAT TO DO WITH MILD STAINS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Now and then that mess might happen on your synthetic turf. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your turf, or your kid might spill a juice box… you know how it goes. But washing simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other usual liquids are simple.
- Clean spills as soon as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
- Next, clean the surface with a mixture of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
- Clean thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the soap.
- If the stain is still visible, you can recur the procedure once or twice more.
CLEANING 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 eliminate it. You should be careful utilizing any of these near your artificial turf, 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 damage. You should contemplate about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, begin with dipping a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic turf with the rag. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t seep past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Gently wash the surface with a hose and blot up any left over liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still visible, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVOIDING DAMAGE
The majority of stains can be eliminated from your grass, but some things will permanently damage the grass that you should take care to avoid. Here are the most common ones that can cause the most damage.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and artificial turf do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to concern yourself with your yard going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your yard, you should consider adding a stone patio or gravel area to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or anything else that might cause fire damage on your artificial grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your synthetic grass, so be very careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create areas of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. In addition, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should not be kept near your artificial grass. If you have to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we firmly recommend you lay down some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial grass can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not recommended. Because of the twisting motion in the tires, 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. Too much weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the turf.
USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS
Sharp objects can cut or tear your synthetic turf. The sharper the item is, the worse the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged garden tools, sharp furniture feet, and ordinary tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should consider using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR CARE
Most Augusta homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the maintenance of their artificial turf. Still, you should consider implementing a routine cleaning schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You should eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick rinse if you haven’t received rain lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is an easy 4-step process you can do for regular care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the turf frequently, particularly after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Clean regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to get rid of any dust or pollen. This step can often be skipped if you live in an area with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the grass against 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 at least 30 minutes before resuming regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should consider having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Augusta.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have pooled water on your artificial grass, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These normally 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 complete these steps easily.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Useful for washing the grass when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the artificial surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove light debris more effortlessly. 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 because they will cause damage to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic grass look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Synthetic grass is a fantastic choice for Augusta homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic grass.
If you haven’t gotten artificial grass for your lawn or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.