A Homeowner's Guide to Artificial Grass Care

Artificial grass is gaining momentum among homeowners as this is a great alternative to natural grass. Synthetic turf provides various benefits, including showing off a lush, green lawn all year round, saving on water bills, ensuring a safe yard for children and pets, and safeguarding an eco-friendly lawn. Accordingly, investing in artificial grass installation on your property eliminates the rigorous care and maintenance required for a natural grass lawn. 

However, despite eliminating regular lawn maintenance, an artificial grass lawn still needs some care to preserve its aesthetic look and improve its longevity. Here are the ways you can care for your artificial grass:

Remove Leaves and Debris

In the autumn season or after a storm, it is possible for leaves, sticks, or other debris to fall and accumulate on your lawn. When this happens, it is crucial to remove them from your turf. This is because these fragments decompose when they are left there. Consequently, the accumulation of organic litter in the backing's drainage holes can negatively affect the natural drainage capabilities of the artificial turf, preventing water from draining correctly and creating an environment that enables weeds to thrive. 

To remove leaves, twigs, and other larger debris from your artificial lawn, you can make use of a leaf blower. Meanwhile, to clear your turf of seeds, soil, mud, dust, and other smaller debris, you can rinse the lawn with a garden hose. When doing this, you must be careful not to use too much pressure as using extreme water pressure can damage the grass. 

Brush the Artificial Grass 

Regularly brushing the synthetic grass can help keep it from dipping or flattening. Cross brushing or the process of brushing the turf's grass blades in different directions can help them to stay upright, boasting a more natural grass looking lawn. 

It is recommended to brush your artificial grass frequently. It would be challenging to cover a large area of your lawn in one go; thus, the best thing to do is to brush the areas that experience high foot traffic frequently. Accordingly, when brushing your artificial turf, you must do it in a dry yard and by using a brush with soft bristles. You can also use fabric softeners to lessen the static build-up while brushing. 

Rinse the Stains and Spills off the Turf

Artificial grass products, in most cases, are highly resistant to stains and discolouring; however, a prompt action to remove any stain is the best policy to implement to ensure and preserve the natural colour of the synthetic turf. 

Food and drink stains can be removed using soapy water and a sponge. Meanwhile, you can use a specific mineral spirit or grease spot removers for stubborn stains such as oils, greases, and polishes. Nonetheless, it is essential to rinse off soap or chemical substances with either warm or cold water to get rid of any lasting chemical residue. 

Get Rid of Weeds

The ground of your lawn will be excavated and prepared before the artificial grass installation to prevent weeds from creeping through the backing material of your synthetic turf. However, it is nearly impossible to stop the weed from growing through the artificial grass's surface. 

If you find weeds growing through the surface of your artificial grass, it is recommended to use a weed killer product to eliminate weeds penetrating from below the backing material. Generally, to reduce the risks of weeds growing through the backing fabric of your artificial turf, it is recommended to spray weed killer through the turf's entire surface annually. When weeds are dead, you can sweep them away from your artificial lawn using a broom. 

Check for Bacteria and Mould

Although artificial grass has fewer chances of collecting bacterial spores than natural grass, it is still possible for bacteria to grow in synthetic turf if you have pets. Bacteria tend to grow in areas where your pet frequently leaves their business behind. 

To prevent bacteria from growing on your turf, pick up your pet's faeces as soon as possible and hose down the area. Conversely, if you suspect that bacteria has spread out on the spot where your pet usually urinates or defecates, you can spray a mixture of vinegar and water throughout your artificial lawn. 

Moreover, if you spot coloured spots on your artificial grass, it usually means mould is forming. You can eliminate mould from your artificial turf by applying hydrogen peroxide. After this treatment, it is crucial to clean the artificial grass with water to avoid chemical damage.

Avoid certain threats that can damage the artificial grass

Artificial grass is highly durable and can cope with high amounts of foot traffic. However, it is not entirely indestructible. There are certain things to avoid to prevent damage on your artificial turf and improve its lifespan, including:

• Leaving metal equipment or power tools on the artificial grass after use
• Using motor vehicles on the artificial grass lawn   
• Removing or capping off sprinkler heads
• Using barbeques, grills, or fire pits, on or near the artificial turf
• Smoking cigarettes on or near the artificial grass
• Putting metal furniture with sharp edges on the artificial turf
• Placing glass tables on the turf
• Forcefully removing snow or frost from your fake lawn

Conclusion 

Knowing how to proceed with artificial grass care can enable you to treat your synthetic lawn correctly and adequately. This prevents the artificial turf from incurring any permanent damage, ensures its optimal performance, and improves its life expectancy. In addition, maintaining your artificial lawn's optimal condition also enables you to reap all the advantages synthetic grass offers.

Moreover, if your synthetic turf has reached its expected life expectancy or has incurred damage and you are considering investing in a new artificial grass lawn, you can always choose Easy Turf for premium synthetic grass solutions. 

Easy Turf offer quality life-like turf suited to Australia's harsh climate conditions and provide quality artificial grass installation for commercial, sporting, and residential landscapes. Contact us at 1800 327 988 or (03) 93153041 for your artificial turf needs, or request a quote from our website.