LESS WORK, MORE PLAY

Synthetic grass will transform the way you maintain your property. Its effortless upkeep will allow you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on alternative projects instead of keeping up the grass.

While you save countless hours working on your grass, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is entirely maintenance-free. To maintain your synthetic surface looking great, follow the directions provided.

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How regularly you clean your artificial grass 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 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, away from children, pets, trees and plants, you may have less to do when it comes to frequent maintenance. By all means, 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 demand some effort.

Here are some broad guidelines we recommend.

HOW TO DEAL WITH LOOSE DEBRIS

Sticks or leaves are loose debris which will fall down on the turf surface and cause premature wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even puncture the grass. Start by 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 using a leaf blower to one corner of your lawn so you can collect for easier removal.

HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?

If you’ve got lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your turf, you can begin by trying to softly graze the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t unintentionally cut off the turf blades you are cleaning because it can create bald spots. Start from the base of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky object don’t come off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to thicken them before trying to them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a rag by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.

REMOVING PET WASTE

If you have pets, you understand that your turf is their bathroom. Many people are concerned that synthetic grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s false! If you have dogs, we suggest you get pet-specific systems by SWG.. But, cleanup is still easy even if you get normal artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you merely permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then cleanse the surface with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through similar to any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Plus, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding 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 may happen on your synthetic turf. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your turf, or your kid might drop a juice box… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like soda, alcohol, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are easy.

1. Clean spills as fast 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.
2. Up next, rinse the area with a mix of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
3. Wash thoroughly with your hose to remove the soap.
4. If the spot is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.

CLEANING TOUGH STAINS

If the spillage is of something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how hard it can be to eliminate it. You should be meticulous utilizing any of these near your artificial grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can do.

1. Wear protective clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin damage. You should think about a respirator to prevent toxic fumes, too.
2. After you have protective gear on, begin with dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
3. Gently clean off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the rag. You must ensure the solution doesn’t leak past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
4. Gently rinse the surface with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. If the stain is still there, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.

AVOIDING DAMAGE

The majority of stains can be cleaned from your grass, but some things may permanently damage the turf that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the big 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 yard going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should consider adding a gravel area or stone patio to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or anything else that might cause fire damage on your artificial turf.

BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS

Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your artificial grass, so be especially vigilant when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can leave spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. In addition, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should not be kept near your synthetic lawn. If you need to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we strongly recommend you lay down some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.

DON’T DRIVE ON IT

Artificial grass can handle heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not suggested. Due to the turning motion of the wheels, it can cause damage to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull away from the backing material and lead to damage over time. Too much weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the grass.

USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE

Sharp items can cut or tear your synthetic grass. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged garden tools, sharp furniture feet, and household tools. If you are thinking about having patio furniture on your artificial turf, you should be using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Many homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic grass. Still, you should consider implementing a routine maintenance 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 cleaning if you haven’t gotten rain recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a simple 4-step process you can observe for routine care.

Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the surface frequently, particularly after high winds or storms.

Step 2: Wash regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will help wash away any dust or pollen. This step can frequently be avoided if you live in an area with plenty of rain.

Step 3: Brush the grass against the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposing 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 think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels checked by a Southwest Greens licensed franchise.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have pooled water on your synthetic grass, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These normally 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 effortlessly.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Helpful for washing the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the artificial surface.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate light debris more easily. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner too.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely avoid metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.

PERFECT ALL YEAR

Synthetic turf is a great choice for homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your synthetic turf.

If you haven’t gotten artificial turf for your yard or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.