LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will transform the way you clean your property. Its low maintenance will allow you to forget the hassle of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Alternatively, you’ll be able to concentrate on alternative projects instead of maintaining the grass.
While you save valuable hours working on the lawn, that doesn’t mean artificial grass is entirely maintenance-free. To keep your artificial surface looking great, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How often you maintain your synthetic grass will depend 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 shed leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial turf is in an isolated space, further away from children, pets, trees and plants, you may have less to do when it comes to regular maintenance. Obviously, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, the short answer is that it really depends, but will eventually need some maintenance.
Here are some general guidelines we suggest.
HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS
Sticks or leaves are loose debris which can start to fall down on the grass surface and cause early wear and tear. Larger limbs can even stab the grass. Begin with eliminating things like children’s or pet toys and other larger objects that are simple to remove by hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We recommend you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one edge of your yard so you can collect for easier removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you discover paint, crayons, chewing gum, lipstick, or tree sap on your turf, you can start by trying to softly rasp the material off the grass 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 result in bald spots. Start from the base of the grass 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 scraping them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a cloth by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
CLEANING PET WASTE
If you have cats, you understand that your grass is their restroom. Many people worry that synthetic grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s false! If you have pets, we suggest you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleanup is still manageable even if you get regular artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you simply permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then clean the area with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will flow through just like any other liquid, you can also spray these areas with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions about synthetic grass for dogs.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Now and then that mess might happen on your synthetic grass. Your favorite snack might find its way to your turf, or your child might spill a juice box… you know things like these happen. But cleaning up simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are simple.
- 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.
- Up next, clean the area with a combination of water and mild household detergent for example dish soap.
- Wash thoroughly with your hose to remove the detergent.
- If the stain is still there, you can repeat 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 understand how hard it can be to remove. You should be meticulous using any of these near your synthetic turf, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can do.
- Wear safety clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should contemplate about a respirator to prevent toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, start by dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently clean off the dirty blades of synthetic turf 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 left over liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still visible, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVERT DAMAGE
Many stains can be cleaned from your grass, but some objects may permanently damage the turf that you should take care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can cause the most damage.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic 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 fire can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your lawn, you should think about adding a gravel area or stone patio to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or use anything else that might cause fire damage on your synthetic turf.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively 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 not be kept near your synthetic lawn. If you need to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we strongly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective cover 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 encouraged. Because of the turning 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 tearing over time. The heavy weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the grass.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp things can cut or tear your synthetic turf. The sharper the object is, the worse the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged garden tools, pointy furniture feet, and household tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should think about utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
ROUTINE CARE
Most Phoenix homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic grass. Still, you should consider implementing a schedule cleaning schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You must eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick wash 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 routine care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the surface regularly, more so after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Rinse regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to eliminate any dust or pollen. This step can frequently be avoided if you live in an location with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf opposing 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 since your installation, you should consider having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of the Valley.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your synthetic surface, moss, mold and mildew can grow. These normally look like black spots or dark areas on your artificial grass. This should be professionally removed by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will help you finish these steps effortlessly.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for rinsing the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the artificial turf.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate light debris more effortlessly. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner too.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to prevent metal rakes cause they will cause harm to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial grass look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Artificial turf is a good choice for Phoenix homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your artificial turf.
If you are yet to get artificial turf for your yard or putting greens yet, call us today for a free consultation.