WORK LESS, PLAY MORE

Artificial grass will change the way you clean your property. Its low upkeep will allow you to forget the trouble of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on other projects instead of working on the grass.

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

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How often you clean your artificial grass will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from other plants? Do you have children playing in your backyard? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?

If your artificial grass is in an open part of the property, away from children, pets, trees and plants, you may have your work cut out when it comes to frequent maintenance. By all means, this also varies from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, the short answer is that it really depends, but will eventually require some maintenance.

Here are some general guidelines we suggest.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS

Sticks or leaves are loose debris which can start to fall down on the grass surface and cause early wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even pierce the grass. Start by removing things like kid’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are easy to remove with hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to eliminate any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for easier removal.

DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF

If you find paint, crayons, chewing gum, lipstick, or tree sap on your grass, you can initiate by trying to gently graze the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t accidentally cut off the grass blades you are cleaning because it can result in bald spots. Start from the bottom of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t come off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to thicken them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and brush the fiber with a rag by damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.

REMOVING PET WASTE

If you have dogs, you know your turf is their bathroom. A huge number of pet owners are concerned that artificial grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s false! If you have dogs, we recommend you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. However, cleanup is still easy even if you get normal artificial turf. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you simply permit 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 like any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Plus, 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 about synthetic turf for dogs.

WHAT TO DO REGARDING LIGHT SPOTS

Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Now and then that mess may happen on your synthetic grass. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your turf, or your kid might spill a soda can… you know how it goes. But cleaning up simple stains like soda, alcohol, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are easy.

1. Clean spills as fast as possible so you can avoid a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to start.
2. Next, rinse the area with a mix of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
3. Clean thoroughly with your hose to remove the soap.
4. If the stain is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.

CLEANING TOUGH STAINS

If you’ve spilled something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how difficult it can be to remove. You should be cautious using any of these around your synthetic grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.

1. Wear safety 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, start by dipping a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
3. Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic turf with the rag. You must ensure the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
4. Softly wash the area with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. If the stain is still visible, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.

AVERT DAMAGE

The majority of stains can be removed from your turf, but some objects can permanently damage the turf that you should take great care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can damage the most.

NO OPEN FIRES

Open fires and synthetic grass do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to worry 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 yard, you should consider adding a stone patio or gravel area to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or use anything else that may cause fire damage on your synthetic turf.

BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS

Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your artificial grass, so be very careful when utilizing harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can leave areas of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Furthermore, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should be kept away from your synthetic lawn. If you have to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we firmly suggest you lay some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.

DON’T DRIVE ON IT

Synthetic turf can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not suggested. 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 out from the backing material and lead to damage over time. Too much weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need 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 worse the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged gardening tools, sharp furniture feet, and household tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should consider using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

REGULAR CARE

Most Asheville homeowners do not have to spend much time on the maintenance of their synthetic turf. Still, you should consider implementing a routine maintenance schedule to keep your turf looking its best. You must remove loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick wash if you haven’t gotten rain recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is an easy 4-step process you can follow for regular care.

Step 1: Remove debris from the surface regularly, especially after high winds or storms.

Step 2: Wash often with a hose. Cold, clean water will help remove any dust or pollen. This step can sometimes be skipped if you live in an location with lots of rain.

Step 3: Brush the grass against the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposite the grain will also block the fibers from matting.

Step 4: Let dry for a minimum o 30 minutes before resuming regular 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 Southwest Greens of Asheville.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have standing water on your artificial surface, moss, mold and mildew can occur. 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 efficiently.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Helpful for cleaning the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the artificial surface.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help remove light debris more easily. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner too.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to prevent metal rakes cause they will cause harm to the turf. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial grass look its best.

YEAR LONG PERFECTION

Synthetic turf is a fantastic option for Asheville homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic turf.

If you haven’t gotten synthetic turf for your lawn or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.