LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will transform the way you clean your property. Its effortless maintenance will enable you to forget the hassle of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on another projects instead of keepin up the grass.
While you save precious hours working on the lawn, that doesn’t mean artificial turf is totally maintenance-free. To keep your artificial turf looking the best, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How frequently 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 on your lawn? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?
If your synthetic grass is in an isolated space, further away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you might require less to do when it comes to regular maintenance. Obviously, this also changes from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in short it really depends, but will always 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 turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Larger limbs can even puncture the turf. Start by taking care of things like children’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are simple to remove with hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris utilizing a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for simple removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you find lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your grass, you can start by trying to softly graze the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t accidentally cut off the turf blades you are scraping because it can create bald spots. Begin from the base of the turf blade and brush the fibers in multiple directions. If the sticky items don’t come off, try freezing them with ice to thicken them before scraping them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and scrap the fiber with a cloth by damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
REMOVING PET WASTE
If you have cats, you know your turf is their restroom. A huge number of pet owners worry that synthetic turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s not true! If you have cats, we suggest you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. But, cleanup is still manageable even if you get regular synthetic grass. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you merely permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then cleanse 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 cleanse these surface with water. Additionally, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding synthetic turf for dogs.
WHAT TO DO WITH MILD SPOTS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Sometimes that mess may happen on your synthetic turf. Your favorite snack might find its way to your turf, or your child might spill a juice box… you know how it goes. But washing simple stains like soda, alcohol, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other usual liquids are easy.
- 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.
- Up next, rinse the surface with a mixture of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
- Clean properly with your hose to eliminate the soap.
- If the spot is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If you’ve had a spill of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how difficult it can be to eliminate it. You should be cautious utilizing any of these near your artificial grass, 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 irritation. You should consider a respirator to prevent toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, start by soaking a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the cloth. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t leak past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Delicately rinse the grass with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, 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
Most stains can be eliminated from your grass, but some things may permanently damage the grass that you should take care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can be the most problematic.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic turf do not go well together. While you don’t have to concern yourself with your grass 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 stone patio or gravel area to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or anything else that could cause fire damage on your artificial turf.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your artificial grass, so be extra careful when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can leave spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Furthermore, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your artificial grass. If you have to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we strongly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Synthetic turf can handle heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not recommended. Due to the twisting motion of the tires, 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 tearing over time. Too much weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.
USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS
Sharp items can cut or tear your synthetic grass. The sharper the object 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 artificial grass, you should think about utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR CARE
The majority of Charlotte homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic grass. Still, we suggest you to think about implementing a schedule 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 rinse if you haven’t received precipitation lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step process you can observe for routine care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the surface frequently, especially after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Rinse regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will help wash away any dust or pollen. This step can frequently be skipped if you live in an location with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf 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 a minimum o 30 minutes before continuing with normal 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 checked by Southwest Greens Charlotte.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your synthetic surface, moss, mold and mildew can appear. These generally look like black spots or dark areas on your artificial grass. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you finish these steps effortlessly.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for cleaning the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the synthetic surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove small debris more easily. One that has a suction option is really useful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner as well.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to avoid metal rakes because they will cause damage to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial grass look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Artificial turf is a great option for Charlotte homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your artificial grass.
If you are yet to get artificial grass for your lawn or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.