November 08, 2022

A lot of Charlotte homeowners love synthetic turf for its ability to endure extreme weather and survive winter looking beautiful. You don’t have to be concerned with frost harming your grass, but there are a few steps to complete over the winter to make sure your synthetic grass is in its best shape for spring. Continue reading to learn more.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Let’s get started with a handful of the top questions we receive as we install synthetic grass in Charlotte. Especially questions about caring for your turf in the over the winter.

WHAT DOES SNOW DO TO ARTIFICIAL TURF?

Snow should not have a significant impact on your artificial grass. It’s totally fine to walk or play on it if there is a covering of snow. The blades might lay flat with the weight of the snow, but it typically bounces back up naturally or, in a handful of situations, with a bit of additional help from a power broom. Snow won’t modify the color or impact the artificial yard.

WILL FROST HURT MY ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

No, frost won’t harm artificial turf. The turf blades do freeze in extreme cold, walking on the grass through the winter will not cause any issues. When spring arrives and there’s no further chance of frost, you can use a firm broom to help it back to life.

DO I HAVE TO COVER MY ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

You do not have to cover your synthetic grass, but you absolutely can if an especially rough winter is forecasted in Charlotte. Just keep in mind that you won’t want to cover portions that are being used because snow can make tarps slippery and unsafe to walk on.

CAN I SHOVEL SNOW OFF ARTIFICIAL TURF?

No, you have to avoid shoveling snow off of your artificial grass unless totally necessary. If you do need to shovel a path, go with a handheld blower to remove any snow or debris.

CAN I USE SALT OR ICE MELT ON MY GRASS?

You must under no circumstances use any ice melt salt on your turf. Salt can plug up the holes in the backing system and adversely impact your lawn’s drainage capabilities. The corrosive salt and chemicals can also degrade the backing system, causing turf blades that start to pull away from the backing. We strongly advise you to let snow melt by itself for the best results.

WILL SNOW MELT FASTER ON ARTIFICIAL TURF?

Artificial turf surfaces can be warmer than natural grass, that means that 1-2 inches of snow will melt more quickly than it would on natural grass. Because synthetic turf is uniformly distributed, it enables better aeration to accelerate the snow-melting process.

DOES SYNTHETIC GRASS GET ICY?

Not normally, however, like regular grass, some synthetic surfaces can be slippery when ice forms. Therefore, you should use the same care you do walking on every wintery surface, exceptionally if Charlotte has been experiencing freezing rain.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE BEFORE SNOWFALL?

You should definitely do a rigorous autumn maintenance routine before any snowfall. Removing organic materials like leaves, branches, etc., are a must. You can check out our complete walkthrough for cleaning your synthetic yard to get details on what to do. Performing Southwest Greens maintenance in the spring is always a great time, ensuring your ground is ready for the warmer months to come.