One of the main reasons people often choose artificial grass over natural grass is that it’s much easier to care for, and while that’s true, it does still need regular maintenance. Understanding how to clean artificial grass, and the main upkeep you need to do can help ensure your synthetic turf lasts for many years to come.
How to Maintain Your Artificial Grass Lawn When It’s First Installed
Although it’s tempting to want to get everything set up on your newly laid artificial turf lawn, you need to let it settle first. This will ensure that there are no lumps and that your artificial grass is in the best condition when it settles.
To keep it in optimal care, brushing with a stiff, natural bristle broom is best to give it more life and prevent it from flattening. Also, brush your lawn in different directions so that it has a more natural look, not a combover. If you have frequent foot traffic on your lawn you may need to brush it more often.
If you are placing items on top of your lawn avoid placing anything that causes or has a source of heat. Artificial grass is made of plastic and rubber and once it’s melted it can’t easily be replaced. Items like barbecues should always be placed on safe, solid surfaces like gravel or concrete.
How to Clean Artificial Grass
While natural grass lawns are great for absorbing stains, artificial grass ones are less so. To avoid stains setting in permanently, apply hot soapy water to the affected area. We recommend purchasing a cleaner that’s designed to specifically clean artificial grass, although dish soap can work in a pinch.
Never use detergents, hard chemicals, or bleach on your lawn as that can not only damage the lawn but also seep into the ground and cause environmental damage.
After winter snowfall and heading into the spring, simply let the snow melt away on your artificial grass. Don’t attempt to melt it off yourself as that can damage or thin the blades of your synthetic turf.
How to Remove Weeds From Artificial Grass
All artificial turf has a membrane backing that prevents most plants from growing through it while still letting water drain away easily. However, persistent weeds can creep in so it’s helpful to know how to effectively deal with them.
You generally have 2 options when it comes to this:
- Regularly cut off the top of weeds when they start to grow
- Use a weed killer
If you choose the latter option, you need to make sure to purchase a weed killer that has a water-based solution to avoid damaging the artificial grass. Once you’ve killed off the weeds you can just remove them by hand.
Overall, simple, regular maintenance of your new artificial turf lawn can produce lasting results and ensure you have a great-looking lawn for years to come.