LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will transform the way you maintain your property. Its effortless maintenance will allow you to forget the trouble of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on alternative projects instead of maintaining the grass.
While you save countless hours working on your grass, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is entirely maintenance-free. To maintain your synthetic turf looking the best, follow the directions provided.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How regularly you clean your synthetic turf will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from other plants? 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 part of the property, away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you might require less to do when it comes to frequent maintenance. Of course, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will always need some effort.
Here are some universal guidelines we suggest.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks will break down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Larger limbs can even stab the turf. Begin with removing things like kid’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are simple to remove by hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We recommend you blow all small debris using a leaf blower to one corner of your yard 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 turf, you can initiate by trying to gently rasp the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t accidentally cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can produce bald spots. Begin from the bottom of the turf blade and brush the fibers in multiple directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to solidify them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and brush the fiber with a rag by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
REMOVING PET WASTE
If you have cats, you know your grass is their restroom. Many people are concerned that synthetic turf won’t work with their dogs, but that’s not true! If you have dogs, we recommend you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleanup is still easy even if you get regular artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you just 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 flow through like any other liquid, you can also spray these areas with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any visible 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 may happen on your synthetic grass. Your favorite snack might find its way to your grass, or your kid might spill a soda can… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like coffee, alcohol, soda, tea, urine, blood and other usual liquids are easy.
- Clean spills as fast as possible making sure they don't leave a long-lasting stain. Soak 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 like dish soap.
- Wash thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the detergent.
- If the spot is still visible, you can repeat the procedure once or twice more.
CLEANING TOUGH STAINS
If the spillage is of something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how tough it can be to remove. You should be meticulous using any of these near your artificial 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 avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, begin with dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of artificial grass with the cloth. You must make sure the solution doesn’t leak past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Softly wash the surface with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain remains, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVOIDING DAMAGE
Many stains can be removed from your turf, but some things can 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 ember can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your yard, you should think about adding a stone patio or gravel area to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or use anything else that may cause fire damage on your artificial grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your synthetic turf, so be very careful when utilizing harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can create spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Furthermore, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should not be kept near your artificial turf. If you have to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we definitely recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial turf can handle heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not suggested. Because of the twisting 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 damage over time. The heavy weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.
USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS
Sharp things can cut or tear your artificial turf. The sharper the object is, the worse the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged gardening tools, pointy furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your synthetic grass, you should think about using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Many Vancouver homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the upkeep of their artificial turf. Still, you should consider implementing a routine maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You should eliminate 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 a simple 4-step process you can observe for regular care.
Step 1: Remove debris from the grass regularly, more so after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Rinse regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will help remove any dust or pollen. This step can sometimes be avoided if you live in an location with plenty of precipitation.
Step 3: Brush the grass opposite the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposing the grain will also prevent the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for at least 30 minutes before resuming regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens Vancouver (Second Generation Landscapes).
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have pooled water on your artificial grass, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These normally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic turf. 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 washing the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the synthetic grass.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate small debris more efficiently. One that has a reverse option is really useful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner too.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to avoid metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic turf look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Artificial grass is a great option for Vancouver homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your synthetic turf.
If you are yet to get synthetic turf for your yard or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.