LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will transform the way you maintain your property. Its low upkeep will allow you to forget the trouble of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on other projects instead of keepin up 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 frequently you clean your artificial grass will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from trees? Do you have young kids playing on your lawn? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will drop leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial grass is in an open space, further away from children, pets, trees and plants, 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 upkeep.
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 puncture the grass. Start by taking care of things like children’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are easy to remove with hand. Then you can use a leaf blower to remove any twigs and leaves. We recommend you blow all small debris using a leaf blower to one edge of your yard so you can collect for simple removal.
DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF
If you have lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your turf, you can initiate by trying to gently rasp the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t unintentionally cut off the turf blades you are cleaning because it can result in bald spots. Begin from the base of the turf blade and brush the fibers in multiple directions. If the sticky object don’t get off, try freezing them with ice to solidify them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a cloth by damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
CLEANING PET WASTE
If you have pets, you understand that your turf is their bathroom. Many people worry that artificial turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s false! If you have pets, we suggest you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. However, cleanup is still easy even if you get regular synthetic turf. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you just allow 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 like any other liquid, you can also cleanse these areas with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Take a look at this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding synthetic turf for dogs.
WHAT TO DO REGARDING MILD STAINS
Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Occasionally that mess may happen on your synthetic turf. Your favorite snack might find its way to your turf, or your kid might drop a soda can… you know how it goes. But cleaning up simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other common liquids are easy.
- Clean spills as fast as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to start.
- Up next, clean the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent for example dish soap.
- Clean properly with your hose to remove the soap.
- If the stain is still there, you can recur the process once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If you’ve had a spill of something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how hard it can be to remove. You should be careful 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 consider a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, begin with soaking a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the cloth. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t seep past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Delicately rinse the grass with a hose and blot up any left over liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still visible, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVOIDING DAMAGE
Most stains can be removed from your turf, but some objects will permanently damage the turf that you should take a lot of 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 worry about your lawn going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your grass 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 use fireworks or anything else that might cause fire damage on your artificial grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your artificial turf, so be extra careful when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can create spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should not be anywhere near your artificial grass. If you are required to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we definitely suggest you lay down some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial grass can handle heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not encouraged. Due to the turning motion of the wheels, it can cause damage 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 turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the turf.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp items can tear or cut your artificial turf. The sharper the item is, the worse the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged gardening tools, pointy furniture feet, and household tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your artificial turf, you should consider utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
The majority of Oakley homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the maintenance of their artificial turf. Still, you should think about enforcing a routine cleaning 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 cleaning if you haven’t gotten rain recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step procedure you can follow for Standard care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the surface regularly, more so after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Wash regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to eliminate any dust or pollen. This step can often be avoided if you live in an area with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf opposite the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing against the grain will also block 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 after your installation, you should think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels checked by Southwest Greens East Bay.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your synthetic surface, moss, mold and mildew can appear. These usually look like black spots or dark areas on your artificial turf. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will help you complete these steps efficiently.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for washing the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the artificial surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove light debris more easily. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner as well.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial grass look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Synthetic turf is a great choice for Oakley homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your synthetic grass.
If you are yet to get synthetic grass for your lawn or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.