WORK LESS, PLAY MORE
Synthetic grass will transform the way you maintain your property. Its low upkeep will allow you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Alternatively, you’ll be able to concentrate on another projects rather than keepin up the grass.
While you save countless hours working on the lawn, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is entirely maintenance-free. To maintain your synthetic turf looking great, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How frequently you clean your synthetic grass will rely on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from trees? Do you have young kids playing in the yard? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will drop leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial grass is in an isolated part of the property, further away from children, pets, trees and plants, you might require less to do when it comes to regular maintenance. Of course, this also varies from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, the short answer is that it really depends, but will always need some effort.
Here are some universal guidelines we suggest.
HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks will break down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even stab the turf. Begin with removing things like children’s or dog toys and other larger objects that are easy to remove with hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any twigs and leaves. We suggest you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one edge of your grass so you can collect for simple removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you find chewing gum, paint, crayons, lipstick, or tree sap on your turf, you can start by trying to gently graze the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t unintentionally cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can create bald spots. Start from the bottom of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to thicken them before trying to them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a rag by drenching the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
CLEANING PET WASTE
If you have pets, you know your grass is their bathroom. A huge number of pet owners worry that artificial turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s false! If you have cats, we recommend you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleaning is still manageable even if you get normal synthetic grass. For example, when Fido uses the grass as his bathroom, you simply allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then wash the surface with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through just like any other liquid, you can also cleanse these areas with water. Plus, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Take a look at this article to see some of the most frequent questions about artificial grass for pets.
WHAT TO DO REGARDING LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Occasionally that mess might happen on your synthetic turf. Your favorite snack might find its way to your turf, or your kid might spill a soda can… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are easy.
- Clean spills as quickly as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
- Next, clean the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
- Rinse properly with your hose to eliminate the soap.
- If the stain is still there, you can repeat 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 know how tough it can be to eliminate it. You should be meticulous 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 contemplate about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have protective gear on, initiate by dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of artificial grass with the rag. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Delicately wash the grass with a hose and blot up any left over liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still visible, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
The majority of stains can be cleaned from your grass, but some things can permanently damage the turf that you should take great care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can cause the most damage.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic grass do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to bother about your lawn going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your lawn, you should think about adding a stone patio or gravel area to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or anything else that may cause fire damage on your synthetic grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your synthetic grass, so be extra careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should be kept away from your artificial turf. If you are required to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we firmly suggest you put down some heavy-duty protective tarp before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial turf can take heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not encouraged. Due to the twisting motion of 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 tearing over time. The heavy weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the grass.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp things can tear or cut your synthetic turf. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged gardening tools, pointy furniture feet, and household tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your synthetic grass, you should think about utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Most Las Vegas homeowners do not have to spend much time on the maintenance of their artificial grass. Still, we suggest you to think about enforcing a routine cleaning 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 cleaning if you haven’t gotten precipitation recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step procedure you can follow for regular care.
Step 1: Remove debris from the turf regularly, more so after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Rinse often with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to get rid of any dust or pollen. This step can often be omitted if you live in an area with lots of precipitation.
Step 3: Brush the grass against the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposite the grain will also prevent the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for a minimum o 30 minutes before continuing with regular 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 verified by Southwest Greens of Nevada.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have pooled water on your synthetic surface, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These usually 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 help you complete these steps easily.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Useful for rinsing the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt piles up on the synthetic surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove small debris more effortlessly. One that has a reverse option is really useful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner also.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely avoid metal rakes because they will cause damage to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic grass look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Synthetic turf is an excellent option for Las Vegas homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your synthetic turf.
If you haven’t gotten synthetic grass for your yard or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.