Synthetic grass is much easier to care for than natural grass. You do not have to drag a heavy bag of smelly fertilizer around. There is no need to use harsh chemicals that could raise allergies. And the biggest bonus of all – you don’t have to waste your weekends trying to start the lawn mower!
Having said that, there is still some work you need to do to keep your lawn clean and safe. Here are a few tips you can follow to promote the longevity of your lawn:
1. Keep Corrosive Chemicals Away from Your Lawn
Any corrosive chemicals, such as harsh cleaners, should be kept away from your synthetic turf. Organic materials, such as leaves, dead bugs, food from bird feeders and animal feces, can break down and release corrosive chemicals, so move all organic materials away from your synthetic lawn.
2. Buy the right equipment
Great equipment for synthetic lawn care includes:
Use a leaf blower to blow leaves into a pile where you can then move them to a receptacle to dispose of them. After removing the bulk of the organic matter, vacuum the remaining debris.
• Vacuums
• Leaf blowers
• Rakes
• Hoses
3. Wash away debris
If the synthetic grass does not receive enough rainfall, rinsing the grass down with water can remove organic matter that has dried and hardened. Water is much safer to use on synthetic grass than cleaning chemicals that can be corrosive. Allow the grass to air dry and make sure the kids are aware that it could be slippery around that area.
You will need to hose the synthetic grass down during allergy season so pollen doesn’t accumulate and contribute to seasonal allergies.
4. Remove stains
As soon as the synthetic grass is stained, you will want to clean it up as quickly as possible before it sets. Use a hose to rinse away the stain. The good news is that synthetic fibers are resistant to staining, so if you don’t have time to clean it up immediately, that’s ok. But it’s still better to play it safe and clean it as soon as you can.
If you have a strong waterborne stain from blood, coffee, tea, alcohol, fruit juices, dyes, urine or Coca-Cola, you may only be able to remove the stain with detergents. Mix one teaspoon of detergent with half a liter of water.
5. Rake the Fibers
Raking the synthetic fibers redistributes them so their distribution is more balanced. Doing this will help the grass to wear evenly so it lasts longer and you can take the time to search for weeds.
Weeds can sometimes poke through the synthetic grass. Use any mild weed killer but make sure it’s not too potent as this could damage the law fibers over time.
If you only find a few weeds, consider pulling them rather than using weed killers. It’s better for the environment and will also save you a few dollars.
6. Tackling Pet Odors and Dried Tree Sap
Even if you remove animal waste promptly, the area can still carry a bad odor. The area should be rinsed if the synthetic grass does not receive much rain. White vinegar mixed with an equal amount of water can remove the odors. Pet odors can vary due to the animal’s diet and there is no single right way to tackle this so we encourage you to use what works for you and your pets.
7. Kill mold and bacteria
If there are any strange colored spots that could indicate mold, apply hydrogen peroxide to the area and then use clean water to rinse it away to minimize the risk of the chemical damaging the grass.
Bacteria are not commonly found in artificial grass if it is maintained properly because it will not have anything to feed off. However, if you do believe that there are bacteria on your lawn, use a mixture of vinegar and water to kill it.
8. Prevent burns
Cigarette burns and smoldering charcoal can damage the synthetic lawn. To prevent this, avoid smoking or cooking on the grill on the artificial lawn. Fortunately, our artificial grass is fire resistant so while the fibers may melt, there will be no flames.
Regular maintenance of your artificial lawn will increase its lifespan. You’ll also have grass that smells better and looks great. That is, after all, what installing artificial lawn is about; creating a great space that encourages you to get out there and use it.