In the last few decades, artificial grass gained a huge role in building and renovation businesses. But most people who buy it forget to consider a very important point, which is artificial grass maintenance.
While it’s an excellent replacement for natural grass, it requires proper maintenance to stay looking all green and alive for ages. Luckily, maintaining fake grass is much easier than cutting and taming real plants, and we’re here to help.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know about maintaining artificial grass. So, without further ado, let’s jump in!
Everything You Need to Know About Maintaining Artificial Grass
Artificial grass isn’t affected by bacteria, fungus, insects, and other natural occurrences that can wreak havoc on real grass. But does fake grass need maintenance? Of course, it does!
Fake grass isn’t invincible. On the contrary, it’s prone to wear and tears, especially if you’ve installed it in a high-traffic area. So maintenance is mandatory to keep your lawn looking polished and shiny.
How to Maintain Artificial Grass
Here are six steps on how to take care of artificial grass.
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Remove Leaves and Trim Trees
If you have trees around your neighbourhood, then it’s probable that leaves will fall on your artificial grass from time to time. While they aren’t particularly harmful, they’ll affect the aesthetic of your lawn and might attract dust and debris.
When this happens, grab a leaf blower or a plastic rake, and remove the leaves carefully. But as a solid piece of advice, never do this on a windy day. You’ll end up running in circles all day long trying to catch flying leaves. It also wouldn’t harm to trim your neighbourhood trees every once in a while.
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Use a Weed Killer
We know what you’re thinking, how can weeds grow on artificial grass?
Believe it or not, if your garden wasn’t dug properly before installing artificial grass, weeds might grow through holes in your grass backing and around its edges. But don’t worry, there’s an easy fix for this problem.
Use a weed killer twice per year on your entire garden, and you’ll bid all the stubborn weeds goodbye before they even grow!
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Brush Your Lawn Regularly
Artificial grass doesn’t get all dusty easily, but brushing it on a regular basis is essential to maintain its green and lively look. Regular brushing will eliminate any rogue leaves or dirt particles before a buildup happens, which means less work for you.
To brush your new artificial grass properly, use a soft-bristled brush and go against the direction of fibres. Don’t use too much force while brushing, or the grass will come out in your hands.
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Clean Pet Waste Right Away
If you have pets running around, then sooner or later, you’ll have pet waste lying on your artificial grass. Cleaning it right away should be number one on your to-do list because leaving it there will give your lawn an undesirable smell.
First, use your garden hose to clean the area with water. Next, mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and spray it all over the grass to eliminate any foul odours.
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Don’t Install Mirrors or Reflective Windows
Reflective damage is real when it comes to artificial grass. One day, your lawn is looking all good and shiny. The next, you have melting spots all around the garden with no apparent culprit. Let us tell you; the culprit is definitely a mirror or any reflective surface you have around.
Such surfaces reflect sunlight on grass for a long time, which is mostly made from plastic. After long exposure, some fibres might melt from the heat. So keep them away, and think twice before installing energy-efficient windows because they’re mostly reflective.
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Don’t Use Grills
Throwing a barbeque in your newly renovated garden might seem like a good idea, but believe us, it isn’t. Using grills or any appliances that need to heat before operating on your artificial grass is a big no. It might burn or melt from the intense heat. So keep the grill on the patio.
Maintaining Artificial Grass: A Series of Unfortunate Events
After installing artificial grass, you might meet a few situations where you’re out of depth. We’ll tell you how to handle them properly and within minutes.
Stubborn Stains and Spots
Sometimes, stubborn spots show on artificial grass and refuse to be removed with water. If this is the case, you’ll need a detergent to clean your grass. However, we recommend you buy one specifically made for artificial lawns so that you don’t damage your newly installed grass.
Here’s how to clean fake grass. First, mix detergent and warm water in a spray bottle, and spray the mixture on the stain. Next, rub the area gently with a clean sponge, and leave the mixture to sit for a couple of minutes. Then, wash the area using only water. If the stain is too stubborn or has solid residues, scrub it with a toothbrush first.
Alternatively, you can look for a professional artificial grass cleaning service to help you.
Dogs and Cats Waste
If your dog or cat had an unfortunate encounter with your grass, here’s what to do. First, wear gloves and grab a plastic bag. Then, remove the pet waste carefully and throw it away in a nearby dustbin.
Next, rinse the residues using water from your garden hose. Finally, spray a mixture of water and vinegar over the contaminated area. This will successfully eliminate any leftover foul odour.
Blizzards and Silver Storms
Artificial grass can withstand harsh weather conditions like snow and ice, but you’ll need to clear them out to be able to walk.
You can use a powered blower or a shovel to clean fake grass from snow. If you’re using a shovel, remove snow gradually from the top of the grass. When you only have a thin layer left to remove, ditch the shovel and grab a broom. Brush the leftover snow gently with the broom so that you don’t pull any grass out.
As for ice, our first recommendation would be to leave it till it melts. Ice is harsher than snow, and you’re prone to damaging your grass if you remove it. But if you insist, then you can use urea to melt it quickly. Then, hose your grass with water to clean the leftovers.
Tools You’ll Need to Maintain Artificial Grass
Looking after artificial grass calls for the help of many tools. Here’s a list of the ones you should buy right after you install the grass:
- Artificial grass detergent
- Rake
- Powered leaf blower
- Weed killer
- Soft-bristled brush
Conclusion
Installing artificial grass gives your garden a polished and clean look that’s challenging to achieve with real grass. However, it’s prone to leaf piles, dust, pet waste, and melting after long exposure to heat. Luckily, you can fix all these problems with proper and regular maintenance.
So what are you waiting for? Now that you know how to take care of fake grass, you can install it without an issue!