LESS WORK, MORE PLAY

Synthetic grass will change the way you clean your property. Its effortless upkeep will allow you to forget the trouble of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on another projects rather than working on the grass.

While you save countless hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is completely maintenance-free. To keep your artificial turf looking great, follow this guide.

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How frequently you maintain your synthetic grass will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept isolated from other plants? Do you have children playing in your backyard? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will drop leaves and other debris onto it?

If your artificial turf is in an open part of the property, further away from children, pets, trees and plants, you might require your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. Obviously, this also varies from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will constantly require some effort.

Here are some general guidelines we suggest.

HOW TO DEAL WITH LOOSE DEBRIS

Sticks or leaves are loose debris which will fall down on the turf surface and cause premature wear and tear. Larger limbs can even puncture the turf. Begin with eliminating things like kid’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are simple to remove with hand. Then you can use a leaf blower to remove any twigs and leaves. We suggest you blow all small debris using a leaf blower to one edge of your lawn 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 grass, you can begin by trying to delicately graze the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful 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 grass blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky object don’t come off, try freezing them with ice to solidify them before scraping them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and brush the fiber with a rag by damping 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 not true! If you have dogs, we suggest you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleaning is still easy even if you get regular artificial turf. For example, when Fido uses the grass as his bathroom, you just allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then clean the area with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through just like any other liquid, you can also spray these areas with water. Additionally, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Check out this article to see some of the most frequent questions about artificial turf for pets.

WHAT TO DO REGARDING MILD SPOTS

Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Sometimes that mess may happen on your artificial grass. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your grass, or your kid might spill a soda can… you know how it goes. But cleaning up simple stains like coffee, alcohol, soda, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are easy.

1. Clean spills as fast as possible so you can avoid a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
2. Up next, rinse the surface with a mix of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
3. Clean thoroughly with your hose to remove the soap.
4. If the stain is still there, you can repeat the procedure once or twice more.

CLEANING STUBBORN STAINS

If the spillage is of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how difficult it can be to eliminate it. You should be meticulous utilizing any of these around your synthetic turf, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.

1. Wear safety clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should think about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
2. After you have protective gear on, begin with dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
3. Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the rag. 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.
4. Gently rinse the area with a hose and blot up any surplus liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. 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 grass, but some objects can permanently damage the turf that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can damage the most.

NO OPEN FIRES

Open fires and synthetic turf do not go hand in hand. While you don’t have to worry about your grass going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should think about adding a gravel area or stone patio 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 react negatively with your artificial grass, so be very careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create patches of the turf 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 have to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we firmly recommend you lay down some heavy-duty protective cover 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 recommended. Because of the twisting motion in the wheels, it can cause damage to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull away from the backing material and lead to tearing over time. Too much weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.

USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS

Sharp objects can tear or cut your artificial grass. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged garden tools, sharp furniture feet, and ordinary tools. If you are thinking about having patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should be using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

The majority of Fresno homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the maintenance of their artificial turf. Still, we suggest you to consider enforcing a routine cleaning schedule to keep your turf looking its best. You must eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick rinse if you haven’t gotten precipitation lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a simple 4-step process you can follow for regular care.

Step 1: Remove debris from the surface frequently, 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 frequently be skipped if you live in an location with lots of precipitation.

Step 3: Brush the turf opposing grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposing the grain will also stop the fibers from matting.

Step 4: Let dry for a minimum o 30 minutes before resuming normal activities.

Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should consider having your turf professionally groomed, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Fresno.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have pooled water on your synthetic turf, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These usually look like black spots or dark areas on your artificial grass. This should be professionally removed by a SWG location nearest you.

Here is an equipment list that will assist you finish these steps easily.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Useful for rinsing the grass when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the synthetic turf.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help remove light debris more effortlessly. One that has a suction option is really useful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner too.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes because 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

Artificial grass is a fantastic choice for Fresno homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your artificial turf.

If you haven’t gotten synthetic grass for your lawn or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.