5 Artificial grass care essentials

August 22, 2020

Making the switch over to artificial grass means no more mowing, no more mud and a green lawn all year round. But sadly there is still some maintenance to do if you want to keep your artificial grass plush and lovely.

The good news is looking after your artificial grass is very easy. With the right treatment good quality artificial grass can last up to 20 years.

Follow these 5 steps to care for your artificial grass and you will get a longer lifespan and more satisfaction from your artificial lawn.

1. Brush the artificial fibres

1. Brush the artificial grass fibres to keep it supple and up right

Frequency

Every 4 weeks

Method

Using a stiff brush, a power brush or even a leaf blower, brush your artificial grass fibers against the grain into the upright position.

Why you should brush your artificial grass

Artificial grass fibres are made of plastic which means they are flexible and supple. However this also means they can be subject to plastic deformation.

Naturally your artificial grass will be flattened from use, if left for a long period of time it can become difficult to erect the artificial grass fibres again. The artificial grass fibres become trained into the flat position and also mat together and end up held in place.

Leave your artificial grass for long enough and they will lose its fluffy bouncy feel as all the fibres will be flat. Brushing is a must to properly care for artificial grass.

Best equipment for brushing your artificial grass

2.Clean up debris

Frequency

Every 4 weeks in summer every 2 weeks in winter

Method

Using a leaf blower, stiff brush and waste basket, clean up any leaves, sticks or other debris sitting on the surface of the artificial grass.

Why you should keep your artificial grass tidy

Artificial grass frequently gets covered in debris such as leaves, twigs and other organic matter. This won’t do any harm to it until it starts decomposing.

When the debris on your artificial grass starts to decompose it will seep nutrients into the sand base which will provide a place for fungi and weeds to grow. Decomposing organic matter also produces chemicals and other bacteria which can damage the artificial fibres and the binding glue of your artificial lawn.

Debris and decomposing organic matter can damage the colour and the structural integrity of your artificial grass.

Best equipment for tidying your artificial grass

3.Avoid sharp objects

Protecting your artificial grass from damage is a key element of proper care.

The most common items to damage in artificial grass are chairs. the concentrated weight of a thin chair leg pushes a small area of the artificial grass into the soft sand base and can eventually cause it to stretch, deform or rip.

Artificial grass is quite like a carpet however the main difference is that it’s base is not hard. if your artificial lawn is properly installed it will be set on a sand base which will shift slightly under pressure.

Anything which applies a lot of weight to a very small area of the artificial lawn will pull and stretch that area and eventually tear it.

4.Weed killer

Frequency

Every 6 months

Method

Using a pump action or electric spray gun and protective equipment, spray the artificial grass with good quality weed killer.

Why you should use weed killer on your artificial grass

Artificial grass is one of the least susceptible garden services to weed growth however the persistent little pests can still gain a foothold in your artificial lawn.

When initially laid, artificial grass provides no food source for weeds which means they cannot grow. Over time organic particles from the rain and from the surrounding area will make their way into the artificial grass and into its sandy base.

This can eventually lead to just enough fertility for weeds to begin growing in your artificial lawn.

When it comes to killing weeds prevention is better than cure. Use weed killer which will stop seeds germinating. If weeds have already taken hold in your lawn, use a weed killer which kills the whole plant, not just the leaves.

Best weed killer for artificial grass

5.Keep it clean

Frequency

Every 2 weeks

Method

Using a hose, wet the artificial grass. Fill a bucket with warm water and add the artificial grass cleaner. Using a stiff brush, brush the soapy water over the affected area of the artificial grass. Rinse this off using the hose.

Pour white vinegar into some warm water then brush this into the artificial grass with your garden brush. This will help to eliminate odours coming from pet urine.

Why you should keep your artificial clean

Leaving pet urine and other substances such as oil on your artificial lawn has the potential to cause damage and to create some bad odours. There can be some remedies to already damaged artificial grass but they are not always guaranteed.

In particular Pet Urine can ruin artificial grass. if it is not cleaned off fairly frequently it can result in a permanently foul smell. Sometimes the only way to solve this is to replace the entire artificial grass area including the base.

Best artificial grass cleaners