WORK LESS, PLAY MORE

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

While you save countless hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is entirely maintenance-free. To maintain your artificial surface looking the best, follow this guide.

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How often you maintain your artificial grass will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from trees? Do you have young kids playing on your lawn? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?

If your artificial grass is in an open part of the property, away from children, pets, trees and plants, you might require your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. Of course, this also changes from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in short it really depends, but will eventually need some upkeep.

Here are some universal guidelines we recommend.

HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS

Sticks or leaves are loose debris which can start to break down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Larger limbs can even puncture the turf. Begin with removing things like children’s or dog toys and other larger objects that are simple to remove with hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any twigs and leaves. We recommend you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner 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 softly scrape the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t accidentally cut off the grass blades you are cleaning because it can produce bald spots. Start from the bottom of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky object don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to thicken 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 dogs, you know your turf is their bathroom. Many people worry that synthetic grass won’t work with their pets, but that’s not true! If you have pets, we suggest you obtain 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 just permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then clean the area with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will flow through similar to any other liquid, you can also clean these areas with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding artificial grass for dogs.

WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT SPOTS

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

1. Clean spills as quickly as possible making sure they don't leave a long-lasting stain. Soak 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 for example dish soap.
3. Wash thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the detergent.
4. If the spot is still there, you can recur the process once or twice more.

CLEANING STUBBORN STAINS

If you’ve had a spill of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how tough it can be to remove. You should be careful utilizing any of these around your synthetic grass, 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 damage. You should contemplate about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
2. After you have safety gear on, initiate by soaking a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
3. Gently clean off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the rag. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t leak past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
4. Softly wash the area with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. If the stain is still there, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.

AVERT DAMAGE

The majority of stains can be removed from your turf, but some things can permanently damage the turf that you should take care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can cause the most damage.

NO OPEN FIRES

Open fires and artificial grass do not go well together. While you don’t have to worry about your lawn going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should think about adding a gravel area or stone patio to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or anything else that might cause fire damage on your synthetic grass.

BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS

Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your synthetic turf, so be especially vigilant when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can create patches of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. In addition, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should not be anywhere near your synthetic turf. If you need to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we firmly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective cloth before starting these projects.

DON’T DRIVE ON IT

Artificial grass can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not recommended. Because of the turning motion in the tires, it can wreack havoc to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull out from the backing material and lead to damage over time. Too much weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the grass.

USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS

Sharp things can tear or cut your synthetic turf. The sharper the object is, the worse the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged yard tools, pointy furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your artificial turf, you should consider using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

ROUTINE CARE

Most Los Angeles and Southern California homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic turf. Still, you should consider implementing a routine maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You must remove loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick wash if you haven’t gotten precipitation lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is an easy 4-step procedure you can observe for regular care.

Step 1: Remove debris from the surface frequently, more so after windy or stormy weather.

Step 2: Clean often 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 area with lots of rain.

Step 3: Brush the grass opposing grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposite 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 after your installation, you should consider having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Southern California.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have standing water on your artificial 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 effortlessly.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Useful for rinsing the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt collects on the synthetic turf.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help remove small debris more effortlessly. One that has a suction option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner too.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: Make sure to prevent metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.

YEAR LONG PERFECTION

Artificial grass is an excellent option for Los Angeles and Southern California homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic grass.

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