LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will change the way you maintain your property. Its low maintenance will allow you to forget the hassle of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Alternatively, you’ll be able to concentrate on another projects instead of keepin up the grass.
While you save precious hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean artificial turf is completely maintenance-free. To maintain your synthetic turf looking great, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How often you clean your artificial turf will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept away 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, away from trees, plants, pets and children, you may have less to do when it comes to frequent maintenance. By all means, this also changes from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will eventually demand some maintenance.
Here are some general guidelines we suggest.
HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks can start to break down on the turf surface and cause premature wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even stab the grass. Start by eliminating things like kid’s or dog toys and other bigger objects that are simple to remove by hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any twigs and leaves. We suggest you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for simple removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you've got 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 extra cautious that you don’t unintentionally cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can produce 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 thicken them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a cloth by damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
DISPOSING OF PET WASTE
If you have cats, you understand that your turf is their bathroom. Many pet owners worry that artificial grass won’t work with their pets, but that’s wrong! If you have cats, we suggest you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. But, cleaning is still easy even if you get normal artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the grass as his bathroom, you simply allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then wash the surface with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through similar to any other liquid, you can also cleanse these surface with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Take a look at this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding synthetic turf for pets.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Now and then that mess might happen on your synthetic turf. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your turf, or your kid might drop a soda can… you know things like these happen. But cleaning up simple stains like coffee, alcohol, soda, tea, urine, blood and other usual liquids are simple.
- Clean spills as quickly as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
- Up next, clean the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
- Clean thoroughly with your hose to eliminate the detergent.
- If the spot is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If you’ve had a spill of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how tough it can be to remove. You should be meticulous using any of these near your synthetic turf, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.
- Wear safety clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should consider a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have safety gear on, start by soaking a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
- Gently clean off the dirty blades of artificial turf with the rag. You must make sure the solution doesn’t seep past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Delicately rinse the area with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still there, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVERT DAMAGE
Many stains can be eliminated from your turf, but some things may permanently damage the turf that you should take great care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can be the most problematic.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and artificial grass do not go well together. 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 lawn, you should consider adding a stone patio or gravel area to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or use anything else that may cause fire damage on your synthetic turf.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your artificial turf, so be very careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create areas of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your synthetic lawn. If you have to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we strongly suggest you lay some heavy-duty protective cloth before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Synthetic grass can take heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not encouraged. Because of the twisting motion in the tires, it can cause damage to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull out from the backing material and lead to damage over time. The heavy weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp things can tear or cut your synthetic grass. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged garden tools, pointy furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are thinking about patio furniture on your synthetic grass, you should consider utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
ROUTINE CARE
Most Tucson homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the maintenance of their synthetic turf. Still, you should think about implementing a schedule maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You must eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick wash if you haven’t received rain lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is an easy 4-step process you can do for Standard care.
Step 1: Eliminate any debris from the grass frequently, more so after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Wash often with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to get rid of any dust or pollen. This step can frequently be omitted if you live in an location with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf opposite the 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 continuing with regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year after your installation, you should consider having your turf professionally groomed, cleaned and infill levels checked by Southwest Greens of Tucson.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your artificial grass, moss, mold and mildew can grow. These generally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic turf. 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
- Garden Hose: Useful for cleaning the grass when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the synthetic surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove small debris more effortlessly. One that has a reverse option is really useful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner too.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes cause they will cause harm to the turf. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic turf look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Synthetic turf is a fantastic choice for Tucson homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic turf.
If you haven't installed synthetic turf for your yard or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.