WORK LESS, PLAY MORE
Synthetic turf will transform the way you maintain your property. Its effortless upkeep will allow you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on alternative projects instead of maintaining the grass.
While you save precious hours working in the yard, that doesn’t mean artificial turf is entirely maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic turf looking the best, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How regularly you maintain your artificial grass will rely on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from trees? Do you have children playing in the yard? Do you have trees or plants on the property that will drop 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 may have your work cut out when it comes to frequent maintenance. Obviously, this also changes from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, the short answer is that it really depends, but will constantly need some maintenance.
Here are some universal guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO DEAL WITH LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks will break down on the turf surface and cause early wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even pierce the turf. Begin with eliminating things like children’s or dog toys and other larger objects that are easy to remove by hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We recommend you blow all small debris with a leaf blower to one corner of your yard so you can collect for easier removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you discover lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your turf, you can initiate by trying to delicately graze the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be very careful that you don’t unintentionally cut off the grass blades you are cleaning because it can result in bald spots. Start from the bottom of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try freezing them with ice to solidify them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and rub the fiber with a rag by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
DISPOSING OF PET WASTE
If you have dogs, you understand that your grass is their restroom. A huge number of pet owners worry that artificial turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s false! If you have pets, we recommend you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. However, cleanup is still manageable even if you get normal artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you just allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then clean the surface with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through just like any other liquid, you can also clean these areas 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 artificial grass for dogs.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT SPOTS
Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Sometimes that mess may happen on your artificial turf. Your favorite snack might find its way to your grass, or your child might drop a juice box… you know how it goes. But washing simple stains like coffee, alcohol, soda, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are easy.
- Clean spills as fast as possible so you can avoid a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to start.
- Next, clean the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
- Clean thoroughly with your hose to remove the detergent.
- If the spot is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.
CLEANING TOUGH STAINS
If the spillage is of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how difficult it can be to remove. You should be meticulous using any of these near your artificial turf, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can 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 protective gear on, initiate by soaking a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
- Gently wipe off the dirty blades of artificial turf with the rag. You must ensure the solution doesn’t leak past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Gently rinse the grass with a hose and blot up any surplus liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still there, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.
AVOIDING DAMAGE
The majority of stains can be eliminated from your turf, but some things can permanently damage the grass that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the most common 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 concern yourself with your yard going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should consider adding a gravel area or stone patio to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or use anything else that could cause fire damage on your artificial grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your synthetic grass, so be extra careful when utilizing harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can leave areas of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should not be anywhere near your artificial lawn. If you need to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we strongly recommend you lay some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Synthetic grass can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not recommended. Due to the turning motion of the tires, 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. The heavy weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the grass.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp items can tear or cut your artificial grass. The sharper the object is, the worse the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged yard tools, pointy furniture feet, and ordinary tools. If you are thinking about having patio furniture on your artificial grass, you should consider utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR CARE
Most Toronto homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic turf. Still, you should consider enforcing a schedule cleaning schedule to keep your turf looking its best. You should remove loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick cleaning if you haven’t gotten precipitation lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step procedure you can do for routine care.
Step 1: Remove debris from the surface regularly, more so after high winds or storms.
Step 2: Clean often with a hose. Cold, clean water will help remove any dust or pollen. This step can frequently be skipped if you live in an location with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf against the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposing the grain will also block the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for at least 30 minutes before resuming regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year after your installation, you should think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens Ontario.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your synthetic turf, moss, mold and mildew can appear. These normally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic grass. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you finish these steps effortlessly.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for washing the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the synthetic grass.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove light debris more easily. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner too.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely avoid metal rakes because they will cause damage to the turf. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.
YEAR LONG PERFECTION
Synthetic turf is an excellent option for Toronto homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic grass.
If you are yet to get synthetic turf for your yard or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.