How to Maintain an Artificial Grass Lawn
Artificial grass has continued to increase in popularity over the past few years. It is a great product for a variety of applications including those who need a low maintenance lawn solution.
If there are young kids out playing, or pets running around, or heavy shade, then artificial turf may well be for you. See example here. It is easy to lay, and can even be laid on top of a patio, or decking, to give the more natural look.
Whilst Artificial grass can be cheaper and less time consuming to maintain than a traditional turf lawn it isn’t totally maintenance free. There are still some general maintenance tasks that can go a long way to ensuring you get years of use from your artificial grass investment.
Following are tips to cover the most common care and maintenance requirements for artificial grass. We have broken the tips down into the following categories:
- The days after your artificial grass has been installed
- Ongoing maintenance
- Preventing and cleaning stains
- Cleaning up after pets
- How to handle high heat
- How to care for high traffic areas
The days after your artificial grass has been installed
Regular brushing is highly recommended to keep artificial turf looking good, but during the first couple of weeks it is very important in getting the turf to stand up properly after being rolled for so long.
Most domestic artificial turf nowadays does not require sand, or sand/rubber crumb infill, but if it is used, then brushing every day in different directions is important until the material is fully integrated into the turf.
Ongoing maintenance
The good news is that artificial grass requires minimal ongoing maintenance. No mowing, weeding or fertilising! You may find over time that light debris lands on the surface (such as leaves) which can degrade the appearance of your lawn. A light once-over with a stiff brush, find a good brush here, is the best way to remove surface debris, alternatively a leaf blower does a fantastic job in probably half the time. Find here.
Rain will also assist with removing any dust which may land during periods of heavy wind.
Common household fabric softeners can be used to assist with static build up and help to maintain the appearance of the artificial grass.
It is recommended that any organic matter which has fallen onto the surface of the artificial grass is removed regularly. Whilst weeds won’t grow in your artificial grass, organic matter can play hosts to weeds if left unattended. These should be picked off the surface as soon as seen, before they get properly established.
Preventing and cleaning stains
Artificial grass is in itself highly resistant to staining. Should you suffer any liquid spills it is recommended that these are cleaned up with a sponge, mop or cloth. The sooner the stain is removed the less chance it has to cause any damage.
Most liquid spills can be removed by hose water or if something stronger is needed you can use a warm and very mild solution of household cleaning detergent. A dilution of detergent can assist with tea/coffee, soda, alcohol and sauce stains just to name a few. Example here. Note, do not use bleach, it will cause discolouration.
For heavier stains, such as grease, personal sunscreen and motor oils, use mineral spirits to assist with removal.
Cleaning up after pets
If you have pets you would be pleased to know that artificial grass is very pet friendly. Should you have a dog, cat or other pet that has urination on the grass, simply hose it off with running water. Should there be a stench remaining, a dilution of household detergent can assist.
If you pet has done a “number 2” it is recommended that it is picked up and removed promptly to prevent any marks being left on the artificial grass.
How to handle high heat
One of the downsides of artificial grass is that it can be very hot to touch during periods of high heat. People sometimes get worried that extreme heat can degrade the quality of their artificial grass but there is nothing to worry about.
Should you desire, you can give the artificial grass a light spray of water to cool it down during hot temperatures but this isn’t required for any reason other than making it safer to walk on without shoes.
High traffic areas
Artificial grass can handle high traffic areas very well. It is highly resistant to impact and will maintain its appearance for years to come even after heavy use. If you notice any areas slightly indenting from high traffic, all it needs is a little more brushing.
After that, all that remains is to enjoy the freedom that comes with the low maintenance requirements of artificial grass.
I had no idea that artificial grass was so pet friendly! My family is moving to a new home and are trying to decide what kind of grass to put into our yard. With having 4 dogs, it can get pretty crazy on our lawn. However, knowing that artificial grass is so great to have when having dogs, it really makes me consider putting this in. I’ll have to look into this to see what I can find!
Thank you for quality information you give!!! These are very useful tips.
It’s really nice to know that artificial grass is very pet friendly. We need to do some landscaping this summer and I’m thinking of going for artificial grass to save money on water. I’ll be sure to maintain it and spray it off with the hose frequently to keep it clean.
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. The artificial grass is excellent quality now, looking and feeling very realistic.
Be sure to buy one of the shorter pile lengths, as when you have pets it is much easier to keep clean. The Greenscape we supply is the best seller on our list.
Cheers, Duncan.
Hi there! I was wondering how long does the grass retains its bright green color? I’ve seen my neighbor’s artificial grass becoming colorless in just a few months!
I liked when you said the artificial grass was highly resistant to stains. I can see why anyone wanting to save some money on maintaining grass would benefit from artificial grass since it is very low maintenance. I would love to give this a try and save money on maintenance as well as adding beauty to my house.