How to Keep Your Synthetic Turf Looking Its Very Best
One of the big benefits of putting artificial grass around your home or business is that it’s significantly lower maintenance than real grass. No watering, no mowing, and no brown spots to treat, and no need to cover it with dangerous chemicals just to get the look that you want. It’s a great way to keep your lawn looking perfectly manicured without putting a lot of time, energy, or money into it. But that doesn’t mean your synthetic turf is 100% maintenance free! There are a number of things that you can do to help your lawn look its best long after our Bakersfield team has installed it. Here are some of our top tips for synthetic lawn maintenance so your turf looks just as good as it did on day one!
Tips For Maintaining Your Artificial Turf
Brush it off.
The primary maintenance that your turf will need is being brushed off. This does three things for it:
- It removes debris like sticks, rocks, and litter from the surface that can end up damaging the turf.
- It prevents weeds from seeding into the dirt underneath the turf and growing up from it.
- It refreshes the individual blades of “grass” in the turf that can become matted down over time by traffic and rain.
All you’ll need to do is go over the lawn with a stiff-bristled brush periodically. You can do it as much as you like, but really once every few months is probably often enough depending on how much use, traffic, and debris is coming into your yard (although you should remove debris from the surface of your lawn on a weekly basis). Use a brush that has bristles made from natural or synthetic fibers. Take care to avoid using metal implements on your synthetic grass; you run the risk of doing a lot more damage with metal tools.
Wash it down.
While those with real grass will spend a lot of time and money watering their lawns, artificial grass owners will have the luxury of watering their lawns a few times a year. We recommend giving it a good spray of water about every three months. This isn’t to help the grass grow, obviously, but it will help the turf stay clean. Turf will collect dust and pollen on the surface over time. While this won’t really do anything to damage the material, removing it will make it look cleaner and fresher, so it’s worth spraying down your turf periodically with the spray attachment on your hose.
Give it a scrub.
Your synthetic turf is going to be in the great outdoors where it can encounter all sorts of things. Some of those things might leave stains behind. Thankfully, synthetic turf is very easy to deep clean when needed. Simply scrub the stained area with a brush and warm, soapy water. The materials used to create the synthetic turf are designed to be tough and durable, so stains and spills should come off easily and look good as new afterward. There are some substances like motor oil or sunscreen that might be a little tougher to remove, but some mineral spirits should do the trick.
Common Maintenance Issues With Synthetic Grass
Why is there sand or dirt on the surface?
This happens more often right after the synthetic turf has been installed. That’s because the installation team uses sand or dirt to fill in the areas underneath the turf to give it a solid foundation on which to lie. As the grass and the infill settles, some of that infill can work it’s way up through the holes in the turf to the surface. Don’t worry about it, though; over time, the sand and dirt will work it’s way back down and settle underneath or the rain will wash it away. If you want to get rid of it sooner, brush the turf or spray it down with your garden hose.
Why does my synthetic lawn smell bad?
Your synthetic turf shouldn’t have any smell at all. If it does, it’s probably because you have pets using the area. Synthetic grass is actually great for pets because it allows waste to seep into the dirt underneath without creating brown spots in your yard. However, if there is a build-up of waste, that can make the turf start to smell. Simply hose down the area, and if you need a little extra smell control, spray the area with a mixture of water and white vinegar or dishwashing liquid.
Is the hot sun going to hurt my grass?
Absolutely not! This is a common concern for new owners of an artificial lawn, especially as temperatures can skyrocket in Bakersfield in the summer months. But the artificial turf that we use is specially made to start up to the demands of being outdoors, whether that’s heavy rains, freezing sleet, or the heat of the sun beating down on it. You can rest easy that your fake grass will be fine, although it may feel warm when you walk on it.
Want to have a gorgeous, low-maintenance lawn around your home or office? Kern Turf Supply can help! Get in touch with us for more information by giving us a call or filling out the form on our website. We can help you install a lawn that looks amazing with the need for watering, mowing, and covering it in chemicals. You’ll love being able to enjoy your yard without all the hard work!