Keep Your Artificial Turf Fresh With These 5 Maintenance Tips
Anyone who dared to try laying grass turf or adding an artificial turf to their backyard knows how much time and money this home improvement project can save. Not only does it cut the costs of reseeding, it requires far less maintenance as it needs no watering or mowing.
But that’s not to say you can neglect your artificial turf completely. While the artificial turf will still be there even if you neglect it, maintenance will make it last much longer and look much better and as natural as possible. Regular upkeep ensures that your gold coast artificial grass remains vibrant and free from debris, preserving its aesthetic appeal. By following a few simple maintenance steps, you can enjoy a lush, green lawn all year round.
So if you are looking to keep your artificial turf fresh, here are some easy maintenance tips to consider.
Get the Right Equipment
Although you can say goodbye to your trusty lawnmower, you still need a lot of the same tools you used on your grass lawn to take care of your artificial turf. The hose, rake and a powerful backpack leaf blower are still going to be your trusty sidekicks in keeping your lawn spotless. You will also need a brush, but more on that soon.
Even if you don’t already have all these tools at your disposal, you can get them fairly cheap at every home improvement store.
Raking and Brushing Your Artificial Turf
Your artificial blades of grass should stand upright just like natural grass. Frequently walking over the turf and having your kids or pets playing there can flatten the blades. The same goes for keeping heavy items on the turf like furniture or inflatable pools.
To keep them upright and looking more natural you have to make a habit of raking or brushing the grass frequently. Use a rake or a brush with synthetic bristles, as metal ones can damage the synthetic grass blades. Use either of these tools to brush the fibers against the grain and they will stand up straight again.
Rinsing
Rain is the ultimate, cheapest way to clean your artificial turf. But in the absence of regular rainfalls, you need to take matters into your own hands. Even if you live in an area with frequent rain, sometimes you still have to rinse your turf more frequently. For example, pet owners have to make a habit of rinsing their artificial turf to get rid of pet waste.
If your pets prefer urinating in the same area, rinsing the turf regularly will prevent bacteria development and unpleasant odors. A simple wash will help you get rid of the most of the odor, as artificial lawns are made with a permeable base so that liquid waste passes right through.
A great feature of artificial turfs is that they are very stain resistant and a short wash will likely get all of the dirt or debris out. However, don’t use a power washer as it may damage the artificial blades of grass. A simple spray bottle or a garden hose will suffice.
Clean Out the Debris
Organic materials decomposing on an artificial turf can damage the surface of the lawn, which is why you have to make sure you clear the debris off your synthetic lawn frequently. You can use a leaf blower to get the lighter debris off your turf. However, don’t use a vacuum as it can pull some of the base materials out and damage your lawn.
If you live in a snow-heavy area, you can let the snow melt naturally. The frozen synthetic blades can get damaged if you try to remove the ice lawn manually.
Eliminate the Weed
Even though weed won’t give your artificial turf nearly as much trouble as it can to a natural lawn, you still need to take care of any weed that appears. Sometimes the wind might blow weed seeds into your backyard, so even with an artificial turf they still tend to appear, although less frequently.
You can pull the weed with your bare hands if you come across any unwanted guests during maintenance. Do that to avoid the weed taking root. If you want to take extra precautions you can even use various weed killers available on the market. However, make sure the chemicals used in these products are safe for your artificial turf. In most cases, a non-toxic product will do just fine.