The chilly mornings are just a reminder of what’s to come with the fast-approaching winter. Your thoughts turn to how to best prepare your home to withstand the harsh weather and frigid temperatures that can be quite damaging. While we still have some warm days here in Northeast Ohio and your lawn looks beautiful, it’s time to take some simple steps in assessing the condition of your artificial turf. Synthetic grass requires very little maintenance, but there are a few things that you can do so that it comes out just as beautiful when the snow melts in the spring.
It's much easier to take care of your artificial turf than natural grass. You’re no longer worried about mowing it every weekend or edging it. You don’t even have to bust out the weedwacker anymore. You even got rid of all your old lawn equipment and are saving all that money on maintenance and fuel. It is wise, however, to perform just a few life extending tasks.
What maintenance can benefit synthetic grass?
The best natural maintenance is rain, and you may only want to remove leaves and other debris with a leaf blower. Easy peasy. For winter, you can even use a snowplow, snow or leaf blower, or a broom to remove snow.
While you don’t have to mow, water, aerate, or overseed your synthetic lawn to keep it lush and green, the occasional attention helps to protect your investment by extending its lifespan. Let’s go through some routine maintenance to help combat the most common issues that you may face with artificial grass. The more foot traffic it gets dictates how much maintenance it may require. You should never use bleach or cleaners containing bleach, as well as caustic cleaners with a pH of 9 or higher and acidic cleaners with a pH of 5 or lower. Some suggestions that will help keep it free from damage include:
1. Cross brushing can help restore its aesthetic appearance. Heavy foot traffic may cause grass blades to flatten over time. Cross brushing is simply brushing against the grain of the fibers. You should only do so with a brush made of synthetic bristles, because metal or wire will damage the fibers. You only need to brush it to keep it as lush as you want it when it receives heavier foot traffic.
2. Stain removal is not a common need for artificial turf, because it naturally resists stains; however, it can happen. Some cleaners that are effective on the blades may damage the other components further down, so we have a list of acceptable products in two separate categories:
i. Cleaners to be used liberally include “Simple Green”, a mild homemade product containing one teaspoon of a household detergent to every pint of warm water, or a 3% solution of ammonia in water.
ii. Cleaners that should be applied only on a cloth rubbed over the artificial turf to prevent penetration below the surface include mineral spirits, grease spot removers, and perchloroethylene.
How do I get rid of common contaminants?
Nature is the best cleanser, so there is no need to be too worried about dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. The next time it rains will solve the problem. You can, however, spray it down with a hose or use one of the above methods if you have more of an immediate need.
You may have had synthetic grass installed because it’s so pet-friendly. Your beloved furbabies can no longer dig holes in your lawn, and there are no longer spots of dead grass from urine to repair; however, they still use it as a bathroom. It’s best to allow the feces to dry before removing it. It can then be cleaned with one of the above methods. Urine will drain away with the next rain or can be hosed off.
You also love your lawn because it’s so kid friendly. You haven’t cleaned grass stains from their clothing since you had it installed and they no longer need to take allergy medication just to play in the backyard. You find that one of them dropped chewing gum on it, but we assure you that it’s an easy fix. Simply use an aerosol pack of refrigerant or dry ice to “freeze” the affected area. You then scrape it to remove the substance.
If you are in an area shaded by trees and find that sap drips everywhere, you can use the “freezing” method we mentioned above. For fungus or mold spots, a 1% solution of hydrogen peroxide and water can be applied with a sponge to the area. You may need to repeat this process for several days to completely remove the fungus.
The other way to have full maintenance performed on your synthetic lawn is to call us here at SYNLawn of Northeast Ohio. Whether you want a simple facelift, or you need full maintenance performed on paint or difficult stains, we can help you take care of your investment.
Here at SYNLawn of Northeast Ohio, our goal is to make your life easier and more efficient. We know that you’re busy and value the time that you spend with your family. We free up some of that time while providing pet and kid-friendly benefits so that you can enjoy life a little more. Visit our website for a free consultation or call us at 330.639.1564 with any questions.
SYNLawn of Northeast Ohio
4855 Hills & Dales Rd. NW
Canton, Ohio 44708
330.639.1564
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