LESS WORK, MORE PLAY

Artificial turf will transform the way you maintain your property. Its effortless upkeep will allow you to forget the trouble of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Rather, you’ll be able to concentrate on other projects rather than maintaining the grass.

While you save countless hours working on the lawn, that doesn’t mean synthetic turf is totally maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic turf looking great, follow the directions provided.

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How often you maintain your artificial grass will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from other plants? 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 synthetic grass is in an isolated part of the property, away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you may have your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. By all means, this also changes from season to season and depends on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will eventually need some maintenance.

Here are some general guidelines we recommend.

HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS

Loose debris like leaves or sticks will break down on the grass surface and cause premature wear and tear. Larger limbs can even puncture the grass. Begin with eliminating things like children’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are easy to remove with hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris utilizing a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for simple removal.

HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?

If you discover lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your grass, you can start by trying to gently graze the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t accidentally cut off the grass blades you are scraping because it can create bald spots. Begin from the bottom of the grass blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try lowering the temperature of them with ice to solidify them before scraping them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and scrap the fiber with a cloth by damping the rag with the Mineral Spirits.

DISPOSING OF PET WASTE

If you have cats, you understand that your grass is their restroom. Many pet owners are concerned that synthetic grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s false! If you have pets, we suggest you get pet-specific systems by SWG. But, cleanup is still manageable even if you get regular synthetic grass. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you simply permit the solid waste to dry before removing it, then wash the area with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through like any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Additionally, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions about synthetic turf for dogs.

WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT STAINS

Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Now and then that mess may happen on your synthetic grass. Barbecue sauce might find its way to your grass, or your kid might spill a juice box… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like alcohol, soda, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are easy.

1. Clean spills as soon as possible so you can avoid a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
2. Up next, rinse the surface with a mix of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
3. Wash properly with your hose to eliminate the detergent.
4. If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the procedure once or twice more.

CLEANING STUBBORN STAINS

If you’ve had a spill of something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how difficult it can be to remove. You should be meticulous using any of these near your artificial grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.

1. Wear protective clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin damage. You should think about a respirator to prevent toxic fumes, too.
2. After you have protective gear on, initiate by soaking a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
3. Gently clean off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the rag. You must guarantee the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
4. Softly wash the area with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. If the stain is still visible, let it dry for 24 hours before trying again with mineral spirits.

AVOIDING DAMAGE

Many stains can be cleaned from your turf, but some objects will permanently damage the grass that you should take great care to avoid. Here are the big ones that can cause the most damage.

NO OPEN FIRES

Open fires and synthetic grass do not go well together. While you don’t have to worry about your yard going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember 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 light fireworks or anything else that might cause fire damage on your artificial grass.

BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS

Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your artificial grass, so be especially vigilant when using harsh chemicals near the turf. These chemicals can create patches of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Furthermore, gasoline and any vehicle fluids should not be anywhere near your artificial lawn. If you need to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we strongly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.

DON’T DRIVE ON IT

Synthetic turf can take heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not suggested. Because of the twisting motion in the wheels, it can cause damage to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull out from the backing material and lead to damage over time. Too much weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the turf.

USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE

Sharp items can cut or tear your artificial turf. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged garden tools, pointy furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are thinking about having patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should be using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

Most Jacksonville homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the upkeep of their synthetic grass. Still, you should consider enforcing a routine cleaning schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You should eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick rinse if you haven’t received precipitation lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step procedure you can observe for Standard care.

Step 1: Remove debris from the turf regularly, more so after high winds or storms.

Step 2: Wash regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will help remove any dust or pollen. This step can often be skipped if you live in an location with plenty of rain.

Step 3: Brush the turf opposite the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing opposing the grain will also prevent the fibers from matting.

Step 4: Let dry for at least 30 minutes before continuing with regular activities.

Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Jacksonville.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have pooled water on your artificial turf, moss, mold and mildew can appear. These normally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic turf. This should be professionally removed by a SWG location nearest you.

Here is an equipment list that will help you finish these steps efficiently.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Helpful for cleaning the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the synthetic turf.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate light debris more efficiently. One that has a suction option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner also.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely avoid metal rakes because they will cause harm to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial grass look its best.

PERFECT ALL YEAR

Artificial grass is a good choice for Jacksonville homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your synthetic grass.

If you are yet to get artificial turf for your yard or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.