WORK LESS, PLAY MORE

Synthetic grass will transform the way you maintain your property. Its low upkeep will enable you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Alternatively, you’ll be able to concentrate on alternative projects instead of working on the grass.

While you save precious hours working on your grass, that doesn’t mean synthetic grass is completely maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic surface looking great, follow the directions provided.

SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS

How often you clean your synthetic grass will rely 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 shed leaves and other debris onto it?

If your synthetic grass is in an open space, away from children, pets, trees and plants, you may have less to do when it comes to regular maintenance. By all means, this also varies from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in short it really depends, but will always demand some maintenance.

Here are some general guidelines we suggest.

HOW TO HANDLE LOOSE DEBRIS

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

DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF

If you discover lipstick, chewing gum, paint, crayons, or tree sap on your turf, you can initiate by trying to softly scrape the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t accidentally cut off the grass blades you are cleaning 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 come off, try freezing them with ice to thicken them before scraping them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and scrap the fiber with a cloth by drenching the rag with the Mineral Spirits.

DISPOSING OF PET WASTE

If you have cats, you understand that your grass is their restroom. Many people worry that artificial grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s wrong! If you have cats, we suggest you acquire pet-specific systems by SWG. Despite that, cleaning is still easy even if you get normal artificial grass. For example, when Fido uses the lawn as his bathroom, you simply allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then cleanse the area with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through like any other liquid, you can also cleanse these surface with water. Plus, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions about synthetic turf for pets.

WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT STAINS

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

1. Clean spills as fast as possible so you can avoid a long-lasting stain. Soak the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
2. Up next, clean the area with a combination of water and mild household detergent like dish soap.
3. Clean thoroughly with your hose to remove the detergent.
4. If the spot is still visible, you can recur the procedure once or twice more.

CLEANING TOUGH STAINS

If the spillage is of something similar to motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how tough it can be to remove. You should be meticulous utilizing any of these near your artificial grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can do.

1. Wear safety clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should contemplate about a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
2. After you have protective gear on, initiate by dipping a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
3. Gently wipe off the dirty blades of synthetic grass with the rag. You must ensure the solution doesn’t seep past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
4. Delicately wash the area with a hose and blot up any surplus liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
5. If the stain is still visible, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.

PREVENTING DAMAGE

The majority of stains can be eliminated from your grass, but some things will permanently damage the turf that you should take care to avoid. Here are the most common 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 bother about your grass going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your lawn, you should think about adding a gravel area or stone patio to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or use anything else that might cause fire damage on your artificial turf.

BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS

Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your artificial grass, so be very careful when using harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can create patches of the turf that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Furthermore, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your synthetic grass. If you have to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we firmly recommend you put down some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.

DON’T DRIVE ON IT

Artificial turf can handle heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not suggested. Because of the turning motion in the wheels, it can wreack havoc to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull away from the backing material and lead to tearing over time. The heavy weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.

USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE

Sharp objects can tear or cut your synthetic grass. The sharper the object is, the worse the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged garden tools, pointy furniture feet, and household tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your artificial turf, you should be utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

The majority of Albuquerque homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their artificial grass. Still, you should think about implementing a routine maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You must eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick cleaning if you haven’t received precipitation recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a simple 4-step process you can do for routine care.

Step 1: Remove debris from the surface regularly, particularly after windy or stormy weather.

Step 2: Rinse regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to eliminate any dust or pollen. This step can sometimes be avoided if you live in an location with lots of precipitation.

Step 3: Brush the turf against 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 after your installation, you should think about having your turf professionally groomed, cleaned and infill levels checked by Southwest Greens of New Mexico.

MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have standing water on your artificial grass, moss, mold and mildew can grow. These usually look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic grass. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.

Here is an equipment list that will assist you complete these steps easily.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Garden Hose: Useful for washing the grass when the weather is dry and dust or dirt piles up on the artificial turf.
2. Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to eliminate small debris more effortlessly. One that has a suction option is really useful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner as well.
3. Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes because they will cause harm to the turf. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.

PERFECT ALL YEAR

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

If you haven’t gotten synthetic grass for your lawn or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.