How to Care for Artificial Grass: Guide to Lush Greens All Year-Round

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Artificial grass is a popular choice for homeowners in various parts of the world. If you want a lush green lawn, but you don’t have the time to maintain one, artificial grass can be an appealing alternative. Synthetic grass requires much less care and attention than a genuine lawn. You don’t have to mow the garden regularly or worry about maintaining an even spread of seed.

Of course, that doesn’t mean your artificial lawn should never get any care or attention. The right artificial grass can last for decades. During that time, it’s important to routinely brush away unwanted debris, get rid of dirt, and remove stains when and as they appear.

Here, we’re going to cover some of the simple steps on how to care for artificial grass to keep your lawn in good condition. Let’s get started.

Does Artificial Turf Need Maintenance?

Let’s start with the basics. Artificial grass is a low maintenance alternative to natural grass. However, it does occasionally require some care and attention. Proper maintenance, such as replacing sand infill or removing solid waste like fallen leaves, can keep your grass looking great for longer. Something as simple as using a plastic rake or a stiff brush to clean your lawn from time to time can make a huge difference.

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Unlike natural grass, which depends on a lot of mowing and watering all-year-round, artificial turf doesn’t need a lot of work. You don’t have to do much to prevent weeds and keep it looking great. Regularly cleaning or brushing your grass once a month could save you a much more significant job at the end of the year.

The amount of work you’ll need to do will depend on what kind of fake green you have and whether your lawn is regularly exposed to things that might damage it. These things include weeds, pet waste, moss, and stains from dropped food or drink.

Everyday Maintenance

Cleaning your lawn on a regular basis is quite a simple process. Most homeowners brush their garden lawn once a week or so to get rid of solid waste and keep the green looking natural. If you don’t have many plants or leaves around your garden, you may not need to spend this much time brushing.

When you are brushing your fake grass, make sure that you do so in all directions. This is how you ensure your lawns continue to look natural. If you brush all in the same direction, this can make your green look a little fake. Organic grass doesn’t grow in just one direction, after all. Brushing can also help with removing things like moss and dirt that gathers over time.

Areas that get a lot of foot traffic may need to be brushed more often to stop the blades of grass in your garden from looking too flat or trampled.

Aside from using your brush frequently, it’s a good idea to ensure you remove any large pieces of debris that end up in your garden. Things like leaves and twigs should be removed from the lawn when you notice them. You may be able to use a leaf blower on a gentle setting if your stiff brush isn’t enough to remove all the debris from your artificial turf.

Another thing to stay aware of is weeds and unwanted plants growing within your artificial grass. Synthetic turf often has a membrane at the bottom where water can run through and soak into the ground. Occasionally, this means that the earth beneath your lawn can sprout weeds and unwanted plants. Do not apply chemical weed killers to any of the plants growing on your turf.

Exposing your fake grass to chemicals can cause a lot of damage. Instead, you’ll need to carefully remove any weed that starts to grow through the membrane. Avoid using a shovel that will damage the grass. If you do decide to use a killer to get rid of the weeds, use one that is water-based.

Getting Rid of Stubborn Stains

It’s easy to remove some basic organic debris from your grass as part of regular turf maintenance. Your weekly artificial grass cleaning routine can include raking or brushing as you remove heavy debris. However, if you’re having trouble with a more complicated stain, then you might need more than just a brush.

Removing unwanted substances with a cleaning solution will stop the stain from getting worse over time. However, you don’t want to use anything that’s going to burn away the plastic or fibre components of your synthetic lawn. Just like with the weed killer example above, it’s best to use cleaning solutions with a water base.

Speak to your lawn manufacturer about how to safely remove any stain that’s resistant to water, like chewing gums. You can use a combination of water and vinegar or warm water with washing up liquid to get rid of things like bubble gums. Leave the substance to soak, then allow it to dry out before carefully removing the gum with a pallet knife.

There are some experts who can recommend grass cleaning substances to remove stains and pet waste from your turf. Check the instructions carefully before you use these substances for maintenance.

Does Artificial Grass Stay Wet?

The good news for people looking into how to clean artificial grass is that your artificial lawn will dry out naturally. Just like your regular grass lawn, your artificial grass will eventually dry out with exposure to the sun and wind. When you apply water-based weed killer or other water cleaners, your artificial grass will drain the water through the membrane in the bottom.

Because artificial grass comes with its own membrane for draining water, it’s safe to use as a lawn alternative in all parts of the world. You can even place it in high traffic areas in your garden, which you may need to clean regularly after BBQs and pet sessions.

You don’t need to avoid using artificial grass in areas exposed to snow either. Your membrane will prevent the ice or snow from staying on the artificial grass for too long. Often, you can simply leave the snow and ice to drain naturally. However, you can follow some lawn protection tips and add a small amount of salt to the grass to reduce snow and ice build-up. This can be a good idea if you get a heavy amount of snow during winter.

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Can You Vacuum Artificial Grass?

If you start to get tired of following tips to look after your artificial grass, you might think about using a vacuum cleaner on those stubborn lawns. Although this might help to get rid of dirt faster, it’s usually not a good idea. Vacuuming your artificial grass can damage the components of the lawn and harm the grass fibres.

You should also avoid using a vacuum to clean because it can remove the sand and dirt used to fill the gaps in your artificial grass, which helps to keep it looking real. Using a leaf blower (gently) or a brush with your artificial turf is a better option.

Other tips to keep in mind include:

Consistent Cleaning Routine

Take time to clean your lawn each month, particularly after it’s been exposed to pets. If you clean up after your pets often, you can avoid unwanted stains and damage that will make it harder to clean.

Avoid Using Sharp or Pointy Objects

When getting rid of unwanted substances like chewing gum, never use sharp and pointed knives. Although by the time you’ve finished scraping, you might have removed the stain, your artificial turf could be damaged, too.

No to Harsh Cleansers

Don’t use chemicals or strong detergents to clean artificial grass. This will often harm your artificial lawn and could cause discolouration. Organic cleaners such as vinegar and water are recommended.

Be Careful in Using Tools

Don’t expose your artificial lawn to any significant sources of heat or pressure when cleaning. If you’re using a leaf blower for artificial grass maintenance, keep the air pressure low. Avoid using extremely hot water on your artificial lawn.

Early Detection

Be diligent about care in high traffic areas. Watch out for any damage caused by harsh steps from your children or chewing from your animals. The faster you notice the deformity, the easier it will usually be to get your lawn looking great again.

Artificial Grass Care Wrap-Up

Improve the longevity of your lawn and learn how to care for artificial grass properly. There are many ways that you can unknowingly disfigure your turfs, such as using hot water or weed killers. If you spend money to buy a beautiful lawn, then you will want to get the most out of it and not be replacing it after just a few years.