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Your Guide to Artificial Grass Maintenance and Care

You’ve made the jump from real grass to artificial grass and you’ve got no regrets. Thanks to your low-maintenance fake lawn that requires no mowing, strimming, or fertilizing (and never fades), you’ve got a vibrant green garden with no effort required and more time to actually enjoy it.

But while artificial grass is much more low maintenance than real grass, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a bit of care and attention every now and again.

Looking after your fake grass will ensure its longevity and allow it to maintain its fresh and healthy appearance for many years. A little light maintenance a few times a month will save you trouble and expense later down the line, keeping your fake lawn looking great for longer, as well as making it safer for kids and pets to play.

– So, what’s the best way to maintain artificial grass?
– How do you clean artificial grass?
– What else can you do to prolong the lifespan of your fake lawn?
– And what should you definitely not do when it comes to artificial grass?

If you’re wondering about artificial grass aftercare, we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to fake grass care and maintenance.

Your Guide to Artificial Grass Maintenance and Care

Cleaning Artificial Grass: An Easy Low-Effort Method

It’s good to stay on top of cleaning when it comes to the artificial grass as a build-up of dirt and debris can damage your lawn and be harder to clean later down the line. Here’s the quickest and simplest way to clean your fake lawn.

Lightly brush your artificial grass once a week, or at least every other week, removing any leaves or twigs. A build-up of debris will stop your lawn from draining properly and also encourage weeds to grow. Use a brush with stiff bristles or a plastic rake rather than a metal one and go gently. Too much force could alter the shape of your turf. Brush in the opposite direction of the blades to plump them up and cross-brush the whole lawn to create a fluffy effect. You may need to brush areas with high foot traffic more frequently.
You could also use a leaf blower for an even quicker way to remove garden debris from your lawn. This is best done on a dry day as removing wet leaves with a blower is not very effective.
You should also try to clean your artificial grass with water on a semi-regular basis. Weekly or bi-monthly is good. While rainwater will wash away light dirt, hosing your grass down as well will make sure it always looks healthy and there’s no build-up.
If you notice your artificial lawn is beginning to smell, you can clean it with a vinegar-water or soapy solution. Don’t use bleach as this is far too harsh. Vinegar is great for removing odours from pet urine while vinegar and baking soda are effective for removing stubborn stains. You can also buy specialist artificial grass cleaners. Diluted mineral spirits can be used sparingly on oil-based stains.
For dirt that has hardened, use a plastic spatula, toothbrush, or blunt knife to gently ease it off.

Maintaining Artificial Grass: What’s Required?

As we’ve already said, artificial grass is pretty low maintenance. But there are a few measures you can take to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

First, if you’re finding that weeds are still poking through the drainage holes of your artificial lawn, you can invest in a weed barrier or membrane to prevent them from coming through.

Pick any weeds as soon as you see them and brush or rake the grass regularly. Simply pull the tops off. Don’t dig around with a trowel or fork as this will ruin your artificial turf.

Once or twice a year, you could also use weed killer. Just make sure it’s a water-based solution to ensure it doesn’t damage your artificial turf.

Secondly, it’s important to repair any holes or tears in your fake lawn as quickly as you can. This will also help to ensure the lifespan of your artificial grass.

Is your artificial grass looking a little flat and lacklustre? Simply brush the blades of grass in the opposite direction. You could also top up the layer of sand infill.

Artificial Grass Do’s and Don’ts

If you spill something on your artificial grass, quickly soak up any spillage with a clean cloth, absorbing as much as possible. Then use soap and warm water with a clean cloth or sponge to remove whatever’s left before rinsing with the garden hose.
Allow any pet waste to dry before removing it. This makes it easier.
If any ice forms on your fake lawn during the winter months, let it melt naturally rather than trying to remove it which could damage the blades.
Ash from cigarettes, fires, or BBQs could all melt your artificial grass so make sure to keep these things away from your lawn.
Rotate your garden furniture now and then to allow the artificial grass to spring back into shape and prevent it from being permanently flattened.
Consider trimming back hedges and overhanging trees to minimize the number of leaves that fall on your artificial grass.
Keep motorized garden tools away from your fake grass as they can also damage it.
The same goes for sharp or pointy objects, including stiletto heels or football boots with studs—as well as chewing gum which is a nightmare to remove from artificial grass.
While wheelbarrows, bikes, and wheelchairs are fine to use on artificial grass, motor vehicles should be kept off your lawn.
Mirrors, magnifying glasses, and other reflective surfaces can pose a danger to artificial lawns as they can cause burning.
If painting in the garden, put a sheet down to prevent any spillage on your artificial lawn.
It’s worth trying to train your dog or cat to do their business in a specific area of your garden away from your grass. This will minimise the amount of cleaning up you have to do.
Don’t pressure wash your artificial lawn as this could remove the infill, causing your lawn to look saggy.

Looking After Artificial Grass: Minimum Effort and Stress

Compared to the time and energy required to keep a real grass lawn looking neat and tidy, maintaining artificial grass is incredibly easy. This is just one of the many advantages of swapping from real grass to fake grass.

And if you look after it, your artificial grass could last from 15 to 25 years. For more information about the perks of artificial grass, get in touch to schedule your FREE site visit today.

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