Many homeowners choose to rid themselves of their natural grass lawns for a more aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective artificial alternative. There are many advantages to installing artificial grass but most notably, the main reason for the installation is because of how low maintenance it is. No longer will you have to cut your lawn, trim the borders or pull out unsightly weeds; it is the ideal garden solution.

However, whilst it is extremely low maintenance, it does require some TLC from time to time. Anything that is outside and exposed to the harsh British weather will need tending to, but the good news is that it will take far less time than real lawn maintenance. Here we will be discussing how to maintain your artificial grass from managing icy conditions to how best to deal with pet messes!

Maintenance

As mentioned, artificial grass maintenance is relatively low, but it is recommended that weekly and monthly cleans are carried out. On a weekly basis, it is advised that you scan your grass for any leaves, mud or other debris that is sat on top of the blades that could interfere with your artificial grass’ drainage system. Simply take a rake or soft-headed brush and remove anything you can see before they have time to sink into the grass.

On a monthly basis, you may want to invest in an artificial grass cleaning that will remove any dirt whilst killing any nasty bacteria. This is especially recommended if you have pets or children who play on the grass. During this process, you can use a brush to reposition your blades of grass if they start to look a little flat.

Generally, in terms of other artificial grass maintenance, there isn’t much other than to be aware of any damage you notice such as tears and holes. Keeping on top of this simple maintenance should help to not only prolong the lifespan of your artificial grass but to also keep it looking at fresh as the day it was installed.

Cleaning Artificial Grass

Here we will be looking at a range of different issues you may encounter with your artificial grass and how best to rectify them to ensure your lawn stays looking its best.

Dirt, Leaves and Other Debris

Anything that falls onto your artificial lawn can easily be removed using a soft brush or rake. However, it is important to note that being too forceful can often result in damage to your lawn so take care when removing materials. Anything that has deeply embedded itself into your lawn or is stuck to blades of grass can be carefully removed by scraping with a sharp knife in an upwards motion, avoiding slicing any of the surrounding blades of grass.

Drinks and Spillages

Drink spillages are usually not too difficult to remove from your artificial grass with the blades being as weatherproof as they are, there shouldn’t be any lasting damage. Simply use a cloth or kitchen roll to gently blot away the liquid, being careful not to scrape against or rub the blades too hard. Once the stain is removed you can use clean water to wash any residue away which will then be removed via the underlying drainage system.

Pet Messes

Whether it be urine, excrement or even shedding, pets can leave quite the mess on your artificial lawn. The easiest way to neutralise dog/cat urine and excrement is to pick up the physical waste and to hose away the remnants with water. Then to avoid a build-up of unpleasant odours, you may wish to use an artificial grass cleaner every 1-2 months depending on how many pets you have. Regular brushing and raking of your grass to remove pet hair are also recommended to ensure the hair does not begin to cause blockages in your drainage system. If your artificial grass is kept on top of you should have no issues with odour or drainage!

Snow and Ice

One of the benefits of artificial grass is that no matter how cold the weather gets, it won’t die off in the winter. That being said, when it starts to get cold you may notice that your blades of grass begin to stiffen when the frost hits. When this happens, you’ll need to wait for the ice to melt before people or pets walk across it to avoid damage to the grass and to not hurt your pet’s paws! If, however, you wake up to a layer of snow on your grass the best course of action is to use a plastic shovel to remove as much as possible. Removing the snow will ensure you won’t have any drainage issues but be careful not to damage the blades when shovelling.

When it comes to cleaning artificial grass, the rules are simple. The key is to maintain your grass regularly and with any luck it will stay looking, smelling and feeling great throughout the year.

If you are interested in finding out more about the artificial grass installation or having any questions about artificial grass maintenance or cleaning artificial grass, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today on 0121 722 2141 or email us at enquiries@proudgardens.co.uk.