Compared to real grass, artificial lawn maintenance is a breeze. After artificial lawn installation has been completed, there are no more worries about mowing, weeding, fertilizing, or regular watering. Even still, the artificial lawn is not entirely maintenance-free.
Artificial lawn Maintenance: Remove Debris Regularly
Your artificial turf lawn should be kept as free from debris as possible. This includes leaves, animal waste, and smaller objects like discarded paper wrappers and branches. Inspect your lawn regularly for these objects. Remove them by hand or use a plastic garden rake. Never use a metal rake. It is also safe to use a leaf blower on the artificial turf lawn.
Artificial lawn Maintenance: Cleaning
For homeowners who live in areas where it rains periodically, rainwater will usually be sufficient to remove dust and bits of soil from the artificial turf lawn. If desired, the area can also be hosed down periodically. This may be a good idea if the homeowner has animals. If there are stains that can not be removed with water alone, a mild detergent may be used. Gently wipe the surface until the stain is removed. Solvents or harsh chemicals should never be used to remove stains.
Artificial lawn Maintenance: Considerations for High Traffic Areas
The artificial lawn installed by a knowledgeable artificial lawn contractor will be quite durable. However, it is important to keep a close eye on the areas of the lawn that receive the most traffic. Two problems in these areas are common. First, the fibers can become flattened over time. To remedy this, use a brush to return the fibers to their original position. Use a power brush for a large area if you have. Brush them in a number of different directions for a more natural look. Secondly, the infill under heavily-used sections can become compacted, resulting in noticeable depressions. To fix this, all that is needed is some infill and a stiff brush/power brush. Simply apply infill to the depression and work it in using the brush. Continue to add infill until the surface is once again uniform.
Professional Artificial Lawn Maintenance
Removing debris, inspecting high traffic areas for depressions or flattened fibers, and artificial lawn cleaning are all tasks that can quite easily be handled by the homeowner. However, there are times when it is advisable to call in a professional. If large portions of your artificial lawn are flattened, it will likely be too time-consuming to fix this problem with a hand-held brush. Similarly, if your lawn requires major repairs, you would like to change its appearance, or you want additional artificial lawn installed, a professional is your best bet.
Residential Artificial Grass Repair:
It’s always a good idea to keep the scraps leftover from your original synthetic grass installation. They can be used to patch any areas that become damaged. While the artificial turf is highly resistant to most normal contaminants and use, strong acids or other chemicals can discolor it, and sharp objects, vehicles, or vandals may damage it.
Small tears of artificial grass area can be repaired by sewing the edges together if they are noticeable. Use a UV resistant and rot proof thread.
Larger artificial turf areas may require the offending piece to be cut out and a new piece inserted. Cut out the damaged piece, straight edges are easier, but curved, random sides will be less noticeable. If you do randomly shaped cutouts, place the cutout piece on a piece of newsprint or other paper, and trace the outline on it. Then transfer the outline to a new piece of artificial turf (on the back), making sure the artificial turf is aligned the same way for directional grain turf.
Note: Make sure you transfer it the right way, you don’t want a mirror image after you cut it out!
If the existing artificial turf is just laid down on the underlay, use the seam tape in short sections to join the edges of the new piece to the existing one. Place adhesive on one side of the tape and slip it under the edge of the existing artificial turf. Do this all around the edge.
Spread adhesive on the exposed tape and carefully place the new piece into position, pressing it down firmly onto the tape.
Fill the new artificial grass to the same density as the surrounding artificial grass with the infill material.
If the existing synthetic turf is glued to the substrate, then the tape is not necessary, just glue the new piece in place.
More about artificial lawn repair, please visit How To Repair Artificial Turf