When you have a natural grass lawn, you never think of all the work you do to maintain it as “cleaning.” Most of the time, energy, and money you invest is required simply to keep the grass alive and trimmed. Keeping it clean takes extra work. But when you have an artificial grass lawn, a little cleaning is all you need to do.
Cleaning your artificial lawn is fast and easy. Here’s how.
Remove Debris
Picking up debris keeps your yard looking its best and protects your artificial grass from potential damage. Artificial turf does not produce any lawn waste. You never have to deal with messy clippings, etc., so there is little to pick up except for lightweight leaves and twigs that fall from your trees and shrubs or blow in from neighboring yards. With luck, the wind will blow the debris away again, but if not you should pick it up yourself.
If a wind storm causes larger branches to fall, they can damage the mesh backing that forms the base of your turf if they have sharp edges and manage to poke through the infill. For this reason, you should remove heavier debris right away.
Use the Proper Tools
When cleaning an artificial grass lawn, it is important to use the proper tools. Never use anything with metal tips or spikes. Like heavy broken branches, metal can tear the turf’s mesh foundation, causing damage that is hard to repair. Appropriate tools for artificial turf maintenance include:
- Lawn rakes with plastic tines. These will gently lift and separate the synthetic blades of grass, making the lawn look fuller and well-groomed. Leafy debris is very light compared to grass clippings and can be raked away with little effort.
- Leaf and grass catchers. Large, wheeled lawn rakes and grass catchers are meant to capture grass clippings, but they also work well for removing leaves in the fall. They are ideal for medium to large lawns. Attaching them to a riding lawnmower or small lawn or garden tractor will make quick work of removing any lightweight debris, even if it is damp.
- Blowers. For smaller lawns, using a leaf blower will quickly blow leaves off the grass and into piles. You can transfer the leaves to your compost pile, or bag them for disposal.
- Power broom. If you have a large lawn, a power broom is ideal for keeping your artificial grass clean and fluffy.
Organic Turf Sprays
Companies that sell and install artificial grass also sell organic turf washes and sprays that can be used on man-made products. These sprays are made with mild detergents that kill existing bacteria and work to destroy and prevent lingering odors from pet waste. Organic sprays are non-toxic, so they can be safely used in areas where both children and animals play.
Most turf washes come with containers that can be attached to a garden hose, so you easily spray a wide area. Depending on the specific product you choose, you may not even have to rinse the grass. Applying the spray once every couple of months will keep your artificial lawn looking green and vibrant and smelling fresh.
Unlike natural grass lawns, artificial turf does not create lawn waste. Once it is installed, you won’t have to spend hours every week performing traditional lawn maintenance and repeatedly removing grass clippings or weeds. Instead, after just a few minutes spent as necessary to pick up leafy debris or give your grass a quick spray, you can enjoy quality time with your family.