Artificial Lawn is a great addition to any yard, and it’s mainly installed due to its low maintenance requirements. However, it still needs a certain level of care. In this Guide, you’ll master the art of How to Maintain Artificial Lawn.
There are multiple factors to keep in mind when determining how much maintenance you need for your artificial lawn, as climate, trees, gardens nearby, kids, traffic, and pets are some of the main ones to keep an eye on.
Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. Some simple cleaning routines by Lawn Advisors would make you a master of how to maintain artificial lawn.
Let’s get things started, shall we?
What is an Artificial lawn?
An artificial Lawn is a surface created by synthetic fibers mainly made of polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene, with the sole purpose of looking like grass.
That’s what the artificial lawn is, but the benefits exceed that, as it provides great drainage to water and other liquids, making it less susceptible to growing weeds that damage natural grass.
With that in mind, the artificial lawn will surely take less time and effort to maintain compared to natural grass.
Why Does Artificial Lawn Need Maintenance?
Artificial Lawn requires less maintenance than natural grass, we got it, but isn’t it made so we don’t have to do those boring chores in the first place?
The answer is both Yes & No. The yes is that you won’t (need) to do it on a daily basis, so that’s an upgrade. And the no is that even antiques that are created to shine for hundreds of years still require routine cleaning.
Therefore, high traffic, kids who are hyperactive, pets, and more, can be problematic for artificial lawn in some cases, especially when you leave them unattended.
Bottom line: artificial lawn comes under the threat of fewer dangers compared to natural grass, but will still require that maintenance.
Why You Should Know How to Maintain Artificial Lawn
We’ve already established that the artificial lawn still needs a little bit of maintenance to help keep its healthy & pristine look and feel, then why is that?
It’s mainly about making sure it lasts for the full length of its lifespan, provides the natural look of the grass, and looks exactly like the first time it has been installed.
Getting one piece damaged will damage the whole look and feel of the whole ground, you don’t want that, do you?
How to Maintain Artificial Lawn
The key to knowing how to maintain artificial lawn is quite simple: routine cleaning & getting rid of dirt & debris.
Once you’ve carried out both chores correctly and in time on your artificial lawn, you’re exactly on track for maintaining the lawn for as long as you’ll want/need it.
Routine Cleaning/Maintenance
1. Brush, Brush, Brush!
Matted fibers appear quite often when you have high traffic over your artificial lawn. All you need to do is brush it in the opposite direction to get it back to its original look.
You should also use a hard-bristle brush to get rid of visible debris, leaves, and more.
How often should you brush? My advice would be to wait 2-3 months after installation, to let the lawn rest and settle correctly on the ground.
After that, brushing the artificial lawn once or twice a month is efficient enough, as long as you don’t have any parties planned on the lawn.
Moreover, make sure you use a brush made of synthetic bristles, not hard plastic, wire, or steel bristles as they always leave insurmountable damage to the artificial lawn.
2. Water Lawn Often
Do you live in an area with consistent rainfall? If yes, then you’ll need to water the artificial lawn less often.
However, if you don’t live in a similarly rainy area, then you should rinse your lawn at least once per week with the traditional garden hose.
Don’t worry, the great drainage artificial lawn has can get the water away from your ground in no time.
3. Interfere & Replace
Sometimes a specific area suffers from high traffic; kids play there more often, your dog rests in the natural airflow at the very first artificial lawn spot in the garden, or it’s just on the way between 2 high traffic areas in your yard.
Either way, some spots need to be replaced to restore the authentic look of the whole pack of artificial lawn spots. If a single spot is damaged, the whole look is damaged, and all you need to do is interfere and replace it with a new one.
Cleaning Stains & Dirt
1. Pets Waste
Everyone loves a dog or a cat who is active and provides a lovely feeling inside the house & the yard, but dogs and cats need to relieve themselves too.
That means you’ll have to hose down the potential urine on the artificial lawn.
Additionally, put on your gloves and pick up their waste whenever you notice it.
2. Weeds? Maybe
You may think that due to the natural drainage of the artificial lawn, you won’t encounter weeds here or there. Unfortunately, you may.
Therefore, you may need to use a weed killer to tackle the problem instead of relying on any other traditional method.
On a more serious note, don’t attempt to get rid of the weed by hand, you may ruin the whole lawn that way.
3. Debris
Debris and other visual dirt types are to be removed on spot. Don’t move over the debris you encounter while moving in and out of the yard.
Always remove such dirt to prevent any clogging in the natural drainage the artificial lawn enjoys, as debris can get in the way pretty easily.
4. Stains
Unattended pets waste spills from different sources, even a single bloody leg or nose can form spills on the artificial lawn.
The solution is simple; use soapy hot water and a soft sponge and deal with the stain spots, then rinse with cold water.
Dos and Don’ts of How to Maintain Artificial Lawn
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Trim Trees Around the Yard | Use Chemicals on Artificial Lawn |
| Use Bristle Brooms | Use Steel Brooms |
| Water The Lawn More Often | Leave Gum & Sticky Substances on the Lawn |
| Use Sharp Objects on the Lawn | |
| Leave Extra-Heavy Machinery on the Lawn |
How to Maintain Artificial Lawn FAQ
Summary
This concludes the guide on how to maintain artificial lawn, explaining in depth why and how to do it.
Generally speaking, you’ll have to attend to it less often than a natural lawn, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it unattended.
Watering often, brushing leaves and debris, and replacing damaged spots are the main routine cleaning steps you should follow.
The other maintenance levels are just as important but require less effort.
In case you have any questions on how to maintain artificial lawn, leave your questions in the comments section below.
