Does artificial grass need maintenance?

People choose artificial grass because it does not need regularly mowing like real grass does and no fertilisers or lawn feed are required. However, that’s not to say that artificial grass doesn’t need some degree of maintenance.

How often does artificial grass need cleaning?

Artificial grass installed outdoors needs regular cleaning. How often this is done is dependent on a number of factors. If you have pets and small children, the grass will need to be cleaned more often than if you don’t.

If there are bushes or trees overhanging the grass, debris will fall on it. In autumn, leaves will accumulate on the lawn too.

Regular spraying and brushing are all that is generally needed to keep the grass clean. This should take a lot less time than maintaining real grass, and on wet days, the rain will do a lot of the job for you.

It’s a good idea to spray the grass with a spray gun attached to a hose about once a week. A light spray will remove debris and dust.

Leaves, dust and dirt

Most everyday dirt can be removed with a brush with stiff bristles, but don’t use one with steel bristles as this could damage the grass. Leaves can be removed with a leaf blower.

Fixing non-erect grass

If you find that the grass is not erect, use a brush to sweep against the grain to make the grass stand up.

Pet waste

Artificial grass is suitable for homes that have pets, but if a dog uses the grass as a toilet, use a dog poop bag to scoop up the dirt, then hose the area where the dog has been.

If you are not sure where a pet has urinated on the lawn, don’t worry, as the weekly spray of the lawn will remove it.

You can also buy artificial grass cleaners that disinfect, cleans and destroys odours. Simply spray on the grass to remove all smells.

You could designate an area of a flower bed as a pet toilet. Clear the area of all plants, then train your dog to only use that area.

Persistent stains

If the lawn is used a lot, spills are bound to happen. Drinks spill, chewing gum gets trodden in, and small cuts and grazes drip blood onto the lawn.

Luckily, artificial grass is stain resistant and most spills can be simply rinsed off with water, especially if they are rinsed away soon after they happen. If a stain remains after using water, use a mild natural soap to remove it. A mix of half water and half vinegar acts as a bacteria remover.

Chewing gum or food can be removed with a putty knife or similar. Do not use a sharp knife as this could cut the grass.

If there is thick snow, only remove the top layer, the rest will drain away when the snow melts.

Lastly, remember that burns cannot be cleaned up, so do not smoke or use a barbecue on artificial grass.

With just a small amount of regular maintenance, your artificial grass should last for years.