Artificial grass: the ultimate care guide
Many of us have turned to artificial grass in recent years due to the appealing nature of the lower maintenance method and all-round use.
According to statistics from Aviva, a fifth of UK homeowners have already replaced or plan to switch their natural lawn to artificial grass in the foreseeable future.
However, while artificial grass is arguably less maintenance than ordinary grass, it does still need to be looked after.
How to look after artificial grass
Read on to discover top tips from Grass Direct on how to take care of your artificial grass and make it look great all year round.
Check your grass
Just because it’s artificial, doesn’t mean it won’t get dirty. Keeping a regular eye on it to ensure you collect any loose dirt, leaves or other debris will ensure they don’t get stuck in the grass blades ruining the look. Simply use a rubber rake or a brush to get them out as soon as you spot them.
Use a sand infill
While prepping for your first guests on the 29th March, make sure you check your blades. If they’re looking a little flat, brush them back and top them up with an extra layer of infill which will help it retain the correct shape and be admired by your visitors.
Keep it clean
Investing in a specialist cleaning treatment will ensure your grass is in the best condition, but remember to rinse it down afterwards. If you’re treating a stain on the grass, don’t push down too hard and blot with a damp cloth or paper towel directly before applying the treatment.
Make sure grass is fitted properly
Ensuring your grass has been fitted correctly will mean the turf can properly drain after rainfall. If the system is blocked, this will cause the water to lie stagnant so making sure you take time to test your drainage before and after the installation of your artificial grass will avoid this issue.
Remember to apply weed killer before it’s laid
If you know your garden is prone to weeds, gently pull out any surface ones that you can see. Then rinse down with a power washer before applying a weed killer treatment to tackle them. Remember to use a week membrane during the installation of the artificial grass to keep weeds at bay.
Repair any seams, tears or holes immediately
To make sure your artificial grass is looking the best it can, ensure you clear and prevent any distress that comes to it before it can cause real damage. This will ensure it stays looking sleek and brand new, whilst also prolonging the lifespan.
How is artificial grass made?
Artificial grass is made by heating polyethylene pellets until they are liquefied. The liquid is then poured into moulds where it is cooled and solidified. This then creates the blades of grass which we see in artificial grass and turf.
Once these blades are formed, they are trimmed to the desired height and fixed to a backing. This can be made of various materials, including polypropylene, rubber or mesh – it’s crucial that this backing should be durable and waterproof.
Then the artificial grass is treated with a UV inhibitor to protect it from the sun, this helps it to maintain the fresh quality.
When is the best time to lay artificial grass?
In the UK, artificial grass can be laid at anytime of year.
Each season has its own benefits for fitting. During autumn and winter as the temperatures drop, your existing grass is unlikely to grow and the hard soil will turn to mud, making it easier to lay.
In Spring, it’s a good time as everyone is revamping their gardens ready for summer, and you could have cleared your garden and prepped it ready, making the job of laying artificial grass easier. The weather also lends itself at this time of year as rain can moisten the soil, and the temperatures generally aren’t high enough for your existing grass to grow too much.
Summer can create dry spells in the garden, making your existing grass dry and therefore laying artificial grass is going to be a marked improvement.
Why does artificial grass get hot?
Yes, one of the consistent criticisms of artificial grass is that it gets hot and retains that heat. This can make those with young children or pets against the concept.
However, it won’t ever be as hot as brick walls, asphalt or concrete in higher temperatures.
Avoid your artificial grass getting too hot this summer with some of these top tips.
Use the right infill
Infill serves many purposes, weighing down grass, protecting the blades from flattening and regulating the temperature of your grass.
Choose an infill that has an impact on your grass’s performance in heat and the possibility to cool off. If you choose the right kind, it will allow air to flow through the grass, helping to cool it down and making it feel softer.
Opt for modern, light-coloured infill like silica sand and durafill sand as these don’t trap the heat within your lawn.
Cool it off with water
A quick spray of water can make a powerful difference to the temperature of your grass, even on a boiling hot summers day.
You won’t need to stand with the hose for hours, just a few minutes will work wonders. Or you could use sprinklers to water it at a set time each day, that way you won’t even have to think about it.
Keep your lawn shaded
Just like keeping us cool, shade can keep your new artificial lawn cool, too.
Utilise any trees in your garden, or install a canopy, awning or even garden furniture to help. This will further benefit your garden, you and your grass at the same time!
Avoid window magnification
The sun magnifying onto the artificial grass is generally what makes it reach its hottest temperatures.
It can even cause permanent damage to the grass blades, causing them to curl up, lose shape and discolour.
Avoiding any double pane glass windows or doors facing your lawn can help prevent this. As can low-e glass or energy efficient doors and windows as these will limit the effect.
Can artificial grass be laid on soil?
Yes, you can lay artificial grass directly onto soil, in fact you can even lay it on top of your existing natural grass if you want to.
However, these aren’t the recommended ways to lay it.
This is because it can leave the finished product looking uneven and make it more likely to become damaged. Additionally, any grass underneath the artificial turf will likely continue to grow, leaving you with a natural/artificial grass hybrid that will not be aesthetic for your garden.
Instead, use a sub-base between the soil and the artificial grass that will provide a good foundation for the new fake grass to sit on top of.
This is the best way to ensure you’re left with a practical and attractive synthetic lawn.
Is artificial grass good for dogs?
On the whole, there are many advantages of artificial grass for man’s best friend. Especially if you conquer the potentially getting too hot issue, discussed earlier.
First and foremost, you can bid farewell to mud. Even during rainy days, your artificial grass won’t get muddy. They’ll also be unable to dig holes in your back garden and create mess, including yellow stains and grass trimmings all over the house.
Bugs also don’t like synthetic grass as much as natural grass and mud, which means pests will be less likely to go into your dogs fur.
Artificial grass is also tough and durable when properly installed. This means its highly resistant to any potential wear and tear your dog might do, and will better withstand the impact.
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