Exploring Landscape Setups

Faking It: 3 Ways To Maintain Artificial Grass On Your Lawn

7 April 2015 by Tanya Green

Having a beautiful lawn throughout the entire year takes a lot of effort and time that most homeowners simply do not have. Hiring a landscaper can be quite costly, and will add up quickly year after year. Save your money by faking it and installing artificial grass instead. Artificial grass looks just as nice, if not nicer, and requires no work at all. Say good-bye to fertilizers, lawn mowers and mud. Artificial grass has become so popular that the industry has shown an annual growth of 6.1% from 2009 to 2014. After installing artificial grass, here are 3 tips on how to maintain that beautiful green appearance.

Brush the Lawn Regularly — Especially When It Is First Installed

When artificial grass is first installed on your lawn, it may not look that great yet. It typically takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks for the artificial grass to settle and look its best. The first 6 to 8 weeks is known as the bedding process. The sand that was used as infill will slowly bed into the structure of the artificial grass turf at this time. You want to remove this infill by lightly brushing over the artificial grass regularly.

Although you won't have to worry about fertilizing or mowing your lawn, you will have approximately 10 minutes every month brushing your lawn. You will need to brush in several directions in order to ensure that the turf pile remains in a vertical position. By brushing your lawn regularly, the artificial grass will feel lush, bouncy and a lot more natural. Most experts recommend using a medium soft bristle brush. 

Remove Surface Debris and Vegetation Efficiently

If you have trees and other vegetation, like bushes and flowers, on your lawn, you want to make sure that you remove surface debris, like dying leaves, in an efficient manner. In short, if you have trees and other bushes, you will want to spend some time collecting up the leaves and the debris come autumn. If you don't want to collect the surface debris by hand, you can remove surface debris when you are brushing the lawn — or even consider using a low-powered garden vacuum. If you do not remove surface debris in an efficient manner, the drainage system will become blocked.

In addition, although artificial grass allows for very minimal growth of unwanted weeds, it can still happen. Don't let weeds ruin your beautiful grass. Use a water-based weed killer to kill the weeds and then remove them once they have wilted. 

Avoid Heavy Traffic and Sources of Great Heat

Although your lawn may look amazing, keep in mind that damages are permanent. Most artificial grass can tolerate quite a bit of wear and tear; however, if you are looking to prolong the life of the turf, then you should avoid heavy traffic. You definitely do not want to drive your car, motorcycle or other types of heavy vehicle onto your lawn, as it will damage the grass fibers, although wheelchairs and bicycles are fine.

Last but not least, don't host barbecues directly on the lawn. Keep in mind that the artificial grass is made from plastic, which can melt. Don't place your barbecue directly onto the lawn. Instead, place iton gravel or on the patio instead. Also, if you are a smoker, you want to make sure that you don't smoke on the lawn or flick the cigarette butts onto the lawn.

Conclusion

If properly maintained, artificial grass can last up to 10 years before its physical characteristics start to deteriorate. There are many different types of artificial grass that have been designed for different purposes and to offer a different look. Some grass are softer to the touch whereas others may be tougher. Some artificial grass also look a lot more natural since the grass fibers have varying lengths. Speak with a professional to determine what may be most suitable for your lawn, your lifestyle and your needs. 

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