How to Maintain your Artificial Lawn

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How to clean your artificial grass

You may have recently installed a synthetic lawn in your garden, or perhaps you’ve had one for some time - either way it’s always good to know how you can successfully maintain it.

The rain will undoubtedly help keep it clean, but there will occasionally be debris and spills that need more attention.
Here we give you hints and tips to help you look after your grass and keep it looking great for many years to come - you could think about starting a monthly routine...

Remove debris

Loose debris, such as leaves and twigs, is commonly found in your garden during the autumn and winter months - although dirt and moss will be present all year round. Remove any debris by hand, or use a soft broom or plastic rake to make light work of the task - if you have a leaf blower, even better! Avoid using a metal rake as this is likely to damage the fibres.

Give your grass a brush up

As well as getting rid of leaves and such as mentioned above, giving your lawn a brush once in a while, especially if you’ve had any furniture resting in one place, will keep the grass blades upright and fresh looking.

Weeds

Although the weed membrane will help stop weeds growing from underneath your lawn, they may find their way to germinate on the surface - thanks to the wind and birds etc. It’s worthwhile going round your lawn every month or so to check. If you do find weeds, either pull out by hand or use a water-based weed killer to keep them under control.

Removing snow and ice

After a snowfall or frost you might want to leave it and enjoy, but if you want to remove it so you can get use from your lawn, here are some tips:

• Light snow - You should be able to simply brush off the light snow with a garden broom.
   

• Heavy snow - A plastic shovel is best here. As mentioned earlier in the article, metal tools used on the artificial grass could damage the grass fibre, so always use plastic tools. Remove the top layer of snow, being careful not to dig into the turf itself, and then brush off any remaining snow underneath.
   

• Ice - To avoid running the risk of damaging the artificial grass, it is recommended that ice on your lawn is left to melt in its own time.

Things to avoid

We know that real grass can be hardy and can usually take punishment from various outdoor activities, but artificial grass needs a little more attention to things that may cause damage. We’ve put together a list of the main things to be aware of:

• Don’t use BBQs or fire pits directly on the artificial grass. How oils, embers or coals will melt or burn the fibres

• Avoid discarding cigarettes - hot ash could burn the synthetic turf 

• Avoid using strong chemicals on the grass - these could lead to discolouration

• The sun can indirectly melt the polymer when reflected off of a highly reflective surface for long periods of time, such as mirrors and large windows

• Certain types of footwear could damage your lawn, such as stilettos and studded sports shoes

We hope you’ve found the tips and advice useful, so you can keep your artificial grass looking as good as new - allowing you to enjoy your garden for many years.

If you need further advice on how to install artificial grass read our article with step-by-step guidance. And don’t forget to visit our complete range of garden & landscaping products to complete your garden project.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.

Always refer to the manufacturer's guidance and installation instructions.