5 Tips To Maintain your Artificial Lawn

Artificial lawn is the perfect solution for those wanting a low-maintenance garden. This means that you never have to mow, trim or edge your lawn! However, it does still need some love from time to time to look its best and brightest for years to come.

A quick, gentle rake or go-over with a leaf blower to remove leaves and debris is typically all you need to do to keep your lawn looking clean and tidy. A gentle rake going against the pile of the lawn can also help keep the blades upright, making your grass look lush and full in spots where walking and playing may have caused it to flatten over time.

Most corrosive chemicals, such as harsh cleaners, need to be kept away as they can cause irreversible damage to your synthetic lawn.

Organic materials, such as leaves, dead bugs, food from bird feeders and animal faeces can also break down and release corrosive chemicals. To maintain the beauty of your lawn, clean away any organic matter regularly, give it a quick rinse every now and then with your garden hose, and occasionally with a gentle detergent if you're noticing more stubborn dirt buildup - dish washing liquid works wonders! Simply hose the lawn, douse with the gentle cleaner of your choice and give a quick brush with an outdoor broom. Rinse well and allow to dry completely before returning to regular use to keep your lawn smooth and even. For those with pets who are looking for a stronger option, click here for our in-depth pet-specific cleaning guide. 

The best way to maintain a nice even pile on your lawn is to ensure you don't leave furniture or heavy items on it! If you do opt to put things on there, we recommend giving the pile a good sweep or rake as soon as it is removed to level out the blades again. We know the best place to play is on the back lawn, so if you find a slip and slide, inflatable pool or a cubby house has flattened your lawn a bit, don't despair! There are ways to help it look better over time.

As mentioned in step 1, A quick once-over with a broom against the direction of your lawn pile will help to keep the blades standing upright and looking lush and beautiful. If you find your lawn is looking a little flat even after a rake or sweep, then give your lawn a good clean, and once dry add a sprinkle of silica sand before brushing against the tuft of the lawn once more. Avoid using regular sand or playground sand as this can clog drainage holes in the base of the lawn and affect the ability for water to pass through your lawn. You shouldn't need to do this very often.

For really stubborn flat spots, unfortunately there isn't really an overnight fix. Our best advice is to brush regularly and ensure you don't leave heavy items on your lawn for extended periods of time where possible. With some love and some time your lawn should even out and look beautiful once again. 

The joy of fake grass is that it hugely reduces your need to weed! During installation, there are typically enough layers of substrate and infill added that the growth of weeds is greatly minimised - but there are always some pesky little ones that poke through! 

For small areas with only a few weeds, you can simply pull them out by hand. For larger areas, you can use most store-bought herbicides knowing it won't damage your lovely lawn. Simply ensure the herbicide won't harm your pets if you have any, keep away from any surrounding plant life, and be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions on whatever product you choose.  A natural alternative for weeds (and odours!) is to add white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or vodka to your cleaning solution the next time your grass needs a scrub! 

Even the best kept grass is prone to stains! When we spend time in our gardens, we increase the risks of spills that can leave stains on our beautiful fake grass. Spills such as soft drinks, milk, alcohol, coffee, ice cream and tomato sauce can be quickly rinsed away with water or a drop of detergent to prevent stains and to remove sticky residue which can attract ants. For spills such as cooking oil and grease, blot away the excess before using a soft brush to clean with dishwashing liquid or baby shampoo and warm water. Repeat until the stain is gone and rinse thoroughly with clean water. (If you've spilled cooking oil, ensure it has cooled to room temperature before cleaning to avoid burns!) If you are left with an odour, an enzyme based cleaner can be used after removing the stain. 

As with all stains, the longer it is left, the harder it will be to remove! We recommend removing stains as soon as possible to keep your lawn looking lovely.