Do You Need to Water Artificial Grass?
It’s no secret that taking care of your lawn is a lot of work. It needs to be cut, fertilized, and seeded on a regular basis. That’s were artificial turf can help. But do you need to water artificial grass?
Artificial grass should be watered and washed on a regular basis. It will get dirty over time and will develop a bad smell. Continue reading for a more detailed look into artificial grass maintenance.
Can Artificial Grass Get Wet?
Yes, artificial grass can get wet. This durable material is designed to withstand the harsh elements of nature. Many outdoor sporting fields have artificial turf as it’s less expensive and easier to maintain.
The most important thing to consider when installing artificial grass is drainage. If you are upgrading your lawn to this type of material, don’t forget to add in a slope to prevent puddles.
Artificial Grass Benefits
It may sound strange to some people who replace a real lawn with artificial turf. But there are a few reasons why you may want to do this.
No More Mowing
For starters, you won’t need a lawn mower when switching to artificial grass. That means you can save time every week by skipping out on routine lawn maintenance.
Plus, you won’t need to deal with oil changes, sharpening the blades, and buying gas. If you’re someone that hates mowing the lawn every weekend, artificial grass might be for you.
Pet Friendly
Artificial grass is also a great option if you have pets. You won’t have any more dead grass spots after they have gone to the bathroom. This can look bad and be difficult to fix.
But with a synthetic material you won’t have this problem. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to wash the turf every so often to avoid bad smells from developing.
Better for Small Yards
Artificial grass is much better for people with small yards. There’s no reason to deal with cutting the grass and lawn mower maintenance if there’s not much area to work with.
It will take time and cost more money in the long run to maintain even a small yard. Investing in artificial turf for your home will be easier and will look just as good.
How to Water and Clean Artificial Grass
Cleaning artificial grass on a regular basis should be considered routine maintenance. It will keep the material looking and smelling cleaner for a much longer time.
1. Remove Surface Debris
You will first need to remove all surface debris before the watering stage. This will make the cleaning process much easier and it won’t slow you down in the process.
Using a leaf blower will be the easiest and fastest way to remove surface debris. Start on one side of your lawn and walk back and forth until the entire area has been cleaned.
You might find that some leaves get stuck in the turf, because the material is known to have rough edges. Don’t forget to pick up any large sticks that may get in your way during the next step.
2. Use Turf Cleaner
Once you have removed all surface debris you can begin cleaning. Start by using a garden hose, or pressure washer to spray the entire surface area.
A pressure washer will be more effective, as it creates a wider surface area. After this pre-rinse, try using a dedicated artificial turf cleaner. This will eliminate any bad smells coming from the turf.
There are many different products to chose from, but the Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator is best for controlling smells. It’s safe for pets and can be easily connected to a hose.
3. Air Dry
After you have cleaned every section, you will need to let the artificial grass air dry. Avoid walking on the surface, or putting back lawn furniture on the turf at this time.
The material should dry in about 2-4 hours, depending on where you live. In areas with high humidity, it might take longer. And you could expect a faster drying time in direct sunlight.
If unpleasant smells still remain, you may have to repeat the second step. This is most common in places that haven’t been washed in a long time. That’s why it’s crucial to get on a routine cleaning schedule.
Why You Should Water Artificial Grass
Are you still on the fence about whether or not artificial grass is right for your home? Check out the reasons below on why it should be watered on a regular basis.
Humidity – If you live in an area that experiences humidity on a regular basis, you may want to reconsider turf. It will stay wet for a longer period of time and take longer to dry as a result. When artificial grass is wet, it will begin to develop a bad smell. That means you will need to clean it more often.
Shade – It should come as no surprise that mold thrives in dark environments. Although it’s more common to find mold inside, it can still develop anywhere that lacks sunlight. Combine a shaded area with a small amount of moisture and you have the perfect recipe for mold to start growing.
Pets – If you have a dog, watering artificial grass should be done routinely. Even if a pet does its business outside, it doesn’t mean it won’t smell. And don’t think that rain water will help with the odor either. You will need to use a dedicated turf cleaner on a regular basis if you want to keep those bad smells away.
Conclusion
This article started with a question: do you need to water artificial grass? By now you should know that this type of material needs to be watered and cleaned on a regular basis.
If you water artificial grass, it will look newer for a longer period of time. And you can also keep odors at bay by using a dedicated turf cleaner.
Just know that this type of material is easier to take care of, but it still does require some maintenance.
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