Artificial turf is an excellent investment for your yard. Turf looks great and is low maintenance compared to an unpredictable natural grass lawn. Inevitably, accidents will happen as you use your turf. That’s life! Artificial turf is hardy and made to withstand what life throws at it. Many accidents on artificial turf can be fixed easily with some handiwork. This guide is meant for those with (or thinking about) artificial turf lawns and how to remedy accidents that occur on them.
Paint spill
Professional sports landscapers always paint (and remove!) designs from fields for games. Removing paint from your turf can be daunting if you are not a professional landscaper.
A paint thinner can be used to strip oil-based paint from your turf. If you use paint thinner, don’t forget to wear gloves. Paint thinner is made of chemicals that thin or removes even the toughest paint. Try using paint thinner on a spot that is not noticeable before cleaning any paint.
Dog excrement
Don’t worry too much about doggy messes on your artificial turf. Let the perforated turf backing do the heavy lifting! Dog urine drains away like water on turf, and feces from your furry friend are easily cleaned up on artificial turf like regular grass. Hose down the area with water to wash your worries about messes away. Washing the area will wash away some of the infills, so make sure to top off the infill after cleaning.
Concerned about leftover odor or waste? Forgot about some poop left in the corner of your yard? Pick up the mess and finish the job with OxyTurf. OxyTurf is an artificial turf-specific cleaner for tough messes. This product is recommended by our turf supplier, Turf Envy, for its powerful and deodorizing formula when cleaning turf.
Don’t want to DIY? Call Everything Turf Pros for a professional sanitization and brooming to restore that newly installed look.
Worried about water?
Drought-affected areas will not experience regular rainfall, but those considering laying artificial turf in rainy areas might worry about flooding that affects their area frequently. But artificial turf is created to be tough against the elements. Turf backing is perforated, letting water drain through the material and into the ground. A large amount of rain might create puddles on your turf, but these areas will drain away by themselves in a few days after the rainfall has stopped.
Rocks, leaves, and other debris
Debris will inevitably get stuck in between the blades of your artificial turf. If you have hardscaping around your yard, sometimes rocks will travel onto your lawn. Wind will blow leaves around, and eventually, they will end up in your yard. Clearing debris from artificial turf is generally the same as clearing it from a natural grass lawn.
You may think of going for a regular rake to brush off those leaves from your artificial turf yard, but there’s a better, more environmentally-friendly option out there! A traditional rake with metal teeth can rip the blades of your turf, leaving it damaged. Using a plastic or bamboo rake will keep your turf looking pristine because of its soft teeth. Push brooms are also an excellent choice because of their bristles and can sweep away any debris in your yard.
A leaf blower can help tremendously in removing leaves, small branches, and pebbles from your yard. If you have not already invested in a leaf blower, they can be purchased or rented from home improvement or lawn equipment stores, like Lowes, Home Depot, or any local shops in your area.
A hose can also be sufficient to remove debris from your yard. A powerful nozzle can quickly remove debris from an area on your artificial turf. Luckily, the water you spray onto your yard won’t stay for long and will drain into the soil underneath your turf and infill. Check your local laws for those living in drought-affected areas to know when watering your yard is allowed.
What about flattened grass?
Lawn chairs, tables, playground equipment, pools, pets, and foot traffic–all of these things are going to cause your artificial grass blades to flatten. Already got a push broom for debris? You can use it to lift those extensive areas of flattened grass. It may take a few days and a couple of broomings, depending on how long the object has been sitting on the turf.
Planning on doing some spot brushing? Use a stiff, handheld bristled brush to get the job done. Artificial turf is resilient because the blades are made of strong plastic. Simply brushing the blades back up regularly will return your lawn to its beautiful texture.
Burned or melted turf
Imagine: You’re barbequing near your brand-spanking-new artificial turf! What a scene, right? The sky is blue, the birds are chirping… and then, WHOOPS! A drop of hot gas or flaming ember jumps from your grill to the grass. You put out the smoke, but a piece of turf is singed from the heat. Turf can melt or get burnt from fire due to the plastic blades. Prevention is always better than the cure—so if you like cookouts, place your grill on a flat, hard surface, like a flagstone.
Sometimes you just need to replace a piece of your turf. Depending on the size of the issue, it can be replaced relatively easily. Continue reading to find out how!
Replacing artificial turf
Hopefully, replacing a piece of turf is your last resort to fixing your yard. Sometimes you’ll have leftover turf after installation; you can use this to replace the affected area.
Start by vacuuming out the infill on the damaged piece of turf. Then, cut a square or rectangle around the affected area—this makes it easier for you to fit the replacement piece. Use seaming tape to secure the new piece onto your lawn. Seaming tape is a common choice for replacing small sections of turf. It can be purchased at most home improvement stores, like Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Walmart. Remember to add infill to the area once you are finished.
Make sure your replacement piece faces the same way as the rest of your lawn! Your guests may not notice it, but you will. Consult a professional at Everything Turf Pros if the area of damaged turf is large and cannot be replaced without an experienced hand.
Final thoughts
From paint spills to big messes from furry friends, debris, rocks, and singed blades, being knowledgeable about artificial turf maintenance will make life much easier if something unexpected happens. When life comes at you and your yard–don’t panic! Turf makes cleaning up a breeze. There’s nothing like sweet relief after successfully cleaning up a mess you thought would be there forever.
Got a question about how to clean up an accident not listed on this blog? Call Everything Turf Pros at (702) 501-9237 or send a message.
