How To Avoid Damaging Your Newly Installed Artificial Turf

If you’ve finally made the switch to artificial turf – congratulations! Thanks to a durable blend of nylon and polyethylene, your synthetic grass can withstand a lot more wear and tear than a natural lawn. But there are still things you can do to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Your artificial turf won’t fade in the sun, for example, but it can still face heat damage from extreme temperatures, tears from sharp objects or stains from paint and other chemicals.

Using common sense and a few handy tips, you can easily ensure that your lawn stays in great shape for years or even decades. Read on to learn how to avoid damaging your newly installed artificial turf.

Grill and Chill

Fire pits and grills pose significant risks to synthetic lawns. The most obvious reason is that their sparks or burning embers can fly out and land on your lawn, causing damage to the blades. A grill usually has metal bases which can also absorb the sun’s heat and cause problems. To avoid these issues, install a concrete or stone patio to keep your grill or fire pit off the lawn.

Shade Away

If you have double-pane, energy efficient windows, you may be surprised to learn that they can damage your turf over time. The panes reflect a lot of sunlight, which can cause heat spots or fading. To prevent this from happening, find ways to shade your lawn near the windows. This could include installing an awning, setting up a picnic table with an umbrella or considering a different kind of landscape (like mulch, for example) near windows. You could even place a tent on your windows to reduce the reflection.

Declutter Your Tools

Gardening tools like hedge clippers may be necessary for your yard, but it’s important to make sure you put them back in the shed as soon as you use them. While our grass is incredibly durable, it does include a fine mesh backing that can be torn if punctured by a sharp object.  

Play Safe

Gardening tools aren’t the only potentially sharp objects posing a threat to your lawn. Game accessories like volleyball net poles or croquet courts can cause major damage if carelessly jammed into your turf. Instead, consider concrete bases for your poles or switch to weighted poles which stand without being inserted into the ground. Similarly, there are flat-bottom croquet bases that can sit in the infill of your lawn instead of puncturing the mesh fabric of the turf.

Paint Zone

If you’re painting your lawn to designate lines in an outdoor game, you need to use removable chalk paint or water-based paints. Look for something that can be easily washed off after you’re done. 

Further, you may have grown accustomed to working with house paint or other chemicals on your lawn for household projects. But it’s important to remember that your artificial turf doesn’t actually grow — if you spill paint on it, it has the potential to stain for good. If you must use paint in your yard, make sure you place a tarp over the lawn.

Artificial turf is incredibly durable and easy to maintain, but there are still some key steps you can take to avoid damaging your lawn. Declutter your grass, avoid using BBQs or fire pits, shade double-paned windows and avoid major spills to keep your lawn fresh and clean for years.

Still have questions? Contact one of our experts.