Even here in the Pacific Northwest, where we get a lot of regular moisture, lawn care is something everyone must think about. Whether you simply lead a busy life, you’d rather work on your garden instead of your lawn, or you’re a business owner who wants your location to stand out, synthetic grass can help take a few things off your plate.
Once it’s installed, your synthetic lawn will stand up to daily traffic and will look great. It won’t require the maintenance and care a traditional grass lawn would. But what happens when it has been exposed to the Pacific Northwest weather over time?
Rain and Snow
Moisture is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest, and our synthetic grass materials are designed to work with it instead of against it. Before your synthetic grass is installed, you’ll want to spend some time thinking about where the moisture will go. If you decide to install your new lawn on top of an existing lawn with soil, you won’t need to do very much since soil can carry the excess moisture away naturally. This is especially handy since once you level the area and tamp it all down, you won’t have any pockets or puddles. Find more information here about installing your new lawn.
When artificial turf is manufactured, part of the process includes perforating holes in the individual stems of the grass itself. This way, the rainwater will simply flow through the turf to the drainage system installed beneath the turf. During heavy rains—and in the winter when we see sleet as well as snow—you can expect to see more water collecting in your synthetic turf, just as you would with a natural lawn. This is to be expected; drainage systems can get overwhelmed in heavy weather, whether you have a synthetic lawn or a natural one. Once the rain has stopped, you can expect it to drain away, and all you might have to do is rake it to fluff it up again (especially if it’s been compressed under snow or ice).
Time to Break the Mold on Mold
Mold can be a common problem in the Pacific Northwest, both inside the home and outside in the yard. Natural grass supports the growth of mold and moss by trapping moisture in the roots of the grass, and long grass blades can contribute shade for it—which are two of the primary things mold needs to grow. With an artificial lawn, though, there’s less for the mold to latch on to since that water drains away and the grass stays at a consistent, short height.
Of course, not all your mold problems will be solved by an artificial turf lawn. For instance, if your lawn leans toward mold growth before the installation, you’ll still want to be vigilant after the installation. One thing that will help is to make sure to brush or rake away debris (such as fallen leaves) from your lawn consistently in the autumn. That way, there will be less material for the mold to thrive in.
You can also find products specifically geared toward artificial lawns that will clean away the mold. If your lawn is more susceptible to mold (such as if it faces north and doesn’t get a lot of sunshine), look it over every six months or so and make sure to take care of any mold when you see it then.
Summer Fun
As the summers become longer and warmer, your synthetic grass is exposed to more light and heat. How will this affect the material? It turns out, the extra sunlight itself won’t damage or discolor your lawn. Our synthetic grass is made of durable but flexible fibers, which are designed to look like leaves of grass. These are then connected to a backing material, which can resist the summer sun all year long.
It turns out, you can expect more wear and tear on your lawn in the summer, but not because of the weather. With more daylight hours, you and your family can spend more time together out on your synthetic grass. If your residential lawn gets a lot of regular foot traffic—kids playing on it or if you host a lot of backyard parties—you may see some general wear and tear. This may include tears or parting of the seams in the material, stains from pet waste, or a flattening of the grass. All of these are easily fixed. Stains can be washed away with a mild soap and water mix, the grass itself can be fluffed up using a rake or brush, and landscape professionals can easily make repairs to the backing material.
Who Let the Dog Out?
A bonus of synthetic grass is, no matter what your weather is, you won’t have to worry about your pets or children tracking mud or debris into the house from the yard. No matter how much it rains, you won’t have areas of lawn worn down to the soil from traffic or use. And if your dog is a digger, good news: artificial turf can withstand a dog’s paws and nails. In fact, many dog boarders use artificial turf in their kennels and dog runs.
But is artificial turf is safe for children and pets? It is! So you have one less thing to worry about on behalf of your four-legged friends and little ones. If your dog likes to race around the backyard on the same paths, you may see a bit of this wear and tear. But, again, rips and tears can be easily repaired. When you clean up pet waste, you can simply rinse stains and smells away. Of course, if there’s a stain that just won’t go away, you can try using mineral spirits to clean the area.
If your dog regularly urinates on your lawn, you’ll just need to hose it down every week or so. The lawn has those perforations in the material, so the urine will drain away just like any other liquid. And it still takes less time and water to clean your artificial lawn than a natural one. You may notice that your dog tends to like peeing in the same spot every day. If the weekly rinse-down doesn’t put a dent in a persistent smell, there’s an easy way to refresh it. Simply make a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Spray the area down with this natural mixture. Once it’s dry, it should be nice and fresh again. The vinegar solution won’t hurt or discolor your lawn either.
Here at Sportech, we’re experts at installing synthetic turf in the Pacific Northwest. Contact us today to answer your questions and to get started on your effortless lawn today.