How to comb artificial grass?

If you have artificial grass, you will know that one of the things you need to do on a regular basis if you want it to keep looking as if it had just been laid is brushing it. In other words, knowing how to comb artificial grass.

This may be very easy to do, but it is not really that easy. And this is where you can run into errors and problems that cause your lawn to lose the shine and body it once had. How about we give you a hand to make it last a long time?

Why you should brush artificial grass

The first thing you should keep in mind is that brushing artificial grass is a very important task to ensure good maintenance.

The goal of good brushing is remove any residue that exists on it, but not only anything physical, but also areas where the grass has been crushed, for example footprints or furniture that has been moved around. This allows the grass blades to straighten out and make the lawn look like new.

In general, you should brush it every 3-4 weeks to keep it healthy. Not only will you be making your hair look natural for longer, but you'll also be keeping it clean. If you go too long between brushings, not only can it be harder to straighten the fibers, but you may not be able to do it at all.

How to comb artificial grass

Now that you understand why you need to sweep or brush artificial grass, it's time to learn how to do it. Because not just anything will do. You need some materials to do it.

The most common is a a hard-bristle brush, as this is what will allow you to straighten the blades of grass. However, you must make sure that it is used for artificial grass. Otherwise, the fibres may break and, in the end, all you will end up with is “bald spots”.

If the surface of the artificial grass is quite large, a simple brush may not be enough to finish it quickly. In these cases, you can opt for an electric brush. You will find these in stores as electric sweepers or combs and yes, they are much faster than the brush. Also, since it is a machine, you may get more efficient and faster results.

On the other hand, we do not recommend using a metal garden rake, because, as with brushes not suitable for artificial grass, the only thing you will achieve is breaking the fibres and damaging the grass.

How to sweep artificial grass

Once you have decided on one of the two common tools, either the manual brush or the electric sweeper, you have to learn how to use them to obtain the best results.

And that implies, first of all, Always brush against the grainThis will help you lift the fibers and erase footprints and any residue.

Yes, I recommend that you, If there are large remains, it is better to remove them with your hands to avoid problems.

Another point you should keep in mind when brushing artificial grass is organize yourself by bands or by zones. Instead of brushing everything, do it one step at a time. Not only will this help you erase your own fingerprints as you brush (and step on) it, but it will also help you stay organized.

You have to be patient with this, because the more you brush it, the more natural it will look. So take your time.

There is a little trick that many experts use, and that is to add silica sand when installing or brushing. This is done because it helps the artificial grass fibres to recover much faster (and with better quality). Therefore, if you are not getting good results, it can be a solution.

The final finish

Once you've finished brushing it, many experts recommend that you water it. Not as much as natural grass, but enough to remove dust from the fibres and give it a better appearance. This is especially recommended in summer, as it also refreshes the grass.

Of course, you will have to see if the dust is completely removed, because if it has stains, you may have to clean it manually. To do this, it is best to use a damp cloth with water and neutral soap.

Here you will have to be more patient, because you will have to go piece by piece, but the result will be worth it because it will look much newer.

What if there is gum or any animal remains stuck to it?

It may happen that you have animals in your garden, such as dogs or cats, and they defecate, or even vomit, on the grass. If you clean it up immediately, nothing will happen. But if you don't, it can happen that this sticks to the fibres.

When that happens, in addition to removing the remains, you will have to Try a damp cloth or even a small scouring pad to remove all residue.

If it's gum, your best friend is, without a doubt, ice. When you apply it to the gum, it freezes. By doing so, it loses its adhesive properties and can be removed much more easily.

What happens if I don't brush the artificial grass?

It may happen that, either due to lack of time, because you were unaware of the maintenance, or for any other reason, you do not brush the artificial grass. When that happens, you face several consequences. The first is that the return on investment will be affected. Imagine that you have spent 10000 euros on laying artificial grass. And you do not take care of it. Instead of lasting 20 or more years, it may already look bad before 10 years and you will have to renew it if you do not want it to have that appearance.

Another consequence is the accumulation of dust and dirt. If your grass is green, over time without sweeping or brushing it, it will turn ash green or even grey. And that only makes it look run-down.

The third consequence has to do with the blades. By not straightening them, they will cause the grass looks sunken and flattened. In other words, it won't be pleasing to the eye.

So, if you have artificial grass, we recommend that you know how to brush it so that you can keep it in good condition for as long as possible.