Shawgrass Maintenance Guidlines

Man-made lawn will greatly minimize the extent of effort and resources you spend on maintaining your lawn. But that doesn’t mean you completely “ignore it.” Following these straightforward suggestions will dramatically increase the life and performance of your artificial grass:

• Maintain cleanliness on surface regularly (particles and contaminant removal)
• Avoid automobile traffic, bulky items, etc.
• Make sure that small repairs to your surface are made without delay.

Cleaning Products Safe For Artificial Grass

Enzyme Cleaners: SCOE 10X. Odormute, Odoban, PET Stain-Off! and others. Stick to the manufacturer’s instructions for application. These products can be purchased from online sources.

Vinegar: Use five percent concentration white distilled vinegar and apply it through the turf surface.

Green Cleaners: Shaw R2X, Turf Renu, or any type of cleaner that is alcohol-free, is biodegradable, does not foam, and products that cause the least amount of suds are best.

Degreasers or Mineral Spirits: These products can be used for removing paint or petroleum-based stains. However, you must completely rinse them out of the turf. If you don’t, it can cause issues down the road.

Dishwashing Liquid/Household Detergent: Dilute dishwashing liquid or detergent with water (a teaspoon/gal) for targeted stain removal

Bleach: Applied to eliminate moss and algae prior to cleaning. Dilute bleach (10:1 water to bleach ratio). Make sure to completely rinse the bleach solution out of the turf with water.

Ammonia: A 3% solution of ammonia in water may be used in lieu of regular cleaners for persistent dirt or stains.

How to Handle Stains

Synthetic turf fibers are among the most stain-resistant fibers. Therefore, most stains on Shaw artificial turf are not true stains but deposits from foreign matter that must be quickly and completely removed. Most stains on synthetic turf can be removed with simple water or a mild soap solution. The first rule is swift action. It is much easier to address a recent accident before it has an opportunity to set.

1. Remove any solid or paste-like deposit promptly using a blunt knife or spatula-shaped tool.
2. Gently brush the remains with a sturdy bristle brush (avoiding wire brushes).
3. Clean the spot with soap and water.
4. Rinse the spot completely with clean water to remove any soap.

Maintenance Care

• Routine maintenance is necessary but depends on how it's used.
• A leaf blower is effective for getting rid of fallen leaves and pine needles on a regular basis. These can trap moisture, preventing the turf from drying out. Blow from side-to-side across the surface to prevent disturbing the infill.
• In areas prone to moss and algae buildup, it is advisable to periodically treat with a bleach solution. Dilute bleach (solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water).
• For areas susceptible to infill erosion or heavy traffic, additional grooming and infill may be needed (professional grooming is also recommended).
• Areas with heavy soil buildup may require power washing by professionals.

Pet Care

1. Collect and dispose of waste materials promptly. Irrigate the area locally but don’t spray solid waste away. This just distributes the waste over a wider area.
2. During dry conditions, it’s okay to allow solid waste to harden up before removing it. During wet weather, get rid of all waste as quickly as possible to stop the solids from decomposing.
3. You need to assume pets are urinating and clean the entire surface when sanitizing and eliminating odor. Typically, sanitizing products require one gallon per 500 ft² of turf to reach proper saturation. Use sprinkler on most hose nozzles to lightly spray water over the site to push the treatments down through the turf.
4. How often the area needs to be groomed depends on the volume of waste and the usage of the area. A dog may only need sanitizing on a once a week, whereas multiple dogs may need sanitation on a daily basis.
5. Hose off any spills with clean water. Its base is porous, so liquids and urine from pets will be absorbed into the ground.
6. When it's winter or rainy, irrigation is not necessary. During the summer months, the area should be irrigated weekly with powerful cleansers to rinse treatments deeply into the grass.
7. Substrates, like concrete or wood, should be cleaned as necessary. Avoid cleaners with alcohol or strong acidic solutions, as these can damage the grass blades. (Glue-down installations should be cleaned and rinsed periodically).

Always Use Caution

• In situations involving any substances or even vinegar, it’s vital to use proper Personal Protective Equipment.
• High temperatures and open flame exposure will require changing the affected area! Always use caution with flames around synthetic turf.