Using artificial turf in your front or back yard can mean saving water, less maintenance, and an always-green lawn, to name a few. However, there are also many ways your synthetic turf can become damaged. Read on for the most common types of damage and how you can avoid and even repair your investment.
 
But First: Is It Really Damaged?
Before we go into common ways to damage your artificial lawn, it’s important to note that, sometimes, your lawn can look like it’s damaged, but it really isn’t. For example, grass can appear to have been flattened, which can occur after heavy rainfall or lots of foot traffic. This is an easy repair; simply brush or rake it gently to restore its look.
 
Weeds can also begin poking through. A weed here and there is not anything to worry about—where this is the case, you can simply pluck it out without any damage. However, if the problem is widespread, your turf may not have been laid properly, and so it may be vulnerable.
 
This issue can commonly be caused by the lack of a plastic membrane during installation. Where installation is the issue, new synthetic grass will need to be properly installed.
 
Lumps and Bumps
You may notice after using your turf during certain seasons that your lawn feels uneven underfoot or has a bumpy look to it. While these lumps and bumps don’t mean your turf has become damaged, it does increase the risk of future damage. There are several causes for this.
 
You may have subjected your turf to a lot of traffic, which can cause any sand or rubber granules around turf fibers to become displaced. Where this is the case, you may need to have the infill replaced.
 
Perhaps not enough topsoil was removed during installation or installing artificial grass was done over existing organic material, which has now started to decompose and change the underlying surface. All of these issues can cause unevenness.
 
Where uneven ground is the problem, the solution is to call a reputable company to have your fake grass alternative installed the right way.
 
Keeping Sources of Heat Too Close
Your artificial turf may look and feel like real grass, but that doesn’t mean it can withstand heat in the same way that natural grass does. Turf made of polyethylene and polypropylene can melt when exposed to intense heat like that from a grill, fire pit, or a cigarette’s hot ash. These are all common causes of damage that can be easily corrected.
 
Ensure your grill and fire pit are located well away from any turf and only allow smoking in outdoor areas that are covered by gravel or patio stones. Covered ashtrays will keep hot embers away from turf, as will using a fire bowl or chiminea, as opposed to an open fire pit. Also, avoid lighting fireworks and sparklers near turf.

In some cases, areas of turf exposed to long periods of reflected sunlight from a window or similar object can cause melted artificial grass. Covering these objects until the sunlight dissipates can help.
 
Not Considering Sharp Items
Another very common way that artificial turf can become damaged is when it’s torn or cut by sharp objects. If your yard is one that has gardens around the edges and artificial turf in the middle, garden tools with sharp edges can penetrate the backing, leaving snags and tears behind. Damage can also occur when sharp feet on your patio furniture come into contact with turf when moved or shifted.
 
When gardening, ensure tools are gently set onto turf. If possible, lay tools with their sharp edges pointing upward. Putting tools away promptly after finishing garden work will also help to avoid damage. Patio furniture feet can be covered by plastic or fabric to eliminate sharp edges. Or, patio furniture can be arranged in an area where there is no turf.
 
Pets like dogs love to run, but claws can damage the backing. The good news is that there is artificial turf made specifically for pets that offers durability, quick drainage, and odor control. If your pets will be using a park or your backyard, choosing this type of turf is the best way to avoid damage.
 
Too Much Weight
Just like natural grass, artificial turf can become flattened and damaged by an excess amount of weight like that from a vehicle. Although it may seem like a good idea to use turf in place of asphalt on their driveway, vehicles can cause a lot of damage.
 
The weight of a parked vehicle can flatten and break the blades. When a car is driven across turf, rubber tires can tear blades out of the backing and also pull the entire backing and turf from the ground. The best solution? Only install turf in areas where cars won’t be parked.
 
Can you put things on artificial grass? Absolutely, as long as you’re careful about how you lie them down or move them, and they are appropriate objects for turf. Vehicles leaking any fluid can also cause damage, which leads us to the next common cause of damage.
 
Exposing Turf to Chemicals
When natural grass is exposed to oil, gas, pesticides, or other chemicals, it can become burned, change color, or wither. The same can happen to artificial turf. Fluid from vehicles like oil or antifreeze can react with turf material, as can pesticides, gasoline, and similar chemicals.
 
Paint is definitely something you’ll want to avoid when near turf, as it can be absorbed by the backing. Should this happen, it can be impossible to correct without replacement.
 
Avoid putting turf in contact with chemicals whenever possible. You can protect turf from paint by laying a tarp or transparent plastic over work areas. Other chemicals should be used on a hard surface like concrete, with containers to catch any leaks. Any spills should be removed immediately with a mild cleaning solution.
 
Choosing the Wrong Product
There is more than one type of synthetic turf and, many times, the reason it becomes damaged is that it wasn’t the right product for the desired application. For instance, the SportsGrass brand is meant for parks and stadiums. Choosing landscaping grass will only increase the risk of damage. The right company will be able to advise you on the best product for your particular needs.
 

Making Repairs
If you like to fix things yourself, you might be interested in how to repair artificial grass that has sustained damage. Small areas can be cut out and then replaced by a new piece of turf. Larger sections will require professional replacement, but it’s always a good idea to contact your installer to ensure you won’t void any warranties.
 
As well, consider that getting a color match that’s perfect may be difficult, as synthetic grass can differ in color from one batch to another. Calling your installer may be the best option, as they will be able to offer a solution.
 
In the event that your turf becomes ripped, you can try using adhesive to fix this. The same procedure can be used for turf seams that have loosened. Of course, if your synthetic grass is installed properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about these kinds of things.
 
In general, your maintenance should be very little, only requiring blowing, brushing, or sweeping to remove debris.
 
Getting Grass Without Limits
How long does artificial grass last? In order to have the beautiful, low-maintenance lawn you’ve always wanted, the right product needs to be properly installed by experts. That’s exactly what ForeverLawn Bellevue offers. Our innovative grass solutions add both beauty and functionality where ever they’re installed.
 
Each one of our turf products comes with a 10-year warranty, which is the best in the industry. We’ll also maintain and repair your turf, even if you didn’t purchase it from us! There’s nothing like a ForeverLawn product; discover how our selection of turf styles can completely transform the look of your yard by talking to one of our experts.

Synthetic grass is already great at giving you a green yard year-round that has very little yard maintenance. Yet, lawns are not the only use for synthetic lawn products. There are all sorts of places where you can add some green to your home or business and liven things up a bit using different types of artificial turf

Whether you do your own DIY lawn care or have a landscaping company care for your yard, you could be spending a fortune on lawn maintenance every year. Most people don’t take the time to consider how much they are throwing away on their yards just to try to achieve that perfect green, lush lawn they want.

As you are preparing to make out your New Year’s resolutions for 2020, why not add getting a new artificial grass lawn to your list? Let’s be honest. Your natural grass lawn does require a lot of work to maintain its pristine condition year after year.

Do you have problems with mice, rats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, or other rodents and wild animals that like to visit your yard and home in the middle of the night? Many of these animals are scavengers looking for food, water, and shelter.

Are you considering artificial grass installation, but are not sure whether ants, fleas, ticks, and other such bugs and pests will continue to be a problem? With natural grass, you spend hours planting grass seed, fertilizing, and watering to maintain a lush green yard.

Synthetic grass has come a long way from when it was first developed back in the 1960s. There have been several scientific and technological advances made that are used today to produce high-quality, durable, and soft synthetic lawns for a variety of purposes.

There are several benefits of getting a synthetic lawn installed for your home. It is a great covering that provides flexibility to suit your landscaping needs, such as pet grass for homes with pets or playground grass for homes with children.

Depending on how old you are, you may not remember a time before synthetic lawns. If you are older, you may remember back to the first use of artificial grass at the Houston Astrodome. Synthetic grass has come a long way, since it was first developed, to become the soft, lush, and beautiful-looking lawns we enjoy today.

Artificial Grass the First Generation
Back in the 1950s, The Ford Foundation was looking for a solution to provide an artificial grass solution for schools in major cities to encourage more physical fitness. Together with Chemstrand and Monsanto Industries, they were able to develop a nylon-based “Chemgrass.”
Essentially, the first generation of synthetic grass was nylon carpeting that was colored green. It did not look like natural grass. Yet, it was useful for locations where natural grass could not easily be grown or maintained.

The “Chemgrass” was first used at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. Other schools tried out the new “Chemgrass,” as well, and the use of artificial grass started to gain exposure.

In the mid-1960s, after the construction of the Houston Astrodome, it was discovered that using traditional grass was not possible, in part to the covered dome. Natural grass did not get sufficient sunlight and quickly died, leaving dry patches and dirt for the playing field.

Initially, to make it appear like there was grass, the dirt was painted green. However, this did not last long. Eventually, “Chemgrass” was installed to give the stadium a grass-like appearance. Since the Astrodome was the first sports arena to use this new synthetic grass, the name was changed from “Chemgrass” to Astroturf after the Astrodome.

In the late-1960s, other sports arenas had started to install Astroturf, as it was easier to maintain than natural grass. As time progressed into the 1970s, more and more sports stadiums were making the switch to Astroturf.