Artificial Turf & Weeds

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a perfectly green lawn all year long, through each and every season? How about a lawn that requires virtually no maintenance or expense, and more importantly a lawn that doesn’t require your time to maintain? This is the description or very definition of a synthetic grass lawn.

Is Artificial Turf Really Maintenance Free?

Artificial turf has many other benefits but you’ll notice we used the term “virtually maintenance free” because in actual fact there are a few things to do on rare occasion. A leaf blower occasionally. Spot cleaning as needed with Simple Green or water and a light scrub. Once in a great while you may have a weed appear.  Though it is rare for weeds to grow back after having artificial turf installed, there are always possibilities along the edges of the turf or seams that weren’t properly established where weeds will be more inclined to pop up due to airborne seeds perhaps from your neighbors mower and other sources. Here are just a few common weeds that may appear on your artificial turf lawn.CrabgrassCrabgrass primarily grows in lawn/landscape areas and can rapidly take over someone’s lawn. It will often sprout in sunny or shady areas during the late Spring and early Summer seasons. Crabgrass is also known as finger-grass and can grow up to 12 inches in diameter.BroadleafBroadleaf weeds include dandelions, chickweed, and plantain. Broadleaf weeds grow in dry or wet soil and can grow as much as a foot in diameter. Broadleaf weeds are easily identified in the lawn because they do not resemble grass. When Broadleaf is left unattended, they can become tough and aggressive and will spread rapidly.NutsedgeNutsedge doesn’t play around. It’s a perennial, grass-like lawn weed and has been called one on the “worst weeds”. Although it’s sometimes called nutgrass, it’s not technically a grass. It’s a sedge. Its leaves are grasslike and yellow-green, and the spiky flower or seed head is yellow. Yellow nutsedge can be distinguished from good grasses by its V-shaped stem. The best way to identify it? If you’ve mowed and a day or two later you see yellow grass growing higher than your lawn… yellow nutsedge is the culprit. It’s a tough weed to control because its tubers can grow 8-14 inches deep in the soil.SolutionsWeed Prevention – applying herbicide or other weed killer to the soil is always a good option as a pre-installation step of turf installation to kill off any pre-existing weeds or seeds.

How to Remove Weeds From Artificial Turf

What sits between the blades matters here too, since seeds germinate in the infill rather than in soil. The options are compared in what artificial grass infill is and the types available.

Weeding is one part of a wider upkeep routine that is still far lighter than a natural lawn. The full routine is in how to clean and maintain artificial turf.

Weed Elimination – if a weed should appear then spray it with a herbicide or other weed killer in a temperature of over 70℉ and then wait for the dehydration process to complete with the weed turning a full golden/dark brown – this process can take as long as 2-weeks. Hotter temperatures speed up the process. If the plant is pulled up prior to the dehydration process being complete then the roots will remain and the weed remains or will return.

Weed Barrier Fabric Under the Turf

Weed Barrier – when backyards or front yards are not occupied by pets, applying commercial grad weed fabric underneath your artificial turf lawn is also a great option. The weed fabric is a weed suppressor that is designed to prevent weeds from creeping their way through your turf, creating an added layer of protection. Weed fabric isn’t ideal for homes with pets because urine that seeps down into the fabric can cause unpleasant odors over time.Below are some advantages of using weed fabric:

• Effective in weed and erosion control
• UV resistant for sun exposure
• Water permeability – up to 10 gallons per minute/sq. Ft
• Resist mildew, rotting and insect invasion
• Durable & tear resistant

Artificial Turf or Synthetic Grass is manufactured to create a beautiful landscape alternative that eliminates the laborious routines and expenses that burdens households with natural grass. Don’t let those pesky weeds deter you from enjoying your beautiful synthetic grass lawn.

Contact Lawn Kings us today for a free estimate!

LAWN KINGS, INC.

661.310.9375 Office

lawnkingsinc@gmail.com

www.lawnkingsinc.com

 Lic. #944369

Frequently Asked Questions

Do weeds grow through artificial turf?

Weeds rarely grow up through artificial turf, because a weed barrier fabric and a compacted base sit between the turf and the soil. What does happen is that windblown seeds settle on top and sprout in the infill. Those pull out by hand easily or can be spot treated, which is a very different job from weeding a natural lawn every week.

How do you kill weeds on artificial grass?

Weeds on artificial grass can be pulled by hand or spot treated with a herbicide, applied on a warm day so the plant dehydrates properly. Treat the individual weed rather than broadcasting anything across the lawn. Rinse the area afterwards. Because weeds are occasional rather than constant, most owners find hand pulling is quicker than getting a sprayer out.

Does artificial grass need a weed barrier?

A weed barrier fabric under artificial grass is worth installing on most jobs, laid over the soil beneath the base. It blocks growth from below and costs very little at install time compared with dealing with it afterwards. In areas that pets will use, discuss the specification with your installer, since drainage and cleaning behavior matter as much as weed suppression there.