One of the best features of artificial turf is that it looks great year-round. Whether you’re facing a summer drought or cold winter temperatures, artificial turf will remain the same shade of beautiful green. As you’re enjoying your beautiful turf, though, you may wonder whether the synthetic fibers can withstand the punishment that a heavy snowfall can bring. If snow can damage artificial turf, then the other benefits of this material quickly dissolve. To help you understand how to help your artificial turf survive harsh winter weather, here are a few care tips you should follow when there’s snow on your turf.
Avoid Metal Shovels on Turf
If you want to reveal the beautiful green color of your synthetic turf after a snowstorm, it’s important to be careful about the tools you use for the job. At all costs, you should avoid using metal shovels to remove snow from your turf. Metal shovels and other metal tools can rip the turf fabric, revealing the soil underneath. The good news is that you can use plastic shovels on synthetic turf without any worries about damage. Other options for tools to remove snow from synthetic turf include brooms and leaf blowers.
Avoid Melting Salts on Turf
Another snow removal product you’ll want to avoid using is any type of chemical melting product. Surprisingly, the chemicals themselves likely won’t do too much damage to the turf material. The problem lies in the fact that these products are often granulated. If you apply them to synthetic turf, the granules will fall into the drain holes on the turf and clog them up. Then, when the snow melts or rain falls, water will stand on the turf creating a bigger problem. Also, avoid using any type of heat to remove the snow since the concentrated heat energy may damage the individual blades of turf material. Patience is important when you’re removing snow from synthetic turf.
Prevent Turf Ice Build Up
While snow and ice on turf typically aren’t a big deal when it falls on artificial turf, certain types of ice can be problematic. This is especially true when the ice forms from the compacted snow that is created when you walk on fresh powder. Over time, the extra weight and low temperature of the compacted snow could freeze the fibers and cause them to break. To avoid this problem, your best bet is to clear some pathways on your artificial turf anywhere that you expect to walk frequently. So, for example, you can clear a pathway to your shed and another path to your gate. If you do notice snow that’s become compacted on your turf, try to remove it quickly using one of the turf-safe methods listed above.
Remove Debris Before Winter
Another potential issue with snow on synthetic turf is that it can hold moisture against the turf and cause mold to grow on the turf’s surface. A key fact about mold, though, is that it requires some type of organic material to be able to grow. Since turf isn’t made from organic material, the only way that mold can grow is if you leave leaves, sticks, and other natural debris on your turf when it begins to snow. Therefore, as soon as the cold weather begins to set in, you need to be diligent about keeping your turf free from debris so that the debris doesn’t get caught under a layer of snow.
Beware of Frozen Fibers
One practical consideration when dealing with synthetic turf during snowy weather is that the fibers in your turf can freeze. Since the fibers of synthetic turf are quite short compared to individual blades of grass, a thin layer of water can form on the turf and freeze into a sheet of ice. Then, when you walk on the turf, you can find yourself slipping and sliding across your yard. If the turf looks shiny and the temperature is at or below freezing, it’s best to find a different way to get where you need to go.
Wait for Installation
If you’re new to the world of artificial turf, snowy weather means patiently waiting for the installation of your turf to begin. Since the material beneath the turf has to be dry before the turf can be installed, a snowstorm can push back your installation timeline. Moisture is a problem during installation because it will cause the base material to become clumpy. This will lead to an uneven turf surface that is difficult to correct without starting over. Therefore, while it might be an inconvenience, just know that waiting for the snow to melt and the ground to become dry will ultimately provide you with much better results in the long run.
Sit Back and Relax
While reading an entire article about turf care during snowy weather can make artificial turf seem kind of hard to maintain, the truth is that the best thing you can do when snow falls on artificial turf is just sit back and relax. Our synthetic turf is made to be tough and resilient against all types of punishing weather conditions. This includes cold weather, ice, and snow. Therefore, even if you don’t go to great lengths to maintain your turf during snowy weather, you’ll almost certainly still have a beautiful green turf surface when warmer weather rolls around. Since having fewer maintenance obligations is one of the biggest perks of installing artificial turf, it’s best to take that lesson to heart and spend your time this winter doing other activities.
