A frequently asked question for people converting their lawn from real to artificial is “how does artificial grass handle through the cold months?” and most people are surprised to hear that although there are little hacks and tips you can use with your grass, in the long run, your fake lawn will withstand frostbite and downpours of ice-cold rain.
Although the grass does not die in freezing temperatures, it still needs time spent with it to protect it from certain elements. Caring for your artificial lawn unlike real grass is very simple all year round.
Why do you need to prep your artificial grass for poor weathering conditions?
In the event of a cold blizzard bringing snow, ice and hail; the plastic fibres from the grass cause the blades to harden making it uncomfortable to walk on, while in wet conditions synthetic grass can become slippery causing a slipping hazard.
Snow and ice
Snow and ice can be a tricky one. In the even of light snow you are usually ok, however, snow can become packed when stood on and these layers can build up and form ice which can be very dangerous to walk on. The way to get rid and stop this from happening could either be by removing the snow by hand which may take some time or, alternatively, pouring some warm water over the affected areas to melt the snow and ice. The snow that doesn’t layer up, or powdery snow can be left to melt naturally however you can use a small amount of salt if needed, but make sure to use it sparingly as it can limit the lawn’s drainage capability.
Drainage
Winter, especially in the UK, can bring a series of torrential rainfall which in a normal lawn would cause series problems. Generally speaking, rainfall is fine for artificial grass however it is wise to keep an eye on your lawn as if it becomes waterlogged or damaged then it is possible that your artificial grass is not installed properly.
Tools
When it comes to removing anything unnecessary such as snow or ice, we highly recommend using a plastic shovel over a metal shovel as it is less likely to damage the cold fibres of grass. When removing packs of ice you should use softer tools such as rubber or soft plastic that will not damage layers beneath the grass.