Do Weeds Grow Through Artificial Grass?
A great substitute for natural grass is an artificial one. Because artificial grass for gardens looks fantastic all year round and takes very little maintenance, it is becoming more and more popular for gardens. Sadly, natural lawns require a lot of upkeep. During the growth season, they require mowing, feeding to prevent bare areas, and weeding, which is the least favourite task for even the most enthusiastic gardeners!
Made of synthetic fibres, artificial turf is a surface covered in artificial grass. Though it was first developed for sports stadiums—usually used for grass-based games like football, hockey, and tennis—it has swiftly gained popularity as a material for garden lawns. Artificial turf is a great option if you like the look of fresh turf but would rather have a minimal-care substitute. Weeds growing through the lawn is one common maintenance problem that can still occur, but it can be avoided with proper surface preparation.
Even though artificial grass for gardens is far less susceptible to weeds than natural turf, it is still possible to find weeds growing around the edges or occasionally even through the backing material, particularly if the proper installation instructions haven’t been followed exactly.
Compared to a genuine lawn, fake grass requires almost no maintenance at all. However weeds can grow up through it or around it if the installation instructions are not followed correctly.
Weeds may be sprouting up through the turf, for example, if you neglected to remove any dirt, eradicate weeds from your original base before installing your synthetic lawn, or install a weed membrane. Before applying artificial grass on top of a concrete or slab basis, weeds must be treated because they often climb up through gaps and crevices.
Certain forms of infill can harbour weeds as well, although they usually won’t take root beneath the grass, making them simple to remove. However, sand infill will allow seeds to sprout, making the removal of them a little more difficult. If you want to know about laying artificial grass, check out Artificial Grass GB.
Methods for Eliminating Weeds in Artificial Grass:
When weeds appear on your artificial turf, they are simple to remove if you take quick action. Since the weeds start off growing on the surface, you can simply pull them by hand or apply a weed killer or white vinegar spray.
The weeds get more difficult to pull the longer you put off pulling them. If you wait too long to get rid of the weeds, others will eventually start to sprout in the surrounding region. For this reason, in order to stop additional weed growth, you must remove the weeds from your lawn as soon as possible.
- Brushing Up:
It’s best to routinely brush your fake grass with a stiff brush to get rid of airborne seeds and any accumulated dirt, especially in the summer. This short and simple task will prevent bothersome weeds from growing and maintain the ideal appearance of your grass. Instead of damaging the turf with metal bristles, use a brush with synthetic bristles and brush hard in the pile’s direction. This will maintain the grass blades looking vibrant and straight while also getting rid of seeds and other waste. To maintain the pile bouncy and upright, use a natural bristle broom once a month. Additionally, brushing will get rid of the flying seeds that grow weeds.
- Keep the Surrounding Areas in Check:
Regular upkeep of any trees or bushes that hang over your lawn will also aid in the reduction of weed development. To prevent leaves from piling up, trim and prune your trees and bushes. Using a leaf blower to give your lawn a thorough autumnal makeover is a convenient and fast method to stay on top of this task.
In backyard landscaping, there’s always a potential that seeds from nearby vegetation can fall and sprout on your artificial grass if you combine them with real plantings like trees, hedges, and border plants.
Because seeds may be hiding within, it is crucial to keep the nearby plants well-pruned and to use a leaf blower to remove any plant-based material from the artificial grass.
- Apply Weed Killer:
Applying a weed killer to your artificial grass is an additional method of getting rid of weeds and stopping their spread. It is important to select your weed killer wisely, though, especially for gardens with kids and dogs. In order to avoid harming the turf’s fibres, choose a pet-safe treatment that is water-based.
Just one or two annual treatments will be sufficient to keep weeds out of your grass. It is imperative to promptly remove dead weeds from the turf to prevent their decomposition and discoloration.
Stopping the Growth of Weed Before Installation:
You are now getting ready to lay artificial turf in your garden after deciding to install it. There are a few additional layers you may put to lessen and stop weeds and other undesirable plant life from growing through.
Sand Layer:
Excellent for levelling out sloping surfaces as well. If seeds do wind up blowing over your artificial grass, covering the area with a coating of sand will help keep them from taking root in the ground and becoming more difficult to remove. Additionally, any seeds or plant life that may already be present in the underlying soil will have a hard time growing through the sand.
Weed Membrane:
You can omit the sand layer, but fake grass will require the application of a weed membrane. These membranes are made especially to sit beneath artificial turf and let enough water drain through, all the while keeping seeds from taking root or existing weed shoots from poking their way through. You won’t have to worry about the heavily woven cloths deteriorating or needing to be replaced often because they are made to last for a long period.
Areas of Concern:
Increased growth and moisture retention are likely to occur in areas of your garden that receive more shade. Consider removing the topsoil layer here and replacing it with sand in addition to a weed membrane to stop weed growth in the future if you don’t intend to use a base for your entire garden.
