Artificial grass is much lower-maintenance than natural grass. But wait – I’ve seen pictures of artificial grass that still gets weeds! Yes, artificial grass may still get some weeds – but much, much less, and if they do happen, they’re a cinch to remove.
- Weeds won’t grow up through artificial grass, as long as it’s properly installed with the right substrate and weed barrier
- Weeds can’t be entirely prevented. Some like dandelions spread through the air and grow from the top downwards
- Any weeds that you see on artificial grass (as long as it’s not an installation problem) will be minimal and easy to remove
Weeds Don’t Grow Through Artificial Grass
The very first misconception we need to get rid of is the idea that weeds can still grow through properly installed artificial grass. Proper installation involves removing weeds and a good layer of dirt as well, which is replaced with a permeable substrate for better drainage that you’ll get with sod. As part of the installation process a weed barrier is laid down as well, which is generally laid down between the dirt and the sub-base. This backing allows water to pass through but prevents weeds from growing upwards. It also prevents soil from contaminating the sub-base and allowing soil to migrate with heavy rains, which can provide a space for weeds to take hold close to the surface.
This combination of a permeable sub-base and a weed barrier virtually ensures no weeds will make it anywhere near your turf. But it’s important that your turf is properly installed by professionals. If you are getting weeds growing up through your turf, chances are that you forgot something during installation. Maybe you forgot the weed barrier, placed it underneath the grass instead of underneath the sub-base, or chose the wrong sub-base material for your soil that has allowed weeds to take hold. That’s why we recommend using a professional artificial grass installer. In the long run, it will save you time, money and countless headaches.
Weeds Can Grow On Top of Your Grass
Properly installed artificial grass won’t get weeds coming through from the soil – but there’s not much we can do about weeds that come from the air. You’ve probably held a dandelion in your hand, made a wish and blown all the little petals off into the air. Well… those are all seeds. And that’s how a lot of weeds spread – through seeds that float through the air, on animals, or stuck to clothing.
These weeds grow from the top down rather than the ground up, and so there’s not much that can be done to prevent them. The good news is, because they have shallow roots, they are easy to remove. A few plucks and they should be all gone! Because the roots are shallow and don’t have much to hold on to, they’ll come right out, and you don’t need to worry about not “getting the whole thing” the way you would with natural sod grass.
Getting Rid of Weeds on Fake Grass
The easiest way to remove weeds on artificial grass is to pull them off and remove them. This should be easy to do and not require the kind of back-breaking effort you may be used to with sod grass. However if you let these weeds go, they will spread, and you may have to take other measures.
If pulling up weeds isn’t an option, simple weed sprays like RoundUp will work fine and won’t damage your artificial grass. However if you purchased artificial grass to avoid using chemicals and fertilizers, we understand this might not be an attractive option. Boiling water can be used on most artificial grasses (not all) – but be aware that it will also kill anything else in the area, so using this method around trees for example is ill-advised.
If you do find you have weeds growing up through your artificial grass, then it’s possible something has damaged your weed barrier, or the installation wasn’t quite perfect. This is much more likely when you DIY your artificial grass installation, so remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Contact us today for a quote on your artificial grass project.