November 08, 2022

Many Pittsburgh residents appreciate artificial turf for its ability to endure extreme weather and come out of winter looking great. You don’t have to stress out about frost destroying your grass, but there are some steps to complete throughout winter to ensure your turf is in its finest condition for spring. Continue reading to discover more.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Let’s get started with some of the most frequently asked questions we receive as we install synthetic turf in Pittsburgh. Especially questions about caring for your grass in the winter season.

WHAT DOES SNOW DO TO SYNTHETIC GRASS?

Ice shouldn’t have a significant influence on your synthetic turf. It is totally fine to play or walk on it if there is a blanket of snow. The blades may lay down with the weight of the ice, but it generally bounces back up by itself or, in a handful of situations, with a bit of additional help from a power broom. Snow will not modify the color or affect the synthetic lawn.

WILL FROST DAMAGE MY ARTIFICIAL TURF?

No, frost will not damage synthetic grass. The individual turf fiber blade does freeze in intense conditions, walking on it through the winter would not cause any problems. Once spring comes and there’s no additional risk of frost, you can take a strong broom to help it back to life.

DO I HAVE TO COVER MY ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

You do not have to cover your artificial turf, but you absolutely can if an abnormally rough winter is expected in Pittsburgh. Just bear in mind that you don’t want to cover areas that are being used because snow might make tarps slippery and dangerous to walk on.

CAN I SHOVEL SNOW OFF ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

No, you must avoid shoveling snow from your artificial grass except when totally necessary. If you do have to clean a path, go with a handheld blower to take care of any debris or snow.

CAN I USE SALT OR ICE MELT ON MY GRASS?

You should not use any ice melt salt on your artificial grass. Salt can plug up the drains in the backing system and negatively affect your yard’s drainage capabilities. The caustic salt and chemicals can also react the backing system, leaving you with turf blades that start to pull away from the backing. We firmly recommend you to let ice melt by itself for the perfect results.

WILL SNOW MELT QUICKER ON ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

Synthetic grass surfaces can get warmer compared to organic grass, which means that a couple of inches of snow will melt faster than it would on regular grass. Because synthetic turf is evenly distributed, it enables improved aeration to speed up the snow-melting process.

DOES ARTIFICIAL TURF GET ICY?

Not necessarily, however, just like natural grass, some synthetic surfaces can become slippery in freezing weather. Thus, you should use the same care you do stepping on any other wintery surface, especially if Pittsburgh has been experiencing freezing rain.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE PRIOR TO SNOWFALL?

You should certainly do a good fall maintenance routine before any snowfall. Eliminating natural things like leaves, branches, etc., are crucial. You can learn more about our complete walkthrough for cleaning your synthetic grass to get particulars on what to do. Performing Southwest Greens maintenance in the spring is always a great time, making sure your surface is prepared for the warmer months to come.