We’ve only just recovered from the big freeze, Arctic blasts and heavy snow, but the Met Office is warning that more cold snaps could be on the way, with parts of the UK expecting strong winds this coming weekend.
And garden experts are warning that the cold and windy weather is particularly bad news for those who have artificial lawns.
Fake grass, which is a bad idea for your garden for many reasons, not least being the impact of plastic waste on the environment and the reduction in habitats for wildlife, can also cause problems in cold weather.
And that one big upside of fake grass, that it requires no maintenance, is not true either – and in fact anyone with artificial grass is being urged to sort it out now or risk fungal growths this summer.
Gardening experts at Grass247 are urging Brits with artificial grass to keep on top of their lawn care in the winter, to avoid any potential problems come summer time, or they could risk big problems such as mould or fungal build up.
James Higgins, e-commerce manager and artificial grass expert at Grass247 says: “There’s a common misconception that artificial grass requires no maintenance.
“While artificial grass isn’t a living thing, it still requires a low level of maintenance to keep it looking great in your garden.
“You can think of it a bit like getting a new carpet in your living room.
“It might look fantastic when first installed, but unless you spend some time each week giving it a bit of a spruce up, over time, the fibres won’t look as great as they once did.
“Although artificial grass requires significantly less care than real grass to stay in top shape, there are a couple of essential tasks for winter grass care that both those with artificial grass can do to keep their lawns in top shape:
“Keep your lawn free from debris, such as fallen twigs or leaves blown in by winter storms. Anyone who has trees in or surrounding their garden will know the pain of clearing up fallen leaves in the winter.
“Leaves, twigs, and other debris from shedding trees can easily build up on top of our lawns in the winter months, which traps moisture and can cause all sorts of problems like fungal and mould growth.
“To avoid these, it’s important to regularly clean debris from the top of your artificial grass using a brush or leaf blower. Avoid heavy metal rakes as these could damage artificial grass fibres.”
Garden247 also urges owners of fake grass to avoid using salt or deicers, which can damage it and clog the underlay.
And those who do get snow should avoid allowing a heavy build-up of snow and ice because it can cause ‘excessive stress’ to the drainage system.
They added: “You shouldn’t worry too much about a thin layer of snow covering your artificial grass.
“However, you should avoid letting it build up during heavy snowfall, as it can become compacted and turn into ice, which can potentially damage the artificial grass fibres and put excessive stress on the drainage system.
“There isn’t really any chemical that is better for your grass than a good shovel and a little sweat, so, instead of relying on chemical deicers to melt the snow, it’s best to just use a plastic shovel (not metal) to avoid tearing the surface.”
