How to Prevent Weeds in Artificial Grass

For many home and business owners in the Arizona area, seeing weeds in artificial grass can be a frustrating experience at first. Isn’t synthetic turf supposed to be maintenance-free? The truth is, despite not having to mow, water, fertilize or edge your new lawn, you will occasionally have to pick some weeds. It’s unavoidable. The good news is that compared to a traditional lawn, artificial grass has numerous advantages when it comes to preventing and treating weed growth.

Below we’ll look at how to stop weeds from becoming a persistent issue and examine the best options for treating weed growth in the inevitable case they do make an unwanted appearance.

How To Stop Weeds Growing Through New Turf

When thinking about how to stop weeds growing through turf, whether that be crabgrass, broadleaf, or nutsedge, it’s important to know that the most impactful work is done before the artificial grass is installed.

The first step is to apply an herbicide or weed killer to the area of sod where your new lawn will go. Then the ground is rough graded and excavated, preferably to a 3-inch minimum depth, and then further compacted to make a solid, level sub-base. This removes any weed roots in the soil and makes it more difficult for anything to sprout up later. Lastly, an artificial turf weed barrier–which we’ll delve into further below—is strongly recommended to go underneath the artificial turf as an added layer of protection.

The Benefits of an Artificial Turf Weed Barrier

After the excavation has been completed and a solid sub-base established, the option is usually given to apply a fabric weed barrier as another layer of protection. The barrier can either be laid on top of or below the sub-base. In many cases, unless the native soil is hard and rocky, it is applied to both.

For those Arizona residents looking to install an artificial turf weed barrier on their own, you will need to unroll the fabric to cover the entire excavated soil. Simultaneously, you’ll have to make sure to overlap the edge of each layer by about six inches before hammering in flathead nails or sod staples to secure the weed barrier.

Why Weeds Can Still Appear in Artificial Grass

Even when artificial turf is professionally installed and all the precautions are taken, it’s still possible to see the occasional weed in your lawn. In most cases, this is not the result of weeds growing from surface soil and sprouting through the turf—although, on occasion, this does occur around the edges of an artificial lawn.

More typically, seeds from nearby weeds are carried in the wind and deposited in the turf’s sand infill. These seeds can then germinate in the sand, leading to the appearance of weed growth in your artificial grass.

How To Treat Weeds In Artificial Grass

Luckily, there’s not a lot of backbreaking work required to treat weeds in artificial grass. These unwanted intruders can’t root below the infill and are thus easily plucked from your artificial lawn. Be sure to do this routinely, as weeds that are left to grow can result in even more weed growth.

It should be noted that it’s not uncommon for persistent, hard-to-pull weeds to appear around the edges of your turf through small cracks. Experts suggest using a weed killer such as Round-Up that won’t damage or discolor the grass in these instances.

For those home and business owners living in Arizona and the surrounding areas, there’s no better option when it comes to artificial grass installation than the seasoned specialists at Arizona Luxury Lawns and Greens. Whether residential or commercial, a sports venue or children’s playground, we have the expertise needed to keep your artificial grass as weed-free as possible.

Reach out for a free quote today!