A frequently asked question for people converting their lawn from natural to artificial is, “how does artificial grass handle through the cold months?” and most people are surprised to hear that although there are little hacks and tips you can use with your grass, in the long run, your artificial lawn will withstand frostbite and downpours of ice-cold rain.
Although the grass does not die in freezing temperatures, it still needs time spent with it to protect it from certain elements. Caring for your artificial lawn, unlike natural grass, is very simple all year round.
In the event of a cold blizzard bringing snow, ice and hail, the plastic fibres from the grass cause the blades to harden, making it uncomfortable to walk on. In contrast, synthetic grass can become slippery in wet conditions, causing a slipping hazard.
Snow and ice can be tricky. In the event of light snow, you are usually ok. However, snow can become packed when standing on, and these layers can build up and form ice which can be very dangerous to walk on. The way to get rid of and stop this could be either by removing the snow by hand, which may take some time, or by pouring some warm water over the affected areas to melt the snow and ice. The snow that doesn’t layer up or powdery snow can be left to melt naturally; however, you can use a small amount of salt if needed, but make sure to use it sparingly as it can limit the artificial lawn’s drainage capability.
Winter, especially in the UK, can bring a series of torrential rainfall, which is a standard lawn that would cause a series of problems. Generally speaking, rainfall is OK for artificial grass; however, it is wise to keep an eye on your artificial lawn as if it becomes waterlogged or damaged, then it is possible that your artificial grass is not installed correctly.
When removing anything unnecessary, such as snow or ice, we highly recommend using a plastic shovel over a metal shovel, as it is less likely to damage the cold fibres of grass. When removing packs of ice, you should use softer tools such as rubber or soft plastic that will not damage layers beneath the grass.
