Pet Turf Maintenance Guide
Did you just install some beautiful new pet turf? Maybe you are thinking about getting it installed? You are probably wondering what the required maintenance is for the pet turf to keep it looking its best year-round. Artificial turf is an investment, so you will want to make it last for as long as possible. If you have dogs using your brand-new pet turf, here is our suggested maintenance guide!
GENERAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
Your new artificial pet turf is here to look good and help out with the dog’s “business.” However, you’ll need to take some steps to keep it looking and smelling like new. Here are some things to keep in mind before installing artificial pet turf:
- Maintenance is required – pet turf is not maintenance free. The pet turf helps to reduce your maintenance, but it cannot maintain itself.
- The smaller the area, the more frequent the maintenance. If you have a smaller area for your dogs to use for restroom purposes, this means they have less options to choose from to go to the bathroom. If they are going to the bathroom in the same spot over and over again, you’ll need to clean the area regularly to help keep the smell away. Think about it, if you were to consistently pour vinegar in a bowl vs a pool, the smell of the bowl would be a lot stronger than the smell of the pool; therefore, you would have to clean out the bowl more often. It is the same concept with dogs using a pet turf area for restroom purposes.
- Installing an antimicrobial pet sand does not mean zero smell. The antimicrobial pet sand helps to eliminate odors, but it cannot completely eliminate it by itself. If you install antimicrobial pet sand, but you never water down the area accordingly, then the sand will not be able to help.
PET TURF MAINTENANCE GUIDE
WATER DOWN THE AREA:
It is VERY important to water down the area with a garden hose when needed. Depending on the size of the area, how many dogs you have, and how often they use the area, will determine how many times you should water down the area. In general, we recommend watering down the area approximately 1-2 times a week. Just give it a quick once-over so that everything can drain through to the base underlayment. You do not want the urine to sit on top of the turf for too long. If you let urine sit too long on the turf, it will begin to smell. If you are unsure about how often you should water down the area, it is best to water it down quickly once a day then to be safe.
PICK UP WASTE ASAP:
The longer you wait to pick up your pets’ waste, the harder it will be to pick it up. As the waste dries, it will get stuck to the turf fibers. Once the dog’s waste is dried to the turf, it will make it hard to clean. You do not want to risk pulling out any turf fibers while trying to scoop up the hardened waste. It is best to pick up the waste as soon as possible.
BRUSH UP THE FIBERS:
One thing that you should be sure to watch is how much your pets are walking on the turf. With your pets walking and laying down on the turf for long periods of time, it can cause the turf fibers to bend. When the turf fibers bend they tend to lay down flat. If you notice the pet turf starting to matt down, take a soft-bristle push broom and brush the fibers back up as soon as you notice it. The longer you wait to brush up the fibers, the harder it will be to get them back up.
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If you are interested in getting pet turf installed at your home, please contact us today for a free estimate!
