Utah homeowners switch to artificial grass for a variety of reasons—but a leading one is to avoid the maintenance associated with mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weedkilling.
It’s true—most homeowners never see a weed after switching to artificial turf; but are weeds impossible or can weeds grow through artificial grass?
The good news is that you should have few worries with weeds if your artificial turf landscaping is professionally installed. If not, you may need to be more vigilant.
Let’s look at this question in more detail…
Can Weeds Grow Through Artificial Grass?
Weed growth in artificial turf is rare. High-quality synthetic grass with sturdy backing installed professionally on top of proper base material makes it almost impossible for weeds to grow up from the soil through your turf. However, weeds can grow in the infill material or around the grass area— and may occasionally poke through from below if it is not installed properly.
There’s a little more to it, which we go into below…
GET A FREE ARTIFICIAL GRASS ESTIMATE IN UTAH
If you’re in Salt Lake City or the surrounding areas, the experienced team at Rocky Mountain Turf will break down the costs for you in a free estimate. Contact us here.
How Can Artificial Turf Have Weed Growth?
A weed is any plant that grows in a place where it is not wanted—which certainly includes garden lawns. Weeds are adaptable and opportunistic, thriving by rapidly colonizing areas with favorable temperature, soil conditions, space, etc.
Often, weeds can spread prolifically through seed production and dispersal mechanisms like wind, animals, or water. This allows them to germinate and grow quickly—sometimes taking over areas from the desired plants, which compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
It’s easy enough to see how weeds might start growing on poorly maintained lawns—but how could weeds grow through artificial grass?
Weeds rarely grow through properly installed artificial grass due to several barriers in the way:
- The sturdy artificial grass backing (usually made from polyurethane or polypropylene)
- The compacted base layer beneath the grass
- A cloth membrane which is sometimes laid below the grass to prevent weeds
If the turf or its backing is poor quality and the ground preparation or installation process cuts corners, this might provide the opportunity for weeds to poke through.
More commonly with synthetic grass, weeds can grow around the edges of the grass area or out of the infill. The infill is usually a silica-based, granular material spread on top of the artificial grass to keep the blades upright and improve the look, feel, and appearance of the turf. It may provide conditions for some weed growth on top of the turf.
What Types of Weeds are Common in Utah?
In Utah, we see a wide variety of common weeds that can make their way into your backyard, including:
- White Clover
- Dandelion
- Thistle
- Field Bindweed
- Violet
- Spurge
- Annual Bluegrass
- Crabgrass
- Goosegrass
- Bentgrass
How to Stop Weeds in Artificial Grass?
Easy. Get it professionally installed.
A professional turf installation is the single most important step toward synthetic turf weed prevention. That should be a no-brainer—after all, the cost of artificial grass makes it a significant investment for most Utah homeowners and looking after it from installation onwards should be a priority.
Turf professionals will assess your space and the intended usage of the turf and can recommend the best artificial grass type. During installation, they will prepare the ground for an even and stable surface with adequate drainage while also factoring in whether pets will use the space.
Ground preparation usually involves the following steps, which may vary slightly from one installation to the next:
- Removing the existing grass and debris
- Digging down 2-3 inches to get fresh soil to the top
- Leveling the ground by filling holes and flattening bumps using a rake
- Adding a base layer of compacted aggregate like sand or crushed granite
- Applying a weed barrier above or below the base layer (unless you have pets—see below)
- Adding a stabilizer to the base layer if necessary
- Attaching the turf to treated weatherboards, which act as a border for the turf
- Ensuring proper drainage with piping if necessary
- Adding infill to the top of the turf
This image explains the basic layers—but for kids’ play areas, which also require padding for extra shock absorbency:
After the artificial turf is laid, use a leaf blower or rubber rake to remove debris and occasionally clean the area with a hose. This will help prevent the conditions for weeds to thrive.
Should You Use a Weed Barrier for Fake Grass?
If you install pet turf for a dog run area or a lawn that your dog will use, the sub-base layer is prepared in the same way— but with one big difference: no weed barrier.
Weed barrier membranes trap pet urine and bacteria, leading to unwanted odors. So, we don’t install them for homeowners with pets. We also add a deodorizer layer alongside the compacted sub-base layer before rolling out your grass to avoid nasty ammonia smells from dog urine—and an antimicrobial infill is also used.
If you do experience unwanted dog pee smells, here’s how to neutralize the odors on artificial grass.
What to Do If Weeds Appear on Turf?
The actions you take, if weeds appear on or around your artificial grass, depend on where exactly the weeds are.
For Weeds Growing in the Infill
Generally, these weeds are shallow-rooted and easy to remove by hand or with a trowel. Conduct routine checks and remove weeds before they become a larger problem.
For Weeds Growing Around the Turf Edges
Most keen gardeners don’t like weeds and will remove them from flower beds or other areas surrounding the lawn using a variety of techniques: pulling out by hand, using non-toxic weedkillers, spraying with white vinegar or even using boiling water (if it’s not a risk to surrounding plants).
For Weeds Growing Through Artificial Turf
This can be more challenging. If weeds are growing through your artificial turf, pulling them up by hand can damage the turf and boiling water is not a good option. Also, don’t use a metal rake on artificial grass.
It’s better to use a water-based, non-toxic herbicide or seek professional advice before you attempt weed-killing on artificial grass. Here are some more tips on how to treat weeds in artificial grass.
Other Low-Maintenance Benefits of Artificial Grass
No weeds is one thing to celebrate but there are many other low-maintenance benefits of artificial grass compared with the real thing…
- No mowing-ever!
- No water required—great for Utah’s arid and frequent drought conditions
- No aeration required
- No fertilizing
- No herbicides or pesticides
- No seeding or overseeding required
Your artificial grass should last 15-20 years or more with basic care, representing a durable, cost-effective, and low-maintenance landscaping idea that will help conserve resources in the long term.
FAQs
I Thought Artificial Turf Involved No Maintenance?
Artificial turf is very low maintenance but not entirely maintenance-free. You’ll need to remove debris if it builds up and brush it occasionally. You should also trim back overhanging trees or shrubs to prevent debris from dropping onto the area. Some areas require additional artificial grass maintenance to prevent bacteria—notably pet turf, which requires regular checks for “nasties”.
Can I Install Artificial Turf Myself?
Installing artificial grass as a DIY job is inadvisable unless you have experience in doing this. The ground preparation required before laying artificial grass generally involves specialist knowledge, equipment, and expertise to prevent drainage issues, unevenness, weeds, and other problems.
Wave “Goodbye” to Weeds Forever…
Professional artificial grass installation minimizes weed growth in your outdoor spaces. Our team has installed thousands of turf spaces since 2014 and we are well-accustomed to preparing the ground to combat weeds—even if you have pets and cannot install a weed barrier.
Consultation with our turf professionals can help you wave “Goodbye” to weeds forever while saving time, money, and effort in your yard. Contact us for a quote.
