One of the beauties of artificial grass is low maintenance.
No need to mow or regularly water your lawn saves your weekends — and you’ll find that your turf is generally free of insects because of its inorganic nature. There are very few problems with gnats, mosquitos, ants, spiders or other gremlins like with real grass!
But is it true to say that it’s entirely bug-free?
Not really. Flies, fleas and other bugs can still be attracted to fake grass unless you take some preventative measures.
So, let’s look at a few ways you can prevent and get rid of flies on artificial grass with some simple steps…
- Remove food after picnics
- Keep an eye out for debris – and remove it
- Hose down your lawn regularly
- Keep your pets flea-free
- Improve poor drainage
Why are flies attracted to fake grass?
You may think that the luscious blades of your synthetic turf are a no-go area for insects but flies and fleas don’t mind hanging around there if the conditions are right.
Fake grass doesn’t have the prize attractions of soil and living matter that bugs thrive on; the inert polymers that comprise artificial grass are nothing to compare with decomposing leaf litter or blades of real grass. They’re just not attractive to bugs.
But the annoying thing about flies and other insects is that they’re not overly choosy about where they set up home. Anywhere they can feed and multiply is good enough. So, it doesn’t take much to create conditions that attract them.
A little negligence from a homeowner or business owner is all that’s required.
If your grass is attracting flies, it’s likely due to left-over crumbs from a summer picnic with the family or dead organic matter that attracts them. That adds materials that will decompose and provide the conditions that bugs are looking for.
Fleas and ticks can also be carried by pets onto your artificial grass and, like flies, aren’t too fussy about where they make a home. Your lawn is fair game.
Does artificial grass attract mosquitoes?
Mosquitos are not attracted to fake grass in itself but certain conditions like pooling water (which should never be allowed to happen on artificial turf) can be problematic and start to attract these unwanted pests.
More about this below…
How to get rid of flies and fleas on your fake grass in five easy steps
If you spot a fly or two on your synthetic lawn, there’s usually no need to panic. Flies land anywhere at any time and it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re infested and need to call in the bug zappers.
You should feel comfortable sitting on your lawn in your yard and, anyway, it’s really quite simple to prevent flies, fleas and ticks from seeing a HOME sign above your synthetic turf.
Follow these five easy steps to stay bug-free:
Remove food after picnics
The food we eat is the single biggest fly attractor out there. Barbecuing or snacking outside in the summer months is one of life’s basic pleasures and there’s no reason to stop.
But make sure that any leftover food — including crumbs and small scraps— is removed when you return indoors.
Keep an eye out for debris – and remove it
No debris means nothing to attract any flies or other bugs. So, if leaves, twigs, soil or other debris starts to blow onto your artificial lawn, remove it.
If you prevent organic matter from trapping moisture and bacteria and creating a breeding ground, you’ll keep away the colonies of ants and flies.
The naturally drier climate in Texas and Nevada already helps to prevent bacteria buildup on your lawn and a simple brush can add extra assurance, preventing problems from even starting.
Hose down your lawn as required
Keeping your lawn clean is a basic maintenance step that makes sense regardless of whether you have flies, fleas or other bugs on it.
A garden hose is all you need. You don’t need to water your lawn as regularly as a real grass lawn but hosing it down now and again will leave it looking cleaner and less inviting to bugs. Choose a sunny day when it will dry quickly and thoroughly.
The backing on artificial grass is porous so excess water will end up in the ground below your lawn.
Keep your pet flea-free
Dogs are the main culprits when it comes to fleas and ticks on your artificial grass. These pests won’t survive long on clean and well-maintained artificial grass but can add to your problems if you have a dirty or debris-ridden lawn.
If not removed, ticks and fleas can transfer to other animals or even humans and then into your home. Checking dogs and cats for fleas regularly is just good pet-ownership practice anyway.
Improve poor drainage
Artificial grass can drain up to 100 inches of water per hour. It should be a master of drainage, which will naturally help prevent moisture (and bacteria) from building up.
Poor fake turf installations can lead to drainage problems such as pooling and stagnant water on the surface on rainy days. If this isn’t attended to, it can attract breeding mosquitos and other pests.
Prevent this scenario by contacting one of our artificial grass pros and discussing ways to improve the drainage of your lawn.
Ways to keep your synthetic grass clean
Real grass often requires the use of insecticides and pesticides to kill bug infestations, adding more chemical load to the environment.
Fortunately, with artificial lawns, a little water goes a long way and you shouldn’t ever have to use any harsh chemicals to keep it clean —even if you have a dog as a pet.
Brushing away food and other debris and hosing it down with water are all good ways to keep synthetic grass clean but what if your dog eyes your lawn as the ideal place to pee or poop?
Don’t panic – as it shouldn’t discolor your artificial grass. But it’s going to happen sooner or later (even if you train your dog to “go” in a certain place every day) so it’s best to be prepared to clean your grass appropriately:
- Don’t leave dog waste — remove it immediately either with tissue paper.
- Any residue can be removed with a wet paper towel or by rinsing down with the garden hose.
- Hose down where your dog peed to avoid unwanted odors (and visitors) — though with good drainage, the urine should simply drain into the soil below.
If you think you might need stain removers, disinfectants, enzyme sprays or deodorizers to keep your lawn clean, check with your manufacturer about the recommended care instructions.
Generally speaking, cleaners such as PE51 and Wysiwash or alcohol-free, biodegradable cleaners are most suitable.
Which bug spray is best for artificial grass?
One of the benefits of artificial grass is that fewer chemicals are needed to maintain it.
Before you start spraying your lawn with bug spray, follow the steps above to keep your lawn clean as that should prevent the need for bug spray: plain water or water/vinegar solutions are best for cleaning and a healthy environment.
Beautiful bug-free artificial grass
Bug problems on artificial grass are far less common than with real grass: far fewer headaches without sacrificing the look.
As long as you remember to keep your lawn clean with regular rinsing, maintain good drainage and make sure your dog is flea-free, you’ll be doing your lawn a favor, extending its life and preventing flies and fleas from treating it like a breeding ground.
Any questions about installing or maintaining artificial grass in Texas? Find out more about our professional artificial turf services and let us know what you need by contacting Artificial Grass Pros.
Sources
https://www.almostgrass.com/getting-rid-of-fleas-and-bugs-in-artificial-grass/
https://turfresh.com/blog/proper-artificial-turf-maintenance-to-get-rid-of-pests/
https://goartificialgrasspros.com/cleaning-artificial-grass/
