San Diego is a desirable place to live in part, thanks to its weather. The city enjoys plentiful sun year-round, with rainy days rare and well below the national average.
On those rare rainy days, unexpected cold snaps, and hot summer afternoons, it helps to know how even subtle weather changes affect artificial grass. Let’s take a look at weather effects on artificial grass in San Diego and if there’s anything you should be doing to keep your turf looking as good as it was right after its installation.
Artificial Grass and Heat
While most proponents for artificial turf don’t report that their artificial lawns get so hot in the summer months that they’re unable to enjoy them, synthetic grass does get hotter than natural grass. In certain areas of San Diego County, where occasional heatwaves happen and temperatures can rise into the triple digits, it can be essential to know how to keep your artificial turf enjoyable and safe, especially for your children and pets.
If you haven’t already installed your turf, the choice of materials and what goes underneath your artificial grass is important to keep things cooler during those hot summer months. The best synthetic grass for heat incorporates lighter-colored blades and infills. Avoid rubber infills, which absorb heat more than non-rubber varieties. There are even infills that cool when wet, cooling down your artificial turf surfaces even further post-installation. At US Turf, we offer T°Cool™, a turf antimicrobial solution that works by absorbing the heat and keeping the turf fresh. All you have to do is spray the turf down with a hose, and it will stay cool for up to 5 days.
Consider the placement of your artificial grass and whether you can strategize your artificial turf in San Diego installation to include shady trees. You don’t have to worry about your turf getting enough sunlight, as that’s one of the big perks of artificial grass over a natural lawn.
If your green space lacks natural shade, consider incorporating pergolas or sunshades that cover parts or all of your artificial turf to keep those surfaces cooler in the midday sun and add intrigue to your backyard design. Awnings and sun sails that are retractable, even moveable canopies, allow you to have more control over how much shade you’re giving your turf.
Effects of Cold Weather on Artificial Grass
San Diegans aren’t usually too worried about snow unless they’re traveling up to Mount Laguna for a day of snowballs and sledding. The occasional frost, though, may be a worry for those caring for natural lawns or other plants, leading to some questions about the effects of cold weather on artificial grass.
Artificial turf is not affected by cold weather. Even the occasional frost will melt and drain away if you’ve installed proper drainage with your lawn.
Those who live in areas of the country where snow is an annual occurrence should have a few additional tips when looking for how to care for artificial turf in the winter.
Avoid metal shovels in favor of plastic ones to avoid damaging the synthetic blades, and steer clear of using salt or similar snow-melting substances on an artificial lawn. Those kinds of substances should generally be avoided across scenarios when caring for your turf, as they can break down blades over time, even affecting installed drainage systems.
After snow removal, your turf may need some sprucing up; a soft-bristled broom or turf rake designed for artificial grass should be able to return those blades to their original form.
Can Artificial Grass Get Wet?
A big plus of artificial turf is that you don’t need to water it to maintain its appearance. In drought-prone areas like San Diego and greater Southern California, artificial turf installation can save homeowners hundreds of dollars over time due to cost savings from less water usage. It also makes artificial turf an eco-friendly option, as any water savings during a drought is positive for the community.
But even San Diego gets rain sometimes, especially during the cooler winter months. So, can artificial grass get wet? It sure can!
Running a sprinkler or spraying down your artificial turf will cool your surfaces down on a hot day, an added trick when you’re looking for additional ways to care for your turf as temperatures rise.
Artificial turf does not require regular watering as part of your lawn care routine. Hosing down surfaces in high-trafficked areas, though, whether it’s from pets, children, or just use over time, is a way to keep those surfaces clean, as the turf can get dusty or dirty when it’s well-loved.
Proper drainage as part of the installation process will ensure that any water that hits your turf’s surface won’t cause problems like pooling water or mold down the line. In the case of standing water, though, you may want to use a cleaning solution that inhibits mold growth. Thankfully, that kind of extreme weather in San Diego is rare, and any rain that does fall typically evaporates due to warm temperatures.
Now that you know about artificial grass in San Diego and the effects of weather on synthetic turf, discover our products or contact us at USTurf and get your free estimate on that project you’ve been thinking about. There’s no season like the present to install low-maintenance artificial turf.