If you've finally got the time, space and money for the home tennis court of your dreams, you're probably wondering how best to maintain it once it's been installed. Artificial or synthetic grass tennis courts are usually a much more hard-wearing, longer-lasting and lower-maintenance choice than a lawn requiring a great deal of mowing and looking after, but it does come with a few challenges all of its own! If you're wondering what you'll have to do to maintain a synthetic grass court, read on.

Weekly: Tidy up and deal with debris.

It's absolutely vital that litter, dead leaves and other debris aren't allowed to sit around on the court--even during the winter months when you're less likely to be using it. This stuff can damage the surface, deplete your infill, damage your power brusher and cause hazards during your game. Keep your tennis court clean and clear at all times.

Monthly: Brush your court thoroughly.

Much as real turf needs to be mowed, artificial turf needs to be brushed. The brushing process--which can be done either by hand with a garden broom or using a special 'power brushing' tool available from many DIY stores--simply evens out and rearranges the surface of the court in all directions, leaving it looking as good as new and improving its drainage. With the right tool, this can be a pretty quick job, so give serious thought to investing in a power brusher rather than trying to brush your court manually!

Seasonally: Check your court's infill.

Underneath the surface of your court is probably quite a lot of sand, which is known as 'infill'. Keeping your court well brushed usually keeps the infill in great condition too, but it's important to top it up every now and then--a little sand leaves the court every time your tennis shoes do, and over time that will add up! Every court has a different process for topping up the infill, but it's usually pretty straightforward; full instructions will be available from whoever supplied your court's materials.

Annually: Check for and clear up moss.

Any outdoor surface grows a little moss or algae from time to time, particularly if it's well shaded. This stuff can cause a slipping hazard and damage your court's surface, so deal with it at the end of every rainy season. You'll want to use specialised chemicals called biocides to deal with the issue, so ask your court's manufacturer which is the best kind for your particular materials.