Playing fields bear the brunt of a lot of wear and tear, oftentimes it takes an experienced greenkeeper to get them back to their former glory. If you want to tackle a playing field that’s looking a bit worse for wear then these instructions are just what you need to get started.
Maintain the Grass
Grass can be kept longer during the active times of the year, but it should be trimmed down when the field is not in use. Overgrown grass can lead to the field becoming swampy and looking unkempt. Mow the field and keep it watered to ensure that the grass springs back to life during the next season.
Make sure you sow additional seeds where the grass has become bald or thin. These will most likely be areas where a lot of players congregate, such as towards the goals. If you don’t look after these areas it will be harder to encourage grass to grow during the next season.
Refresh the Lines
In order for your playing field to be up to code and useable, the lines need to be crisp and fresh. Failure to keep these updated will mean that it’s more difficult to play on, as you won’t be sure of where the markings begin and end.
Line marking machines, like the ones from Bowcom, make the process of refreshing these lines a lot easier. They create even, straight lines that are simple to paint down, saving you a lot of time!
Fertilise the Area
If your players are taking off the top layer of soil regularly, there won’t be as many nutrients in the remaining soil.
This means you have to fertilise regularly (some of the best fertilzers were reviewed on Lawn UK) to keep the grass growing in top condition. Ideally you want to create a fertilisation plan that means you’re able to address this when the field is not in use.
Spray or scattered fertilisers can be messy, so you don’t want these to come into contact with players. Pick days without any matches booked or clear the schedule to make sure the field can be adequately maintained without interruption.
Weed in the Summer
During the colder months, weeding isn’t quite as essential but as the warmer months come around, you’ll want to tackle these pests. Make sure you use both chemical and manual weeding to cover the worst offenders. If you allow them to thrive until the summer then they can take hold and be much more difficult to remove.
Weeding is a chore that can be difficult for greenkeepers, as there’s so much to do. Be vigilant and get rid of the first sign of these weeds before they have a chance to spread through the entire field. Particularly pervasive weeds won’t take long to establish themselves even over a wider area.
Maintaining a green for home or commercial use can be tricky, so make sure you take our advice. Keep your playing field in top condition if you want to be able to use it whenever you like.