Maintenance Guide

Recommended mowing patterns

6 pairs of bays (goal to goal) & 9 pairs of bays (touchline to touchline)

Using this configuration will minimize the turning traffic on the headlands. This configuration also allows
for the moving of vehicular machinery such as the lighting system, sprayer and tractors to be performed
in the direction of the cutting thus reducing visible tyre marks.

Mowing
Dependent on grass growth, usage, weather conditions and other maintenance protocols, it is
recommended that the pitch be cut almost every day in the growing season. This will enable the plant
to tiller out and increase in density. This will also have the effect of encouraging a broader leaf thus
increasing grass tolerance of stress

During the winter months as the growth is reduced the frequency may be reduced. This must be
monitored on the ground, particularly with the use a Lighting system and Under-soil heating.
To maintain a high level presentation, it is recommended that string lines be used ensure the mowing
lines are straight and sharp in appearance.

Day to day cutting should be carried out predominantly with pedestrian rotary mowers with a rear roller
or a well maintained pedestrian cylinder mower. The lighter the mower the less compaction and surface
hardness will occur. All clippings must be removed
Rotary mowing is crucial post use. This will ensure the debris and organic matter are vacuumed up and
will promote good surface hygiene and help prevent algae buildup.

Supplementary lighting
With a 9 light rig configuration the pitch can be treated in two moves. Additional light should be used in
areas of high wear, the shadier part of the stadium and to recover areas from existing damage as
determined on the ground.
Seek manufacturer’s advice for more detailed information.

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

 Aeration
Pedestrian aeration should be carried out every three weeks with 8-15mm solid tines at approximately
30mm centers (GrassMaster) 8-10mm solid tines at approximately 30mm centers (PlayMaster)
obviously, weather conditions and fixture scheduling may affect this at times, so a flexible approach
needs to be used.

It is important to vary the depth of aeration at each operation. This prevents panning of the soil.
Pedestrian aerators will provide linear vertical de-compaction. This is useful to reduce surface hardness
and increase infiltration rates of water penetrating and discharging into the drainage system.

Surface hardness should remain within the recommended guidelines, these are between 65 and 85
gravities measured with a 2.5kg Clegg hammer. Pro-active aeration is triggered when surface hardness
approaches 85G.

Tractor mounted aerators such as verti drainers are able to apply a heave to the soil and lift it from
below. Deep aeration, or de-compaction should be carried out 4 times a year. This deep aeration
prevents any compaction of the deeper root-zone. It will also create the gaseous exchanges that needs
to take place to prevent anaerobic soil conditions.

It can be beneficial to time your aeration to coincide with granular fertiliser applications. The nutrients
will be more quickly absorbed and reduces volatility losses.

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

 Bio-stimulants
A bio-stimulants program is essential in any sand based construction and has various positive effects.

 Phosphites increase the plants resistance to stress, reduces incidence of fungal disease and
improves visual quality.
 Chitosan can help improve the plants ability to tolerate and recover from stress, caused by both
hot and cold temperatures.
 Amino acids increases the efficiency of uptake of nutrients, increases the stress tolerance,
increases soil biomass and promotes root growth.
 Silicates increase the strength of plant cell walls promoting an upright and turgid leaf therefore
increasing resistance to disease
 Mycorrhizal fungi can improve the plants access to and ability to uptake nutrients
 Sugars and carbohydrates increase the turgidity of the leaf, increase microbial activity in the soil
and acts as a chelating agent making locked up nutrients available to the plant.
 Humic & fulvic acids have been shown to increase caution exchange capacity, improve
germination rate, improve seedling vigor, retain and enhance nutrient uptake, increase
microbial activity and improve root mass
 Seaweed acts on plants though the plant hormones they contain and can help the plants ability
to transport nutrients, regulate cell division and inhibit aging of plant tissues.

A good bio-stimulant package can complement the existing fertiliser program and in some cases reduce
the required output.

Plant growth regulators

A plant growth regulators such as trinexapac-ethyl has numerous beneficial properties.

 Reduces leafy top growth

 Increases leaf hardness and improves resistance to stress
 Slows overall growth
 Increases grass sward density

Before applying a plant growth regulator it is important that the pitch is healthy, actively growing and
free of disease or stress. During the growing season an application of PGRs at a rate of 1.2 L/H will
usually last 21 days.

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

 It is important not to allow the grass to come out of “PGR mode” before the next application. The grass
rebound that occurs otherwise can be detrimental to pitch quality.

Disease management
Good disease management is predominantly about good cultural practices. Good cultural practice
reduces the likelihood and severity of disease outbreaks. The use of chemicals should always be as a last
resort or at times of high risk to the quality of the pitch. This could mean during times of high disease
pressure or when the pitch is used for non-sport events where it is covered.

Cultural control

 Correct cutting height (too short can cause stress, too long can promote humidity in proximity
to the leaf)
 Good surface hygiene (Rotary mowers and collecting grass clippings)
 Maintain correct sward density (remove excess lateral growth and old leaf matter)
 Keeping the crown of the plant and the soil surface as clean as possible (lightly raking and
aerating)
 Leaf dryness (infrequent watering, dew brushing & fans for air circulation)
 Maintain aerobic soil conditions (through aeration)
 Promote hard growth (Bio-stimulants, growth regulators & correct nutrient inputs)
 Promote healthy soil biology (Mycorrhizal fungi & carbohydrate bio-stimulants)

Chemical Control

 Preventative fungicide treatments at times of high disease pressure (Humid & warm weather)
 Always spray at the earliest signs of the outbreak and ensure that the disease is correctly
identified. Repeat applications should be from a different family of chemicals that act upon
different biochemical processes to prevent resistance.

Divoting/post-match repairs
It is crucial that divoting is carried out after every pitch usage. It is one of the most overlooked jobs that
a Groundsman must carry out and is definitely one of the most important. When divoting a hybrid turf
system there are some key techniques and practices to ensure the best possible results.

 Use of a divoting fork (see Groundsman’s divot fork via google)

 Never replace divots
 Closing of scar type divots

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

  Removal of dead grass from within divots
 Hand seeding larger divots/high wear areas at the earliest opportunity with pre-germinated
seed (this maintains grass density throughout the season and is crucial)
 Every m2 of the pitch must be systematically checked (walk in a group of 3-4 people up and
down the pitch mowing pattern)

Scarifying, raking and thatch management

Scarifying, raking or thinning out of a dense sward through mechanical means is good practice, when
the pitch conditions are suitable. (Should only be undertaken times of active grass growth)
This process allows for the generation of new growth, aiding plant health, and promoting surface
hygiene by removing dead or decaying matter from the grass canopy. Any shedding yellow leaves will be
detached and flicked onto the surface of the grass to be removed with rotary mowing.
The use of a spring tine rake to de-thatch the sward is beneficial and will agitate the film of algae and
decaying organic matter, mechanically removing it from the surface of the soil.

Too much grass density can sometimes become an issue and verti-cutting it will reduce the likelihood of
fungal disease outbreak by allowing some air to move around the base of the grass plant.

Irrigation
It is important to take a pro-active approach to irrigation and its management. The use of a soil
moisture probe is strongly recommended. When applying irrigation it is good practice to at least soak
the whole of the top 100mm of the soil consistently. This requires a longer application of water.
(+20mm of irrigation)

Deeper irrigation applications allow for a longer inter-irrigation period. Normally 20mm will be enough
to maintain adequate soil moisture for 2-3 days. It obviously will depend on weather conditions and
specific circumstances but this is a good guide.

Once soil moisture reaches 12% then the plant will be at wilting point, that’s why it is essential to apply
irrigation when soil moisture is measured at 13%.

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

 Nutrition
Soil testing is fundamental to plant nutrition. It is impossible to accurately predict the quantity and
ratios of nutrients the plant needs without knowing what the fertility of the root-zone is.

4-weekly soil samples should be taken and sent away for laboratory testing. The results of the tests can
then be analysed and recommendations made as to nutrient input requirements.

Fertilisers are either applied as:

 Granules. spread evenly over the pitch surface

 Liquid, sprayed directly onto the grass leaf and soil

Owing to the very sandy nature of USGA spec infill that is required for the PlayMaster, nutrients are
easily leeched away. This therefore requires consistent nutrition as most fertilisers do not remain in the
root-zone for longer than 14 days.

Soil Amendments
Due to the very sandy nature of the root-zone it has very good drainage characteristics however as a
consequence its ability to retain water and nutrients is poor. By using soil amendments the nutrient
holding ability (cation exchange capacity) and moisture retention can be improved.

Clinoptilolite (common form of zeolite) will provide a source of slowly released potassium. It also has an
affinity to ammonium and will help to retain applied nitrogen, to be more slowly released. Zeolites will
also absorb up to 55% of their weight in water and slowly release it when required by the plant.

The best use of Zeolites are upon construction where they can be evenly mixed throughout the root-
zone. They can also be incorporated during the renovation where it must be worked into holes created
through aeration. It is most useful when in contact with the plants root system therefore surface
applications have less impact.

Organic matter at approximately 3% is also recommended in the upper 100mm of rootzone.

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

 End of season renovation
End of season renovations are essential to the future performance of the PlayMaster surface. The
primary reason is to ensure that the plastic fibres remain consistently exposed at the surface and are
not engulfed by organic matter and thatch.

A correct renovation should consist of two parts:

1 Removal of organic material and revelation of GrassMaster / PlayMaster fibres

 Remove all vegetation

 Remove all of the decaying organic matter and thatch
 Remove all of the weed species
 De-compact the root-zone
 Perfect the surface levels
 Restore uprightness of GrassMaster/ PlayMaster fibres
 Dispose of the resulting spoil

2 Re-establish a new sward of grass

 Application of fertilisers and soil amendments

 Application of grass seed or grass sprigs
 Cover with germination sheets if required
 Irrigate to maintain soil moisture

Method:

 Removal of vegetation using specialised equipment such as a Koro field top maker with the
universal rotor or Blec spiral rake
 Collect the resulting spoil into trailers, to be loaded onto lorries for removal
 GrassMaster / PlayMaster fibres are exposed to approximately 25mm
 Re-fill the pitch with the same root-zone material used for its construction (80-120T per
Hectare)
 Solid Tine aeration with 18-24mm tines to a depth of 150-250mm accounting for any sub
surface infrastructure like pipework
 The applied root-zone should be brushed into the resulting holes incorporating it into the
existing root-zone and preventing layering
 Further pedestrian aeration of the top 100mm
 The applied root-zone should be brushed into the resulting holes again
 The GrassMaster / PlayMaster fibres must be raked/brushed until they are vertical and should
protrude from the surface by 20mm

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com

  Application of fertilisers and soil amendments
 Re-seed at a rate of between 35 and 40g/m2 or re-sprig
 Cover with germination sheets to maintain adequate soil moisture

Irrigate thoroughly until germination takes place

TARKETT SPORTS BV | Galliërsweg 35 A, 5349 AT Oss, the Netherlands | info@grassmastersolutions.com | www.grassmastersolutions.com