Although every patch of turf is different, the maintenance basics are common to all. The table below shows a typical annual cycle of maintenance for a municipal football pitch with pronounced summer and winter seasonal variations. Use it to inspire your own maintenance regime.
Throughout the growing season
Mowing: 1 to 3 times a week during the active growing season
Solid tining: every three weeks from March until the first autumn frost
Our modern seed mixtures need mowing 30% less often than old mixtures –
and they've been tested for robot mowing.
March to April
Apply herbicide selectively
Verticut to extract moss and thatch accumulated during previous winter
Repair the goal mouth by sowing seed or laying fresh turf
Verticut and remove extracted thatch
Aerate with hollow tines without core removal
Apply NPK fertiliser – with increased K
Irrigate as needed
For a more hard-wearing goal mouth, choose mixtures with high-wear and shade-tolerance, as well as disease-resistance.
And drought-tolerant varieties will need less water.
June, July and August
Irrigate frequently
End of August to beginning of September
Verticut or drag the surface
Remove matter after a dry or a wet and humid summer