Any natural turf surface will have a limit in wet winter weather conditions as to the amount of wear it is able to tolerate
In many cases, the drain lines are difficult to grass over due to their very sandy nature. The topping up of a drain line with a more soil-rich medium may help, as would including Cation Exchange Capicity amending products. This could well have the slight effect of reducing the surface percolation rate and, therefore, appropriate soil assessment is essential. Eventually, the action of worms often mixes the soil and allows a sward to establish.
Poor drainage
Sometimes, following drainage installation, the pitch remains wet and poorly draining. This may be due to the use of poor materials or the specification being inadequate. However, there can be other causes, typically excessive compaction, over-use and expecting the pitch to work above its drainage design rate.
Compaction is very common on new sites and, in heavier soils, will prevent water from entering the topsoil or reaching the drain. Drains work by removing water from the surface, but also from the soil volume. If there is compaction then these routes are blocked and drainage can fail. Therefore, regular
decompaction operations, up to four times per annum, and monthly solid tining will greatly assist in water penetration.
Any natural turf surface will have a limit in wet winter weather conditions as to the amount of wear it is able to tolerate. This will often be quite low and even the best specification is sometimes unable to cope with over eight hours use per week. Over-playing of heavier soils, particularly when moist, will de-structure the top level of the soil profile and limit water percolation. To reduce this, care needs to be taken and play reduced should liquefaction occur. It is also possible to apply a very light dressing of medium-fine sand onto any areas showing any wetness as this will, over time, improve the surface soil texture (see image 2).
It must be noted that all drainage systems will have a design capacity. Typically, a close centred system on a clay soil could be around 100mm per day. This may sound high but this relates to around 4mm per hour. Therefore, should a significant rainfall event occur immediately prior to a game, the pitch would not have had enough time to drain. This would lead to damage and
soil de-structuring.
One solution may be to move the pitches as soon as wear is noted. Normally, wear occurs through the centre line so, in some instances, the pitch could perhaps be moved one goal width to the left or right to reduce the wear line. Alternatively, a different pitch location could reduce playing the same area.
Conclusions
This article hopefully shows that many problems which occur following drainage and construction works are often caused by natural processes or lack of maintenance. In all cases the costs of the first five years of maintenance need to be budgeted for. This gives a true reflection of the actual cost of the project. It is sometimes essential to use an agronomist to give precise recommendations during that time.
AGRIPOWER
TOP DRESSING OVER SEEDING DE-COMPACTION VERTIDRAINING GROUND BREAKING LANDSCAPING
SPECIALISTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPORTSTURF CONSTRUCTION NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC SURFACES
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A good grounding in sport 28
Phone: 01507 578288 Fax: 01507 578790
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