Artificial Surfaces
An artificial turf pitch (ATP) is a great addition to any sports facility and should be seen as an advantage as it will assist any adjoining natural turf pitches. However, it will not be maintenance free, weather proof and better than natural turf as they still can become flooded, subject to freezing conditions or get covered with fallen leaves - but this shouldn’t be seen as a burden. All of this can be taken care of if one plans the maintenance of an ATP over the coming autumn and winter months. Synthetic Specialist at Charterhouse Turf Machinery, Curtis Allen, takes up the subject
Remove fallen leaves on a daily basis - do not leave them to ‘disappear’
allows the over-stretched natural pitches in the autumn and winter months to have some much needed respite. Yet, it can be difficult to take pride in and ownership of an ATP.
A
The ‘tide marks in the morning’ phenomenon is often seen after rain at night, where the surface floods and the fines rise to the top of the carpet
Maintaining natural turf is all about
creating a surface which is ever more durable, aesthetically pleasing and stronger. What can be achieved with the different soils, seed and fertilisers available is almost limitless. The fact is an ATP is a carpet and always will be a carpet. It doesn’t help that, often, the ATP has been built without the groundsman being consulted and then being told to look after it - how, when and with what he will be forgiven for asking. When it is first laid on day one, it is as
good as it will ever be, but there are standards which need to be achieved and maintained. I often get asked “how long will my ATP last?” I’ve seen pitches being replaced after three years and some still going after twenty-seven years; it is all down to usage and maintenance. The footfall calculator (printed in Pitchcare April/May 2014) provides an invaluable guide
n ATP will help decrease the footfall on natural turf surface pitches by allowing training and non-competition matches to be carried out away from them. This
for calculating maintenance and lifespan of a carpet. At this time of year, it may be worth recalculating the maintenance requirements as the footfall increases, aided in part by most ATPs having floodlights that only increases the usage as they provide the only suitable surface for use after dark. Groundstaff must be extra vigilant towards
users’ footwear and ensure they are wearing the correct type - pictorial signs (over written) and signed user agreements will help. Trainers are acceptable, but the flat bottom will not help with compaction, whilst blades are a definite no. A rounded stud is preferable on 3G surfaces as it aids the decompaction and turning effect of the infill. Boot brushes and scrapers must be visible
and serviceable; the brush will need replacing every six to twelve months, so ensure you have a ready supply and someone responsible for changing them. If possible, paint them a vibrant colour and place them “in the way” to encourage their use; they can always be removed to allow vehicle access if required. Users will not always clean their boots after a Saturday match and assume the mud will fall off in the first ten minutes of training on the ATP; and they are right! With the worsening weather, the tell-tale signs of poor ATP drainage are flooding or
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