ARTIFICIAL SURFACES


compact the infill and flatten the fibres; the infill is imperative in supporting the fibres. The fibres stand vertically to ensure the correct playing characteristics are met and the resultant surface gives all the important traction and ball bounce the player demands. It is necessary to move the infill around the surface to prevent it from compacting and locking. Should the infill compact, the surface will become hard under foot; drainage ability will be reduced and, inevitably, the fibres will no longer be supported and cause them to lie horizontally.


This is when we see surfaces which may look aesthetically good, but truly are not. The ‘tell-tale’ green haze of a 3G pitch tells the trained eye that the surface may not be receiving the maintenance it requires. It should have a slightly black ‘tinge’ to


indicate the rubber infill is near the top of the fibres and is in situ to do its job. Should the fibres be left in the horizontal position, and play continues, then the most vulnerable part of the fibre is exposed to loading and UV. This will undoubtedly cause premature wear and breakage of the fibre, dramatically reducing the expected life of the carpet.


This is where the simplest and most effective tool any groundsman will own should be utilised - the brush. Whilst not the most engaging of implements, this tool will do far more than any other when used correctly and at the right intervals. The brush should move infill around the surface, help alleviate compaction and stand fibres up, which should take no more than forty-five minutes to cover a full size surface. It is commonplace to see an operator


taking some two hours doing maintenance on the surface, only to see very little reward for the effort. Whilst it is good to see some activity, if it’s the wrong type of brush or method then the result can be very frustrating for all involved.


A brush can be towed by a small tractor, ride-on buggy or ATV. It will preen the surface, redistribute the infill and stand the fibre up. Taking pride in our work is human nature; we will get more satisfaction from it if it looks different after we have completed the task. It’s always good to work with your contractor and, typically, they should be employed between two and six times a year just to get into your surface and cleaning all the organic matter out. Hair, leaves, skin can cause blockages in drainage. There are a number of synthetic surface contractors out


PC June/July 2020 103


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