Here we have put together month by month tips on the maintenance of your football pitch.
January: January can be one of the wettest months of the year so if it is particularly waterlogged it is recommended to stay off the pitch. You could try to aerate the ground to help drain any excess water. Now would be a good time to check if your machinery needs servicing or maintenance too.
February: Wet and warmer weather this month can increase the risk of fungal diseases growing so this is worth keeping an eye on. The cut height for this time of year is recommended at 24-30mm.
March: March will see grass growth starting. Now is a good time to keep checking your grass height, reseed any areas and brush the lawn regularly. Continue spiking the grass to help with surface water drainage.
April: If April showers have been a problem this year you may have found playing has done some damage to your pitch. For the best quality grass in the summer, it is recommended to stop play for a bit to let the grass recover. April is a good time to take soil samples to check Ph levels.
May: Scarifying is needed this month to remove any dead, organic matter and clean out the grass surface. Before doing this, it is recommended to cut the grass short to help the regrowth. It is also worth keeping an eye on high traffic areas such as goals because of the volume of play that will be happening this time of year.
June: Keep cutting your grass this month to maintain good sword density. If your turf is fairly new it is recommended that you lightly roll it then cut to save any damage to the grass. Spiking is also recommended to aid drainage of any rain you may get.
July: The warm weather of July can make it a hot spot for weeds and fungus. Apply a recommended weed killer to help keep these at bay before they take control. You may find if this month is particularly hot the grass isn’t growing as quickly but still keep an eye on the height.
August: Keep brushing this month as this will remove any morning dew and help circulation around the base of the turf. August is a great time to apply fertiliser. If you have a two-month longevity fertiliser this would keep you going until October.
September: September is the best time of year for over seeding. Naturally, the grass plant starts dropping its seed now so with the right conditions this will help the grass thrive for next year.
October: With night-time temperatures falling this time of year this will help slow the growth of grass and fungus. Regular spiking will also help reduce any surface water ready for winter.
November: All the time the grass temperature stays above 6c grass will continue to grow so keep an eye on the height. Some areas may also require some top dressing to repair any damaged ground such as goal mouths.
December: December is the darkest month of the year and particularly shadowy pitches can suffer with the lack of sunlight. Sand applications can be beneficial to pitches still being used at this time of year. Now is also a good time to have a look through your machines to see if any repairs need completing.
The machines recommended most for football pitches are the aerators and finishing mowers. You can find both on our website.