Sports Ground Solutions

SPORTS PITCH SPECIALISTS

PITCHARE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
BILL OF QUANTIES FOR TENDERS TO CONTRACTORS
SOIL SAMPLES
PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE; FERTILISING, SANDING, AERATION, OVERSEEDING, WEED CONTROL
DRAINAGE PROGRAMS IF REQUIRED
ADVICE ON FUNDING

Agronomy

Regular maintenance is essential in ensuring turf quality - Programed approach over 1-5 years

Essential Growth Factors
Water, Oxygen, Carbon, Light, Nutrients

Soil Analysis Of Rootzone
This is a fertilising program to ensure the turfgrass performs when you want it too. There are many types of fertilisers available on the market today from; soluble, conventional, slow release, controlled release and organic based fertilisers. There is a wide range of nutrients available that all can be applied at different rates. The temperature can influence the fertiliser that you use from amonia to urea based fertiliser.

Selective Weed Control

A weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted, essentially a plant out of place. Best practice with the pcs guidlines will be used at all times.

Aeration
This is one of the most important maintenance operations that can be carried out on your sports turfgrass. The effects of compaction greatly reduce air space between the soil particles macro pores, minimizing anaerobic activity & maximising gas exchange which is critical for a healthy rootzone. Timing and ground conditions are critical to getting best results when you are aerating.

Sand Topdressing
Sanding programs can vary between sports grounds. It improves firmness, thatch dilution, drainage and overall plant health. Choosing the correct sand particles is essential !! you pay for what you get.

Overseeding
A quality grass sward is key to a good performing pitch once all other agronomic factors are favourable. I believe it is important to regenerate the grass sward every 3-5 years especially if your pitch is a rye grass dominant sward. If poa annua/meadow grass dominates the sward you might be best koro it off.

Drainage
In Ireland with our atantic weather patterns drainage is essential in ensuring turf quality. Drainage system can be designed and installed on your sports ground but the most important part of any drainage system is the aftercare or your turfgrass maintenanace program. The grass plant is a living organism and will produce thatch that can result in the drainage system clogging up

The drainage program can be made up of a variety of different methods:

1. Main Carrier Drainage : This is the most important phase to ensure levels are correct and water can flow easily to an outlet.

2. Lateral Carrier Drainage : These are carrier drains that surface water drainage will link into the main outlet drain.
 3. Sand Slits : These are surface drainage slits from 1.2m to 3m apart
4. Gravel Banding: This is a method used to freshen up a surface drainage system that may have  got covered over by thatch etc.
 5. Swales : These are constructed linear depressions to divert surface water flow. They are installed with suitable gradient and side slopes of around 1:8 - and with a depth of around 200mm are easily mowed. Preferably pipe  drainage installed in the invert of the swale.
 6. Main Catchment Drains : This will be the first line of defence to catch the heavy rainfall.
 7. Sand Topdressing Programs : It is recommended that once you put in a surfaces drainage system you will apply a sand topdressing program.