Proper Maintenance of Artificial Turf on Sports Fields

A sports playing field must always be in top-notch condition.
The artificial turf on a field has a huge impact on the outcome of the game and the health and safety of the players. The turf’s condition will affect the players’ speed on the field as well as the aesthetics of the game.
For optimum performance, it’s important to regularly maintain the turf on the field. Quite often due to budget constraints, lack of knowledge, or poor time allocation, synthetic turf maintenance does not receive the attention it requires.
Experts suggest that maintenance of artificial turf be carried out after every 40 hours of use. This procedure entails:

Grooming of Turf

For proper functionality, the infill layer of your turf needs to be kept even. Regular combing ensures that it remains level and upright across the surface. If the fibers are upright, it will ensure proper footing and ball bounce and make your field look great for longer.
To groom synthetic turf properly, purchase a nylon or polypropylene bristle with a comb attachment and brush regularly. Groom on dry days and in different directions. Appoint a maintenance person to inspect the turf regularly and make sure it stays looking good.

Disinfecting the Turf

Due to the nature of sports, synthetic turfs can get pretty nasty very fast. Sweat, blood, spit, rain, mud and spilled drinks can all accumulate and contaminate the turf. Thus, it is important to regularly disinfect the surface.
In order to do this, purchase an industrial synthetic turf disinfectant (which is EPA approved) and follow the instructions on the product labeling. Remember to wear protective clothing, gloves and safety glasses as you go about disinfecting.

Keeping the Turf Clean

Do not allow waste to gather on the turf. Sweep away leaves, waste papers, wrappers, animal droppings, broken equipment and chewing gum as soon as possible after every game. Do not let debris or any petroleum based liquids to seep into the surface otherwise they will damage the infill.
In order to get rid of metal debris from the field, use cleaning equipment that comes with a magnet and gathers all ferrous metal objects as you clean. Spray the field with pesticides and herbicides as and when required. When the field is not in use, consider covering the turf with tarp to keep it clean.

Maintaining Turf Infill

​Infill levels need to be monitored and maintained to prolong the life of the artificial turf. High traffic areas such as goals, sidelines, centerfields, entries and exits may require regular infill top offs. Use an infill depth gauge to measure infill levels. Grooming brushes and rakes can be used to keep infill distributed evenly and maintain surface consistency.
 
Summary:
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Proper maintenance of artificial turf can really prolong the life and boost the appearance of a playing field. It also minimizes risks of injury to players and ensures smooth game play. Synthetic turfs needs to be cleaned and groomed daily, deep cleaned and disinfected occasionally and have their infill levels monitored. For more questions about artificial turf maintenance and installation, ask your local service providers.