Your organization has invested in a turf field and now it’s time to put into action a plan for how you will care for it. The standard synthetic turf field warranty is eight years but every field ages differently and turf wear is often determined by the product, type and frequency of use, infill mix, and other unique factors including routine maintenance practices. Routine care will help maximize the life of your new field and keep it looking and playing its best for years to come. Here are five key items to include in your turf maintenance plan to help maximize the use of your field.
1. routine grooming
Routine grooming and sweeping helps with daily upkeep of your field. The goal of routine grooming is to remove organic debris and trash from the surface while also brushing the infill to consistent levels across the playing surface. The recommended frequency of grooming differs across turf manufacturers; we typically recommend grooming about every 80 hours of use or as needed when debris is noticeable on the surface. Routine maintenance may be followed up with periodic maintenance by trained professionals who can handle decompaction, repairs, and testing of the field. Learn more about routine & periodic maintenance here.
2. spot dress high wear areas
Baseball and softball fields experience concentrated wear in the pitchers throwing sector of the mound, batters’ and catchers’ boxes at home plate, bullpens, and in the areas around each base. As athletes compete, they often displace the infill in these areas at an accelerated rate, creating visible wear on the turf. These areas should be monitored frequently and spot dressed with additional infill material to reduce friction on the turf backing. Learn more about baseball & softball high wear replacements here.
3. remove training & practice equipment when not in use
Cones, tackling dummies, soccer goals, ladders, push sleds, and other training equipment can harm your field if left for too long. Remove all training equipment after use to help maintain the field’s integrity and avoid wear in a single location if left for too long. Extreme care should be taken when moving equipment to ensure that the equipment does not snag the turf material and create wrinkles. Equipment should be checked for loose items such as screws, bolts or other metal debris that may come loose and become buried in the infill.
4. use protective mats
From every pitch to every at bat, whether at practice or during a game, the home plate box and pitcher’s mound are constantly being used on baseball and softball fields. Use protective mats over these high wear areas during practice to maximize their usability before replacement is needed. Learn more about baseball & softball high wear areas here.
5. avoid harmful items
Below are some of the common DON’TS for synthetic turf fields. Consult your manufacturer’s maintenance manual for specifics about your surface:
- Fireworks or other fire
- Metal spikes
- Vehicles with non-pneumatic tires or tires inflated above 35 psi
- Objects that puncture the surface
- Golfing
- Shot put, javelin, and discus throwing
- Use of wire brushes in any form
PUT OUR TEAM TO WORK FOR YOURS
While this covers some common best practices, each field has its own distinctions that determine how to best take care of it. Our turf maintenance team at PSC can help monitor the long-term health, safety, and performance of your investment. Learn more about our maintenance program and its services here.
About Paragon Sports Constructors
Paragon Sports Constructors is a turn-key contractor of natural and synthetic turf sports fields, running tracks and tennis courts based in Fort Worth, Texas. With over 40 years of sports construction experience they are one of the premier sports field and running track contractors in the South-Central United States. Paragon Sports Constructors is a member of the American Sports Builders Association who remains focused on quality construction practices, choosing to partner with top brand name manufacturers of synthetic turf and track surfacing to provide clients a consistently high-quality project from planning to first use. For more information on Paragon Sports Constructors please visit www.paragon-sports.com, or follow them on social media at LinkedIN, Instagram, X, and Facebook.
