The Latest Trends in Turf Maintenance

Turf management is now all about the perfect integration of science and professional maintenance techniques. Earlier, mowing the field was pretty much the only maintenance or care given to a field. However, in the last few years, professionals have embraced new practices like aerification practices, conducting a topdressing program, overseeding, etc. for their turf management.

Environment-Friendly Practices

Pest management has become more selective and targeted in recent years. The focus is now towards environmentally-friendly fields. Managers are opting for pesticides and herbicides or fungicides only when absolutely necessary and they are fighting pests with biological processes and horticultural practices.

Water is also being used sparingly on turfs and fields in order to contribute towards conserving water. The design of new sports facilities often involves using stormwater for irrigation. There are also great innovations in the industry like building a collection system in a synthetic field and then using that water for a natural grass field. Watering is now conducted more deeply and less frequently so that water goes down to the roots. Mowing processes are also done less often and managers tend to constantly look at the pH levels of the soil to understand the nutrient intakes of the plants. By understanding how much fertilizer is being used by the plant and how much is being leached off the site in irrigation or rains, a lot of improvement can occur on fields.

Tech-Savvy Turfs

Apart from the innovation and technology advancements in turf maintenance machinery, technology also allows remote monitoring and watering through smartphones. Though this technology is comparatively expensive at the moment, it will drastically transform the way managers control soil moisture and it will also greatly improve water management.

A number of mowing companies also employ GPS technologies in order to determine the hard spots on the field, evaluate the wetness, and also suggest fertilization plans for the field. Clegg hammers are often used to determine the level of hardness of the field, especially in the case of synthetic turfs. Rotary mowers are the new trends that enable managers to maintain natural grass at a high level and low cost.

Well-Planned is Half-Done

Rather than getting a turf manager at the last stage of a new installation, experts feel that it is better to involve them in the planning process itself. Their knowledge of soil science, a network of amenity suppliers and overall skills of turf management are highly beneficial during the entire installation process. Managers can also conduct a feasibility study for new plans or innovations on the field. This can save a lot of trouble and money in the long term. Many experts are also suggesting adding one synthetic turf along with renovating some natural turfs in areas like schools where 4-5 fields are present. This helps maintain the balance of play in the school, offers flexibility to players and makes the entire process cost-effective.

With the different changes in turf types, maintenance techniques and technologies, managers now have more tools to ensure safe and playable fields for the long run.

The author is a professional working as a turf management consultant since the last 10 years. He has worked with multiple different turfs across the UK.