Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/96024
TL1301-proof 11/22/12 10:06 AM Page 1 SYNTHETIC TURF ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NICK HARRIS, TECHNICAL SURFACES AND REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF PITCHCARE. WHEN'S RIGHT FOR ARTIFICIAL PITCH MAINTENANCE? Artificial pitch maintenance – When should it be undertaken? Winter, spring, summer or fall? The warm, dry weather conditions of summer make this an ideal time of year to perform certain maintenance tasks on artificial sports pitches. As the seasons seem to shift year to year, this window of opportunity becomes smaller and smaller, and unfortunately the appeal of round-the-clock usage that comes with an artificial pitch often restricts the time that is dedicated to such works, with potential consequences for a pitch's playing quality during the later autumn and winter months. Here, Nick Harris of Technical Surfaces Ltd outlines some of the works that can - and should - be completed during warm, dry weather, and why the temptation to sacrifice maintenance time for bookings during the busy summer months could impact on your artificial pitch's performance characteristics when the winter weather sets in. 54 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION First of all, it is important to stress that the vast majority of artificial pitch maintenance work can be completed throughout the year. Regular sweeping, for example, is a year-round requirement and should be carried out at regular, repeated intervals to ensure consistency in a pitch's safety and performance levels. There are, however, certain procedures which require dry Continued On Page 44 NICK HARRIS