Football Pitch FAQ 2. What should be the sequence of work we carry out for renovation works? 
This will depend on the current state of the pitch and available resources, but typically include a range of activities, including:
• Cut the grass short to provide a suitable clean base on which to work. This might be 18mm-25mm for many pitches, but for some pitches this might be lower, especially if the sward content is poor and total or significant replacement of sward content is being aimed for. Clearly, if there is a significant quantity of desirable grasses already present, then you will not want to build on what you have and not cut them down unnecessarily.
• Power scarify in several directions to remove thatch and surface organic material. Considerable waste material can be produced, so consider how this is to be disposed of.
• Tidy up the pitch after scarification as this will also help remove debris and provide a clean surface ready for the next task. Use a mower or sweeper with collector to clean up the surface at this stage.
• Apply top-dressing, usually a suitable sand or sandy soil, and work in to create an even surface. Additional working in will be carried out after decompaction work has been undertaken.
• Decompact using either a deep spiker or linear aerator. This can help punch or work top-dressing into the soil profile. Decompaction might have been carried out prior to the start of renovation work as the timing might depend on availability of the machinery, especially if work is being carried out by a contractor and you are having to schedule as best as you can.
• Work in the top-dressing. A lute is best as this will better ensure a more even coverage and more even surface. If a drag mat or drag brush is used, then whilst material will be worked into the sward and any holes produced from the decompaction work (especially if deep spiking or hollow-tining was carried out), these implements will follow the line of any minor undulations resulting in less of an even surface than with luting. However, if the surface is suitably even to begin with then this may not be a particular concern.
• Apply a suitable fertiliser. This might be a 12:6:6 at 35g/m², but a wide range of fertiliser analyses can be used, especially for soil-based football pitches. For specialised sand profile pitches then more specific ratios and analyses will most likely be needed. Apply at 50% rates in two directions, 90° to each other. When using a spinning disc distributor make sure that adequate overlap occurs when coming back on a line of application, otherwise a checkerboard patchwork appearance will result from applying in two 90° directions. Accurate calibration of the equipment is therefore essential.
• Apply a grass seed. Typically, this will be a 100% perennial ryegrass blend of several cultivars, although other species might be considered depending on requirements. The seed might be broadcast or drilled into the surface. If broadcast, then a very light metal tine raking and then light drag brushing to work the seed into the top 5mm, or so, or the applied top-dressing. Apply at 50% rates in two directions, 90° to each other. A combination of seed drilling and broadcasting may also be carried out.
• Irrigate thoroughly. When the seed has been applied this will be just enough to aid germination and then relatively small amounts but increasing and at greater intervals as root growth develops and expands downwards into the rootzone. Be careful not to overwater as this will encourage disease.
• Power scarify in several directions to remove thatch and surface organic material. Considerable waste material can be produced, so consider how this is to be disposed of.
• Tidy up the pitch after scarification as this will also help remove debris and provide a clean surface ready for the next task. Use a mower or sweeper with collector to clean up the surface at this stage.
• Apply top-dressing, usually a suitable sand or sandy soil, and work in to create an even surface. Additional working in will be carried out after decompaction work has been undertaken.
• Decompact using either a deep spiker or linear aerator. This can help punch or work top-dressing into the soil profile. Decompaction might have been carried out prior to the start of renovation work as the timing might depend on availability of the machinery, especially if work is being carried out by a contractor and you are having to schedule as best as you can.
• Work in the top-dressing. A lute is best as this will better ensure a more even coverage and more even surface. If a drag mat or drag brush is used, then whilst material will be worked into the sward and any holes produced from the decompaction work (especially if deep spiking or hollow-tining was carried out), these implements will follow the line of any minor undulations resulting in less of an even surface than with luting. However, if the surface is suitably even to begin with then this may not be a particular concern.
• Apply a suitable fertiliser. This might be a 12:6:6 at 35g/m², but a wide range of fertiliser analyses can be used, especially for soil-based football pitches. For specialised sand profile pitches then more specific ratios and analyses will most likely be needed. Apply at 50% rates in two directions, 90° to each other. When using a spinning disc distributor make sure that adequate overlap occurs when coming back on a line of application, otherwise a checkerboard patchwork appearance will result from applying in two 90° directions. Accurate calibration of the equipment is therefore essential.
• Apply a grass seed. Typically, this will be a 100% perennial ryegrass blend of several cultivars, although other species might be considered depending on requirements. The seed might be broadcast or drilled into the surface. If broadcast, then a very light metal tine raking and then light drag brushing to work the seed into the top 5mm, or so, or the applied top-dressing. Apply at 50% rates in two directions, 90° to each other. A combination of seed drilling and broadcasting may also be carried out.
• Irrigate thoroughly. When the seed has been applied this will be just enough to aid germination and then relatively small amounts but increasing and at greater intervals as root growth develops and expands downwards into the rootzone. Be careful not to overwater as this will encourage disease.