Football field maintenance
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Football field maintenance

When I tell people that I'm the landscaper who looks after our team's football field they are really impressed, and a little jealous. I don't think they know how much work it is though - it's definitely trickier than keeping your backyard looking green. Not only does my football field need to look lush, it also needs to be perfectly even so that the ball doesn't bounce at crazy angles, and not so soft that the players boots sink in. I need to keep up with all of the latest tricks that landscapers have, and I write these up here so that everyone can give them a try on their own fields.

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Football field maintenance

3 Super Easy Ways To Spruce Up Your Lawn In Time For a Garden Party

Brad Craig

Preparing a lawn a get-together requires a lot more than planning the food and drinks areas, especially if your lawn has weathered the harsh batter of winter. But it's really easy to reinvent your lawn when you know what to do and you're equipped with the right lawn supplies. To grow a luscious grass carpet that refreshes the look of your lawn, you need to work from the soil up by following these simple lawn maintenance ideas.

Give Your Lawn a New Breath of Life with Aeration

Heavy rains, weighty lawn machinery and foot traffic will compact lawn soil over time. When the soil gets compacted so snugly, the soil microbes and grass roots are unable to breathe. This will kill the health of the grass in time and will result in discoloured dull grass.

To prevent this, you will need to create air passages in the soil for air, nutrients and water to seep through and reach the root zone. To loosen hard and compacted soil, you will need lawn supplies like a machine-powered aerator to detach tiny soil cores. You can even put on a pair of aerator shoes with piercing spikes at the bottom to create small passages for water and air.

Ideally, you should aerate the lawn at least a few weeks before your planned party to give you enough time for your grass to rejuvenate and look healthy for your party.

Get Rid of Thatch

If you've neglected your lawn for a period, chances are that it has formed a thatch layer, which is nothing but layers of dead grass and roots that have piled on the soil. A rising layer of thatch will prevent air, nutrients and water from flowing into the grass roots and cause a dull and discoloured grass appearance. Lawns with thick thatch become vulnerable to plant diseases and pests.

Thatch piles can be removed with lawn supplies like rakes and shovels. Thick thatch piles may require a mechanically powered detaching machine.  Once you have removed the thatch, you can apply some fertiliser to infuse some life into your grass. Be sure to do this a few weeks before your party to give your lawn time to revert to its healthy look.

Mowing Height Matters

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! While there's no one-size-fits-all rule because the mowing height depends on the variety of grass you grow, close mowing will reduce root growth and the amount of water absorbed into the turf. Roots that are easily exposed to the sun will need more water constantly and end up drying and browning faster.

Discuss your grass variety with local nursery or retail shop where you purchased the grass like Associated Turf Growers & Suppliers. They will give you a professional recommendation based on your specific local conditions—but don't get too close to the soil to retain a healthy green carpeted lawn look for your party.

Equip yourself with the right lawn supplies and transform your lawn into a beautifully spruced up space in time for your garden party.


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