Maintenance As the inventor of the infill system of synthetic turf, and with the benefit of over 11 years use of its fields (refer DURABILITY page), FieldTurf has perfected the proven methods of keeping your field well maintained. The costs of maintaining your 3rd Generation FieldTurf field are significantly lower than natural turf, but like any valuable asset it requires regular maintenance. FieldTurf Australia will provide Maintenance Guideline information, can offer training regarding maintenance techniques and will work with you to structure a maintenance program to cater for your needs. This could entail FieldTurf Australia entering into an ongoing maintenance contract for all or part of your requirements. Prohibitions Your FieldTurf pitch should be kept free from glass, cigarettes, fireworks and any sharp objects which may risk injury to the pitch or the players. The pitch should also be kept free of windblown debris. “Settling In” of the Pitch Full penetration of the infill between the grass fibres and its subsequent settling into a uniform playing surface will occur naturally over time with rainfall and initial use of the pitch, usually taking 2 to 3 months. Debris Removal   Windblown debris (leaves, mulch, paper, plastic, etc) should be kept off the pitch wherever possible, and removed as quickly as possible, and on a weekly basis.   A lawn sweeper can be used to remove loose surface debris, pulled by a conventional lawn tractor equipped with pneumatic “turf” tyres. A larger, hydraulic heavy duty sweeper will remove excessive debris quickly and efficiently. Such a unit equipped with a hopper and screen will capture debris and allow any infill material which has also been removed, to filter back through a screen and return to the pitch surface.   Brushing and Grooming Depending on usage of your pitch, it should be brushed and groomed every 4 – 6 weeks. The unit used comprises a reel equipped with spiked wheels designed to penetrate the infill and loosen it without damaging the fibres. The spiked wheels can be raised or lowered, depending on the function required at the time. Another section, at the rear of the unit has light raking tines which are designed to groom the exposed grass fibres to keep them from matting down.     The spiked wheel portion of the equipment should be dragged over the surface 3 -4 times per year.       A wide drag brush or groomer with can be used to straighten the flattened fibres and loosen the top section of the infill. Removal of Weeds and Moss It is important to prevent weeds and moss from growing on FieldTurf as it can affect the playability of the surface. Should this occur, weeds and moss should be treated with an environmentally friendly, biodegradable weed killer. Moss can occur if the surface has not been maintained regularly, if there is excessive shade on the pitch, if drainage is poor and pitch remains moist for a period of time. The presence of moss and weeds can only occur if the pitch has been neglected and not maintained as per the maintenance guidelines. Keeping the Infill at a Uniform Level Routine grooming of the pitch will ensure that the infill is uniformly distributed at all times over the entire surface. Intensive and repetitive use of certain areas of the pitch may cause the infill material to be displaced. Uniformity of the infill can be easily maintained by replacing the displaced infill manually. These areas may include Corner Kick Areas, Centre Spot and Penalty Shot Spot.