"It's that time of the year again when the fields get back to 100% density, and we start planning to rip them all up and start over for the next season"
A question that is always asked by the peers at the club is, why do you rip the field up when it is looking so good?
It has a simple reply, a renovation is needed to have the field look and perform to the best of its ability for next season. The process removes all vegetation and more importantly, the organic layer (black slimy layer on the soil) accumulated over the past 10 months. If this layer isn't removed, the surface will become more slippery and hold onto higher moisture levels, leading to a whole range of further issues.
Renovations are particularly key for hybrid/sand-based fields, as these fields lack the microbes to break down the organic layering. I've seen plenty of clubs attempt to save money by opting for subpar renovations, only to face significantly higher costs the following season when they need to urgently replace the failed surface.
What constitutes a successful renovation?
A good renovation consists of removing the vegetation with specialist machinery, topdressing fresh sand and working into the ’root zone profile, the seeding in ideally 5 directions with your chosen grass variety.
This is also a great time to solve any issues you have noticed over the past season. Maybe certain areas are holding onto more moisture, or the pH has dropped, or there are certain nutrient deficiencies. The renovation week is the chance to be aggressive with the field and find solutions to improve the surface for next season.
Leveraging data for renovation success
A good way to use data for the renovation process is to monitor infiltration rates, before and after the works. A fundamental reason is to improve drainage.
Raw Stud Depth measurement will also show how the studs/cleats are penetrating the soil, and you should see that there is less resistance on a newly renovated field, which leads to a lower slip risk for the player.
Monitoring pH and the nutrient analysis on the Raw Stadia Platform can also help you determine if the field requires any further additives/amendments to be added to the soil. This will be the easiest time to do this because there is no grass plant present.
How can Raw Stadia help me with this?
At Raw Stadia we can help you by showing the need for budgeting a good renovation process, and our consultancy team can help you monitor and perform the optimal renovation for your surfaces, to ensure optimum performance for next season.
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