Sports pitch care

Pitches that stay fit for play, all season.

A pitch only stays in good condition with a proper maintenance programme behind it. We plan and carry out the full cycle, from post-match repairs to autumn renovation, with our own specialist machinery.

Sports pitch care

Football and rugby pitch maintenance

To keep sports pitches in good condition and fit for purpose, a pitch maintenance programme is vital. Post-match work such as replacing divots, levelling uneven ground and repairing areas of bare earth is an important part of it, and goalmouths and centre circles may need reseeding or more extensive turf replacement.

Drag matting, brushing and harrowing after matches restores the playing surface and stands the grass up. Keeping the turf supplied with nutrients and, when conditions allow, aerating the soil to help drainage, keeps the pitch up to the standard required.

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Fine turf after a double pass with a precision disc overseeder, showing even seed spacing

Einbock grass harrows and air seeder

With our 6 metre Einbock harrows and air seeder we complete over-seeding, scarifying and harrowing in one pass. Combined with the forward-mounted grading blades, it makes for a truly cost-effective renovation programme on sports and recreation fields.

The fully adjustable tines can aerate the soil, remove thatch, assist with weed control and level out undulations, while the flexible spring tines create ideal conditions for over-seeding with the mounted Pneumaticstar air seeder, for quick and efficient germination.

Vredo overseeder on a fine turf sports field

Overseeding sports fields

A Vredo overseeder applies a hard-wearing seed mix to fine turf, so high-wear areas are reseeded in time for the new season. Large areas are overseeded with our precision disc drill, placing seed at a constant depth for good germination.

A double pass, drilling in alternate directions, gives excellent results: even spacing, consistent high germination and seedlings that establish well.

Fine turf aeration slitter working on a recreation field

Aeration: slit tine, deep spike and deep slitting

Aeration improves drainage, reduces compaction and thatch build-up, and increases the health of fine turf sports fields.

Slit tine aeration: a purpose-built fine turf slitter that improves drainage and levels the surface on regularly used fields.
Deep spiking: solid tines penetrate and loosen the soil structure at the same time, de-compacting it for healthy roots and better drainage.
Deep slitting: tines reach a depth of 150 mm with minimal surface disturbance, and a rear pressure roller leaves the surface smooth and ready to use.

Top dressing

Applying the correct mix of sand, soil and other materials is an integral part of pitch renovation. Regular light applications, or an annual post-aeration application, create a level surface, improve drainage and drought resistance, help break down thatch and encourage a healthy, dense sward.

Sports sands and specialist loam mixes are supplied and spread in large quantities using low ground pressure machinery, to minimise compaction and disturbance to fine turf.

Flexi tine harrows behind a tractor on a pitch

Flexi tine harrowing

Tractor-mounted flexi tine harrows renovate fine turf after a fixture: levelling uneven ground and stud marks, removing dead thatch, lifting the turf and letting air reach the roots. A cost-effective task that can be done throughout the sporting seasons.

Tractor-trailed cylinder gang mowers on a sports field

Gang mowing and the Wessex Tri-Deck

Sports pitches and recreation fields stay in peak condition when cut with correctly set and operated cylinder gang mowers rather than rotary mowers. A cylinder mower leaves a fine, even cut, and we run multiple tractor-trailed gang mowers so a machine is ready when your site needs cutting, even in the heavy growing season.

Our 5.6 m Wessex Proline RMX Tri-Deck, a high-output roller finishing mower with independent float on all decks, mows any size of sports field quickly and evenly. Ask how a seasonal gang mowing contract could reduce your labour and machinery costs.

Flail mower collector on a recreation field

Sports fields cut and collection

A cut and collect service for larger areas with excess cuttings: ideal for sports fields, high-profile areas and recreation fields, where cuttings can leave pitches unplayable and look unsightly. Where taller, thicker grass is too much for your own machine, our flail mower collector leaves a clean finish ready for fine cylinder mowing for the rest of the season.

Pitch rolling

Rolling pitches helps maintain the playing area throughout the season.

Goal post socket installation on a college sports field

Goal posts and sockets

Goal post sockets and posts installed from new, or relocated to suit existing posts, so they are safe and fit for purpose. We have installed hinged goal post sockets at one of the Oxford University colleges to take their existing lightweight aluminium rugby posts, complete with extensions.

Seasonal pitch renovation

Autumn sports pitch renovation includes harrowing, fertiliser application, aeration and over-seeding. Seasonal renovation is essential to maintaining a quality playing surface throughout the year.

Sports amenity turf management

The complete turf management package: over-seeding whole pitches with our precision drills, re-seeding goalmouths and centre circles, deep spiking, harrowing, top dressing with the right loam for your soil type, and fertiliser application to maintain healthy growth and restore trace elements.