Part 2 – Maintaining Your Sports Pitch in Autumn

Community sports pitches provide a place for everyone in your community to come together and to grow together. They have a power to shape communities in a way that nothing else can. If you’re responsible for a sports pitch, you should be proud of the work you do and will want your pitch looking at its best at all times. This is especially important in the autumn, as this is when the football and rugby seasons begin! Read on for a complete guide to caring for your sports pitch throughout autumn!

Caring for Turf in September

In September, the kids go back to school, but the football and rugby seasons will be in full swing. September is also the time when most grass starts to drop new seeds, meaning getting your pitch preparation right in September will start the season on the right foot and will massively help you out later in the year.

Step 1: Aerate, Spike, and Slit Regularly

Spiking and slitting your turf, especially around high-wear areas like the penalty spot, will stand you in good stead for the rest of the season. This is where your grass needs to be at its strongest, so you need to avoid the roots from becoming too compressed and make sure your turf gets plenty of air.

Step 2: Overseeding

As we mentioned, grass is naturally dropping seed in September, so it’s a great time to overseed and ensure you cover any bald patches if you haven’t already. Let the September rainfall wash the seed into the turf naturally if you can.

Step 3: Feed for Autumn

Give your turf a seasonal feed of autumn fertiliser and iron sulphate to make sure it has plenty of nutrients to tough out the start of the playing season.

Caring for Turf in October

October is when autumn begins in earnest, and the wetter weather will take some of the pressure off your watering schedule. However, autumn brings with a whole host of new problems that you’ll need to look out for.

Step 1: Watch for Disease

Keep your eyes out for diseases that could be affecting your turf. The iron sulphate you’ve put on will help your turf resist disease, but it’s best to have some fungicide ready just in case.

Step 2: Divoting

Divots will start to appear around this time! Stay on top of divots and try and repair them if possible by placing the displaced grass back into the divot. Keep mixing in seed with some topsoil and sowing it if you need to sow any new grass to fill in the divots. Divots will usually occur when the grass roots are too compacted, so keep aerating thoroughly with your fork throughout October.

Caring for Turf in November

November is when the weather really starts to turn. The wind will get a little stronger, the nights a little colder, and the turf will start to harden. This means you have some work to do in preparing your turf for winter to ensure it’s safe for players of all ages!

Step 1: Topdressing

Topdressing is mixing sand, organic material, and soil into your soil by spreading it on the surface of your grass. Do this in November to help reduce thatch buildup and to help keep the soil from getting too hard. Continue doing this alongside divoting to ensure you keep your playing surface as safe and smooth as possible.

Step 2: Cut Grass a Little Longer

Cut your grass a few mm higher than you have been, to about 37mm. This will help it tough out the cold winter to come.

Step 3: Feed for Winter

Keep your grass well fed with an autumn/winter feed mixture, as well as some more iron sulphate. This will help your turf fight off serious diseases and frost over the coming months. It’ll also make sure your grass is softer, faster, and easier to play on.

Step 4: Put Your Foot Down

Try and keep training sessions out of high-wear areas unless it’s completely necessary. You’ll have a hard enough time keeping penalty spots and try lines fit for competition without unnecessary drills taking place there!

Step 5: Keep it Clean and Clear

Along with all of the above, you should regularly rake thatch and fallen autumn leaves off your pitch. Allowing them to compost will encourage pests, weeds, and disease, so it’s important you keep on top of this before winter begins! Make sure you check back later in the year for our complete guide to caring for turf in winter! Part 1 - summer can be found here

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