George has more than two decades of experience in the turf industry, spending the last 15 years helping facilities with their athletic field maintenance needs. Five years ago, he began focusing his efforts on synthetic turf operations, and today he specializes in the refurbishment and care of such systems. Below, George discusses how proper synthetic turf maintenance habits can add up to fours years to the life of a synthetic turf field and save schools thousands of dollars.

Why is regular maintenance important for synthetic turf systems?
If someone isn't diligent about taking care of a natural grass field, people will star t to notice problems with the surface fairly quickly. For synthetic tur f systems, if the owner doesn't broom regularly or sweep the field of trash, problems are not quite as noticeable. Over time, though, you see premature fiber wear, and the infill becomes uneven or hardens. Dirt and debris will work their way into the fibers and infill, and the system becomes compromised.

What effect does this have on studentathlete health and performance?
I have seen poorly maintained turf where the infill has become so compacted and the fibers so matted that the surface has become slippery. If your turf gets to that point, you should be concerned about injuries. I have been on fields with so much dirt in the infill that you had to wonder about the turf's profile. For example, many fields accumulate runoff from adjoining grass or gravel areas after heavy rainfalls that move layers of silt into the turf. If not properly taken care of, those areas will become very hard and can cause injuries. On baseball fields, the turf along skinned areas is a particularly bad spot. The clay mix gets into the turf and hardens—and this is not a safe situation for fielding ball hops or sliding.

How does synthetic turf maintenance compare to natural grass field maintenance?
If the owner is doing weekly inspections, pulling the broom across the field, and using the sweeper on a regular basis, then the costs are essentially just a few hours a week of labor and a towing vehicle. Additional costs will come into play when the owner invests in deep cleaning, decompaction, and applying detergents, disinfectants, or other surface treatments. Deep cleaning and decompaction services are needed at least twice a year in colder climates and more often in warmer climates, where surfaces tend to get more use. This may add an additional $5,000 to $6,000 or more in yearly costs.

When totaled, the annual maintenance cost for synthetic turf is substantially less than natural grass. The real value, though, is that when owners invest in managing the use of the field and taking care of the surface, they can get an extra two to four years of life out of the synthetic turf and can count on hosting many more events. The cost of maintenance per event then becomes very low. So, spending those extra few dollars for maintaining the turf is a sound investment.

What are some early signs of a synthetic turf in need of refurbishment?
If the fibers stay curled under and do not stand up very long, the field needs some refurbishment. Excessively worn yard lines and boundary lines indicate the need for additional work. Fields that are harder than they should be or drain poorly are in need of some refurbishment work as well. If a field is in need of refurbishment, the owner needs to get it completed as soon as possible. If that can't happen, they need to make sure maintenance crews do not pull spring tines through the surface or overbrush it. Make sure trash is removed more often and tr y to minimize field use. Also, make sure those who use the field for school-related activities move to different areas to reduce compaction.

What do you suggest schools do to prevent further damage to worn areas?
Excessive wear shows up much more slowly with synthetic turf than natural grass, so by the time you see the problem in synthetic turf, there's not much you can do. However, I believe that many of the same wear patterns and the basic rules of natural grass management also apply for synthetic turf.

Move any repetitive use around the surface from time to time. Pay special attention to goal mouths, between the hash marks, coaches' boxes, and the sideline areas. Don't allow field goal kickers or soccer players to practice in the same spot all the time.

Make sure the infill levels are maintained adequately in high-use areas. Try to keep turf fibers standing. Be sure that brooming and sweeping applications are based on the need in those areas especially. Don't be tempted to over-groom those areas. If there is limited time or resources, focus on keeping the fibers and infill at manufacturer recommendations in those areas.

How is "regular maintenance" defined for synthetic turf systems?
Regular maintenance should be based on the amount of use, the type of use, the area on which the field sits, and the time of year. For instance, if it is spring and the field gets little use other than gym class activities but is downwind from a forest with a lot of cottonwood or maple trees, it's going to need more sweeping than brooming, and more than just once-a-week sweeping. If it's late summer and there are a lot of games, scrimmages, and practices, then brooming is going to be needed more often. Also, the more people on the surface, the more debris accumulates on it, so more attention is needed for the surface.

For fields with irrigation systems, check the irrigation at least monthly, with the usual spring startup and fall winterization procedures. Drainage systems should be checked every month, if there are surface points to inspect. Look for accumulation of any materials in the inspection points or in catch basins or similar areas

Below are tips from athletic field maintenance specialist Milo George on how to maintain a synthetic turf field.

• Designate one person to be responsible for all turf maintenance.


• Schedule weekly walk-throughs to make sure there are no tears or seam failures and inspect logos, numbers, and other markings carefully.


• Remove leaves, loose paper, and other debris daily and check for spills or new stains.


• Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on safety and how to address stains and spills in order to keep the turf in good condition.


• Keep a log of all activities (maintenance and events) in case an issue involving a warranty arises or if a public vote is needed relating to the synthetic turf field.


• Post signs that gum, food, drinks, pets, and garbage are to remain off the surface.


• Have a mat or tarp in place for those walking from natural grass onto synthetic surfaces in order to keep shoes clean and dirt from piling up in the infill.


• Report problems to the manufacturer or the installer immediately, if the field is still under warranty.


• Broom the field weekly during times of heavy usage to keep the fibers standing up and to help keep the infill evenly distributed. Use units with brooms that are angled as well as straight across. Do not use angled brooms too often, as this procedure causes premature wear of the fibers.


• Check the perimeter edges of the turf to make sure no weeds or grasses are creeping onto the surface.


• Spot spray those areas with a glyphosate product promptly, before the weeds and grass get too long.


• At least once a year, have a professional inspect the turf for damage and wear and ask to have a G-Max test conducted to evaluate the turf's impact performance.