Rolling

The use of a roller to consolidate a turf surface. Before using a roller it is essential that the ground is checked to ensure no hard debris is present otherwise this will just be squashed into the playing surface, presenting a hidden hazard later on when play takes place.

A light rolling of a newly germinated seed bed may also be considered to aid initial seed bed firming or where initial seed germination and establishment requires a light firming to ensure adequate root anchorage is maintained with the soil.

Surface disturbance from a severe frost or disruption from mechanical work might also benefit from a light firming and resettling of the sward.

Only two main sports, cricket and tennis, require the regular use of a roller, which is needed to consolidate the clay loam soil into a hard profile to produce desired pace and bounce for the games.

Some light rolling might be carried out on other sports surfaces, especially golf and bowls, to improve green speed. In essence a light rolling can be thought of as ‘polishing' a surface, which might be especially useful for pre-tournament and competition use.

Conditions for rolling
Care needs to be taken when rolling; ensure ground conditions are suitable and that a positive outcome is achieved. If in doubt, do not roll as it invariably causes more harm than good.

For cricket and tennis, the ground will need to be slightly moist to enable the soil particles to be squeezed together, which won't happen if it is too wet or too dry.

Rolling, even lightly, a football or rugby pitch, which are often on natural, heavier soils, during the autumn to early spring period (which is the majority of the playing season) will typically cause surface smearing and sealing of the surface, which will severely reduce any drainage potential that might exist. Another negative effect of rolling in wet conditions is that of compacting the underlying soil, destroying drainage capacity and also reducing rooting ability and increasing the likelihood of divots from play.

If the surface is wet then the amount of traction obtained by a roller can be significantly reduced causing slippage of the roller, contributing to surface smearing and bruising of the grass plant.

When a frost is present, especially if the surface shallow layer has thawed yet the lower is still frozen, the action of rolling in this condition will often result in roots being sheared or torn from where the layers join. This is obviously an undesirable outcome.

Trying to roll a surface and profile which is dry will have no effect, and if the surface grass coverage is poor and with a heavy rolling, this can start to crumble the surface causing some of it to disintegrate.