Football Pitch Raking and Scarification

Raking or scarification of the pitch surface will be carried out to varying degrees of severity.

This can range from a light grooming with a metal tined rake, which might be part of an attachment on a grooming frame such as the SISIS Quadraplay, to more specialised mechanical scarification which can be set to light to a deep setting depending upon the time of year. The use of a chain harrow, especially where equipment is limited, with tines pointing downwards into the sward, will act as a coarse version of scarification as it will tear out loose grass.

These activities will mainly be carried out whilst the grass plant is actively growing, cutting into any thatch or into the soil profile to an often-shallow depth.

Raking or scarifying outside of the growing season can leave scars and score marks on the surface that last for a long period of time over the winter months and can look very unsightly if carried out towards the end of the growing season and where it was undertaken as a heavy raking or scarification that initially marks the surafce.

In general, raking in its various forms might take place from weekly to monthly depending on resources and requirements, as well as the grass species present. A light mechanical scarification will also, typically, be carried out on higher quality pitches as a similar frequency.

Where a football pitch also doubles up as a cricket outfield then mechanical scarification would typically be carried out as part of routine maintenance.

Caution does need to be taken, even during the stronger parts of the growing season, when carrying out mechanical scarification because the physical impact of metal tines rotating at high speed will create exposed leaf areas which can be susceptible to disease attack, as well as leaf die back due to exposure to winds or heat.