Football is a passionate sport: from the fans in the stands to the players on the pitch. If you’re involved in the upkeep of a football pitch, that same passion can show with the way the pitch itself is maintained. After all, a good pitch can make a big difference come kick-off time.

Here are our top five tips when it comes to football pitch maintenance.

Mow

According to several football pitch experts (including those associated with clubs in the Premier League), the grass on a football pitch should never be allowed to exceed 60mm in length. That means regular mowing and frequent TLC – even in the off-season.

During the playing season, the recommended grass length is between 25 and 30mm long. To achieve this, it’s recommended that your pitch has a minimum of 20 cuts per year, allowing for additional cuts to be made if the weather is good and promotes a faster rate of growth.

Fertilise

Fertilising your football pitch can be an effective way of ensuring it’s well maintained and continues to grow and recover healthily. An unfertilised pitch can lead to a weak pitch that recovers a slow rate – which is far from ideal during the height of the season.

However, like anything in life, too much of a good thing can quickly become bad news. Excessive use of fertiliser – particularly nitrogen – can lead to a number of problems and cause your turf to damage more easily.

Weed

As with any grassy terrain, football pitches can be susceptible to weed growth, which can be both an eye-sore for the fans and an annoyance for the players. This doesn’t just apply to the aesthetics either - a weed-free pitch also provides a better surface for the players to perform.

When it comes to weed prevention, herbicides can be a great way to ensure your pitch stays in peak condition. However, it’s worth noting that the application of agrochemicals can only be administered on your pitch by a licensed and fully-qualified professional.

Maintain and Repair

Staying on top of your pitch throughout the season can be the best way to ensure it stays in tip-top condition until the very last game. That means regular repair work and methodical care from week to week.

From applying top dressing and verti-draining to fixing divots and maintaining pitch markings, regularly tending to your ground’s needs can be the difference between a lush, green playing surface and a boggy pit of sludge.

Tough Decisions

While nobody wants to be the bad guy when it comes to sport, sometimes tough decisions need to be made for the greater good. For a groundskeeper, that can mean calling off a match if conditions aren’t ideal.

It won’t be a popular decision to make but a soaking pitch that’s been stampeded for 90 minutes by 22 players will leave behind a seriously tarnished battlefield and one that may not recover by the following week.

Another tough decision that may prove to be a good one is to outsource some of your maintenance needs. There’s no shame in knowing when you’re out of your depth and sometimes calling in an outsider to help lighten the load can be a wise call.

After all, a botched job can prove catastrophic for an impending fixture and getting it right the first time is vitally important. The football fans (and players) that attend may not be so forgiving if the pitch isn’t fit for purpose!

If you would like more info on football pitch maintenance or are looking to outsource any of your maintenance needs, drop us a line today! Call our grounds maintenance team now on 029 2039 7554 or drop us a message for a FREE quote.

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A mossy path can be problematic for a number of reasons. Not only is it unsightly, it may be dangerously slippery, and the moss can - in some cases - actually cause damage to the path by lifting stones or creating cracks as it grows.

For these and other reasons, it's a good idea to act quickly when you notice moss growing on your path or driveway. An Internet search for 'how to kill moss' will provide you with dozens of home remedies - most of them involving vinegar - but if you want results that last, the best course of action is usually to call in a moss control specialist who can treat the problem properly.

Why is moss growing on my path?

As the RHS website explains, moss - and similar growths like algae and lichens - are usually found in damp places where there's plenty of moisture. Your path may be more prone to moss growth if:

• The path is in a shady spot
• There are trees and/or other plants overhanging the path
• Water remains on the path for a long time after rain (poor drainage)

The RHS actually recommend allowing moss and lichens to flourish in areas they don't present a hazard (e.g. on stone sculptures), but we've already touched upon, a mossy path can present a serious slip hazard, especially in winter. So what can you do?

Get your mossy path under control!

Here at Total Weed Control, we offer a professional moss control service that's available in Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, and most other parts of South Wales and South West England.

Our seasoned moss control experts will use specialist treatments to control your moss and keep it under control for the long term. We've helped all kinds of clients to deal with their moss problems, including sports clubs and local authorities as well as private residents.

If you'd like to request a FREE moss control survey, please call Total Weed Control on 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk today.

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

In September 2018, the Independent reported that Japanese knotweed had knocked nearly £20 billion off the value of the UK property market, with an estimated 850,000-900,000 properties affected nationwide.

Why does this particular weed pose such a big problem? Well, Japanese knotweed is exceedingly difficult to get rid of. Not just because the plant's rhizome root system can sometimes burrow a full 2 metres down into the ground, but also because a tiny fragment of those roots can sprout into a whole new stem.

This allows Japanese knotweed (once beloved by UK gardeners for its resemblance to bamboo) to spread to new sites at a truly alarming rate - ironically, many attempts to destroy the weed only end up helping it to take root elsewhere!

So, if you're sat around wondering how to get rid of Japanese knotweed, the professionals here at Total Weed Control are here to help!

We don't recommend trying to remove Japanese knotweed yourself.

Japanese knotweed is recognised by British authorities as a highly invasive non-native plant, and there are certain laws in place to keep it from spreading. For example, Japanese knotweed is classed as 'controlled waste', meaning that it can only be disposed of at specially licensed landfill sites.

As mentioned above, attempting to eradicate Japanese knotweed by yourself can backfire and make the problem even worse, so it's generally wise to call in a Japanese knotweed removal specialist to assess the situation and determine the best course of action.

How to Get Rid of Japanese Knotweed Permanently

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to get rid of Japanese knotweed:

• Herbicide - Spraying the plant's leaves with herbicide is generally the most cost-effective solution. Herbicide application should take place over several years to ensure the best possible results.
  
  
• Excavation & Disposal - The other option is to use excavation machinery to dig up the affected site, after which the knotweed can be disposed of at one of the aforementioned licensed landfill sites. This is by some distance the more expensive and disruptive approach of the two, but it may be preferable if you're on a deadline.

So, when it comes to getting rid of a knotweed infestation on or near your property, you have the two above choices. Whicher you decide to use will ultimately depend on your preference in terms of time and disruption.

How we can help get rid of your Japanese knotweed infestation

Here at Total Weed Control, we provide specialist Japanese knotweed removal across South Wales and South West England that ensure any confirmed case of knotweed on or around your home is dealt with in a professional and effective manner.

So, what are you waiting for!? To get rid of your Japanese knotweed, get in touch with our expert team today before it's too late!

Request a FREE Knotweed Survey >

From calculators and karaoke to sushi and sumo wrestling, Japan has given many gifts to the outside world. Sadly, knotweed is not one of them…

Japanese knotweed grows thick and fast with roots strong enough to break through tarmac. If neglected, it can cause havoc beneath the surface of your property.

Worse still, typical home insurance policies won’t cover damage caused by Japanese knotweed. While this does mean your insurance premiums may be unaffected, it does mean you are left to foot the removal bill.

In this blog, we take a closer look at the pesky plant from the East and answer a common question among homeowners, "does Japanese knotweed affect insurance?"

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There’s a reason the words “Japanese knotweed” often strike fear into the hearts of homeowners and potential property buyers nationwide. Japanese knotweed can have a substantial impact on house value, leaving your finances in a bind of their own.

In extreme cases, an invasion of the Asian vegetation can slash a property’s price tag by as much as half, while a decrease in value by tens of thousands is far from unusual when it comes to Japanese knotweed house value.

Worse still, if you don’t have Japanese knotweed house insurance in place, a late discovery can add even further costs. Simply put, the negative role of Japanese knotweed in house value makes it a monumental pain in the grass, leaving both your home and your finances in a precarious position.

What does Japanese knotweed do to a house?

Okay, first things first, you’re probably wondering “What damage can Japanese knotweed do to my home? After all, it’s just a plant, right… RIGHT?!”

Wrong. In fact, this botanical beast from the east can rock your house to the core. The visible plant can grow over two metres in height, while its roots can grow as much as three metres deep and stretch out up to seven metres wide from the surface growth.

The roots themselves are bamboo-like and can spread thick and fast. If left untreated, they can quickly block drains, weaken walls and even damage the foundations of your property. As such, the affect of Japanese knotweed in house pricing can be devastating.

Japanese knotweed and mortgages

Due to the structural dangers associated with hellish herb, it can be difficult for would-be homeowners to find a mortgage for properties with Japanese knotweed. That being said, it isn’t impossible…

Most lenders will require a professional surveyor to assess the property, in order to assess the risk and/or damage. If the knotweed is causing severe problems or poses a substantial risk, it can have a direct effect on your mortgage application.

While all lenders will have their own individual checks and preferences, there are a few factors that typically come into play:

Japanese knotweed in house next door

If your neighbours have Japanese knotweed on their property, mortgage lenders will then need to determine if your home is at risk of it spreading.

If the knotweed is more than seven metres away from the property boundary, this is typically deemed low-risk; however, if the weed is discovered within seven metres of the property boundary, this can be viewed as a concern for some lenders.

Japanese knotweed on your property

Similarly, even if the knotweed is present on your own land, the distance of it from the habitable part of your property can also be a big factor.

For example, if Japanese knotweed is discovered in your garden but it’s more than seven metres away from your house, you may still be granted a mortgage (although a specialist survey will likely be required before approval).

If the knotweed is discovered within seven metres of the living space, it likely poses a substantial risk. In fact, Japanese knotweed house damage could well have already impacted your property, surrounding drains or its outbuildings. Repair work will likely be needed before approval.

If your property is at risk from Japanese knotweed, don’t let it tie your finances up in knots. Call Total Weed Control today for a Japanese knotweed house survey and nip it in the bud now – it could save you a bundle!

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Further information:

• Buying a house with Japanese knotweed
• Selling a house with Japanese knotweed