Snow and frost are natural occurrences that every grounds team face during the colder months. It’s important to understand the implications of snow and frost on grass along with the best practices for managing these winter challenges.
Key Considerations When Facing Snow and Frost
Before taking action to clear snow or address frost it’s crucial to assess a few factors:
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Frozen Ground: If the ground beneath the snow is frozen the snow acts as insulation slowing the thawing process. This can help reduce the risk of disease by preventing moisture accumulation on the surface but it may delay the ground’s recovery.
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Snow Mould Risk: If the ground was soft when the snow fell, higher soil temperatures can lead to snow mould growth. Prolonged snow coverage (several days or more) can encourage disease activity in areas where the turf is more vulnerable.
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Waterlogging Risk: Once the snow melts the ground underneath may still be saturated or waterlogged. Even though the snow has melted the pitch might not be playable if the ground remains too soft or saturated.
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Leaf Frosts: In areas with leaf frost the frost typically clears by mid-morning if the temperatures are mild. However, early kick-offs or evening games may present difficulties as turf damage and player safety may become concerns due to the frozen conditions.
Best Practices for Managing Frost
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Avoid Foot Traffic and Machinery: If there is a leaf frost refrain from walking on the turf or using machinery. Walking or driving on frosty turf can cause significant damage from blackened footprints to large bruised areas. The turf will not recover until growth resumes in the spring.
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Assess Ground Conditions: Even if the leaf frost has melted the ground frost may remain. In such cases, the surface could be too hard for play, or the upper layer may have softened just enough to safely accommodate studs. However, deeper layers could still be frozen which risks damaging the roots if the turf is disturbed.
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Monitor Vulnerable Areas: Check areas of high wear like goal mouths as these are particularly prone to freezing. Bare patches or spots with poor grass coverage will freeze quicker and require more attention.
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Avoid Aeration in Frost: Do not aerate or spike the turf if frost is forecasted or temperatures are low. Aeration can cause damage to frozen soil leaving the roots vulnerable to cold temperatures.
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Fertilisation Caution: Avoid applying any fertilisers—granular or liquid—during frost. Fertiliser can be ineffective and potentially harmful when applied to frozen ground.
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Stay Clear of Harsh Chemicals: Never apply salt, hot water or snow-melt products on the turf. These can burn and damage the grass. Salt-based products in particular are harmful to the turf and can also corrode metal equipment.
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Frost Protection Options: In professional settings using full pitch covers or even undersoil heating systems can be effective in preventing frost damage. For grassroots clubs frost covers for goal mouths are an easy and affordable solution to protect vulnerable areas but often the games are lost unless the club is fortunate enough to afford covers and have the volunteers to help clear a pitch.
Snow Clearance Methods
Snow clearance can be a labour-intensive task particularly for larger snowfalls but there are ways to manage this challenge effectively:
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Light Snow: For small snowfalls, manual methods like dragging heavy ropes or mats across the turf can help clear the snow. Additionally, snow shovels or drag brushes can be used. Handheld air blowers can also be effective for removing light snow without damaging the turf.
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Heavy Snowfall: When facing larger snowfalls, a significant workforce is often required to clear the snow. While it's tempting to remove all the snow, sometimes it's more viable to postpone the game if you are a grassroots club. If the snow is too thick, trying to remove it without the right equipment can cause damage to the pitch especially if the ground is thawed beneath. If you are a professional club you will be lucky enough to have underfloor heating which will help massively to avoid a frozen pitch- you will also be blessed with more hands!
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Pitch Marking: If snow is expected during a fixture, it’s a good idea to mark the pitch with a brighter colour (such as sky blue or red) to make it easier to spot the lines once the snow begins to fall.
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Artificial Surfaces: For those managing artificial turf it’s important to consult the manufacturer's guidelines on snow clearance. Snow removal on 3G pitches can displace infill which is costly to replace so be cautious when clearing the surface.
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Avoid Heavy Machinery: Larger mechanical equipment should be avoided, especially when the ground is thawed beneath the snow. This can lead to soil compaction which may cause long-term damage to the turf.
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