Grass Tennis Court Maintenance Tips

If you're a traditionalist when it comes to tennis court surfaces, you may opt to have a grass tennis court constructed, rather than an artificial one.  Here's what you'll need to know if you want to keep your tennis court looking just as good as Wimbledon's, even if your game isn't quite up to Centre Court standard!

Mowing tips

It's recommended that you mow your tennis court about three times every week in the run up to your maximum use period.  In order to maintain a fast playing surface, tennis court grass should be cut to around 8mm.  If you want a slightly slower surface, leave the grass a little longer.

Out of season, it's best to keep the grass clipped to about 13mm and mown once a week or so.  This prevents it from becoming too overgrown and discourages weeds, whilst providing enough cover to protect the grass plants' roots from damage by frost and harsh weather.

Feeding your grass court

It's important to feed your grass court regularly with fertiliser.  This helps to keep the grass healthy and strong, enabling it to better withstand the rigours of play during the season and protect it from frost and weather damage during the winter.  A good-quality lawn feed applied during the spring and summer months will also help to keep your tennis lawn a rich, green colour during the summer.

To ensure even coverage, it's a good idea to choose a liquid grass feed that can be delivered to your grass via a pump spray delivery system.  You can obtain grass fertiliser products that are suitable for tennis courts from good garden centres.

Watering

In order to keep the grass growing, you'll need to water it regularly all year round during periods of dry weather.

During the playing season, you'll need to water the court to firm up the ground for play, to lay dust and to keep the grass healthy and growing.  It's best to water the court in the early morning to allow the grass to have a drink before the sun becomes hot enough to evaporate the water.  It's also important the surface of the grass has been given chance to dry out sufficiently before play so that the surface is not slippery.

Evening watering is not recommended as any excess water won't evaporate and conditions where the grass is left damp overnight can encourage diseases.

When you water your court, use a hosepipe with the nozzle set to a fine mist.  This provides good coverage, without risking the formation of puddles.

In conclusion

You can keep your grass tennis court looking good and in great condition by following the guidelines above.  For further advice on maintaining your court, have a chat with your local tennis court builders.