Once you have completed your repair you may need to attend to minor damage on the pitch by lifting it carefully with a screwdriver to level. Then re-wet the profile to soften the very surface before re-rolling. The amount of water you apply will depend on:
- How dry the pitch is.
- How long you have before you will need to play on or over the pitch.
- How hot and dry the forecast is in the run up to that next use.
Keep watering light unless it is very hot and dry. You must allow sufficient time for the pitch to reharden before the next fixture. If you under-water you can always add more. If you over-water you can run into trouble if you can’t get the pitch dry in time.
Remember you don’t want to undo all the good compaction work you did in the first prep. A typical guide is a quarter to third of the amount of water used in the original wetting. Try to avoid getting bare soil too wet as it takes longer to dry.
Once that water has been absorbed into the surface and it is safe to roll without damaging the pitch you should roll in the direction of play to smooth out any minor damage and begin re-preparing the pitch for the next game.
Use a combination of roller and covers to manage compaction and moisture content. Note that you may need to put a hessian sheet or other covering over end repairs when you first roll them – this will help to smooth the surface ready for painting.
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