Natural Turf Protection

Protecting Natural Turf Fields In Stadiums, Tents & Arenas

Signature Flooring is the world's foremost expert in natural turf protection for concerts and other on-field events. No other company offers the breadth of products or options that Signature offers nor provides a single source for all types of portable event flooring and ground protection needs.

We understand the unique needs of grass, which is a living organism that can survive within a specific set of parameters. Heat, moisture, and sunlight all affect the grass in different ways. While sunlight is required for grass to grow and conduct photosynthesis, sunlight can also heat a protective cover and cause grass burn and drying out. Moisture and water are required for healthy grass and growth but are also responsible for fungal growth and other grass diseases. Grass can even "drown" if too much water is allowed to stay in place. All of these factors combine to determine how well grass will grow, whether it will survive being covered, and whether it will thrive after an event. At Signature, we have thought about these many issues in the design of our various products. Not every product is right for every application and our team will be the first to tell a customer if a product of Signature's is not appropriate for a specific application.

We believe that the basis for a purchase of a modular stadium flooring system for grass protection is trust and we take our responsibility for maintaining this trust seriously.

Natural Grass Needs Protection

Many stadium managers, concert promoters, and festival organizers believe that a modular protective cover for stadium turf protection is not truly required at events. Though this perception has changed dramatically over the past decade, there are still some that believe that a high level of turf protection is not required in most situations.

The reality of the situation is more complex and only recently has research begun into the best practices for field maintenance and treatment relating to on-field special events.

At Signature Flooring, we believe that a protective cover is essential for on-field events but know that any activity on sports playing fields will cause some level of damage. The objective is to minimize the impact of such activity for a number of reasons:

Wear

Any traffic over turf will cause a level of wear. Even simple pedestrian traffic can cause this type of damage. Wear symptoms include flattening of leaf tissue and the possible exposure of the thatch below. Continued traffic will cause leaf blades to bruise. Grass cells rupture and these cells will eventually turn dark and appear water-soaked. Wilt sets in as water is lost from the leaves, eventually causing a loss of chlorophyll and ultimately cell death. For these reasons, it is important to use a turf protection cover that will minimize pressure on leaf tissue and blades by effectively distributing weight while minimizing surface contact.

Soil Compactation

Another way that turf is damaged during on-field events is soil compaction. The soil compaction caused by heavy pedestrian traffic, chairs, and all types of equipment reduces the shoot growth rate and the recuperative capabilities of turf grass. All compaction reduces air and water porosity within the soil as well as the movement of water through the soil profile. Soil compaction will impact turf growth for several weeks or months, resulting in the total loss of turf cover, chronic poor drainage issues, and the possible invasion of weeds that prefer compacted soil conditions. For this reason, a system that distributes weight effectively and prevents soil compaction is critical. There should be no focused weight bearing points onto which pressure is concentrated to avoid soil compaction.

Moisture Levels

Soil type and moisture levels also affect turf's ability to handle wear stress during on-field events. Turf-grass growing on sandy soils and some clay soils is more prone to wear injury. When traffic is imposed over very wet soils compaction is greatest. In addition to loosening the area around roots and thatch and weakening soil stabilization characteristics of a playing field surface, moisture can create a wet grass condition that becomes slip hazard for attendees, especially when damage occurs to the turf and compaction occurs. It is important that any protective system should incorporate aeration characteristics that prevents excessive moisture buildup and allows for ventilation.

How EventDeck, UltraDeck & Armordeck Protect your natural Turf

EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck portable stadium flooring are specifically designed to protect natural turf surfaces and each module incorporates multiple features that help preserve turf during special events.

The EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck turf protection covers are designed to effectively distribute weight across a series of minimally impacting underside ribbing. Spacing between ribbed supports and the actual width of individual ribs are specially chosen to minimize turf contact and to distribute weight such that minimal or no soil compaction occurs. Older turf protection systems had thick circular support pads or wide concentrated ribbing that core the bulk of the weight traversing the top surface of the flooring. This focused and concentrated weight loading can cause grass bruising, grass burning due to heat transfer from the top surface, and soil compaction. Though many of these first generation systems have been in widespread use, Signature Flooring believes that its scientifically designed systems take turf protection to the next level.

EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck's effective distribution of ribs causes very little turf bruising, prevents concentrated pressure points and minimizes heat transfer to the underside of the flooring on hot sunny days.

All 3 systems incorporate a moisture canopy which maintains appropriate levels of moisture and prevents turf burn and the dehydration of grass and soil. Specialized aeration holes and an inter-module channeling system allow air and rainwater to flow through and between modules. The underside channels prevent water buildup and prevent grass "drowning" by allowing water to flow and drain via the field's standard drainage system. Aeration holes enable some light for low-level photosynthesis and allow air to circulate. This aeration is important for the prevention of fungus growth and when combined with a prophylactic application of fungicides will keep grass healthy and disease free.

Both EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck have proven themselves through extensive use worldwide at natural turf stadiums and athletic fields of all types. From NFL and college fields to high school and municipal facilities, EventDeck, UltraDeck and ArmorDeck are the right choice for your turf protection needs.

Types Of Natural Turf For Athletic Fields

• Tall Fescue

Has been modified and evolved over the years and is one of the primary athletic grass types available in northern and transitional areas. It is a cool season, perennial, bunching grass, that is quick to germinate. It will form a dense, thick sod, which can remain green year round in some areas. It is a non-thatching grass and can stand heavy traffic. Newer dwarf varieties have been developed by the industry to be cut closer and to incorporate better disease and insect resistance. Tall Fescue must be reseeded yearly to keep the sod as thick as possible. The types of sports fields that we have seen planted in Tall Fescue are baseball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, polo, and any recreational area. Tall Fescue is drought tolerant and generally uses less fertilizer than other varieties. It generally does not have to be mown as closely as many other sports grasses. Pure fields of Fescue are preferred but in mixes it must be the dominant grass with at least 70% Fescue. Bluegrass and Creeping Red Fescue are the two lesser components in a mixture with Fescue.

• Kentucky Bluegrass

This is the premier playing surface and is used frequently for professional and amateur athletic fields. It is quick to germinate but slow to get established and has a creeping growth. This establishes thick carpet quality turf with an emerald green to dark blue color. It has a very fine texture and produces the best looking athletic fields of all cool season grasses. Kentucky Bluegrass is a long living sod-forming perennial grass that reproduces by rhizomes as well as by seed. Kentucky Bluegrass does best under cool, humid conditions on highly fertile soils not prone to drought and as such is idea for northern athletic fields. Mixes of Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue are used in many situations, especially in northern areas. The maintenance requirements for bluegrasses are more intensive than other cool season grasses as bluegrass requires more water and fertilization to keep propagating at peak performance. Because of its slower growth rates it is seeded with other grasses that produce faster green-up time while the Bluegrass is establishing.

• Perennial Ryegrass

Has been improved over the years and these newer varieties will produce a better range of color, texture and resistance to diseases and pests. It is one of the most widely grown cool-season grass in the world. Ryegrass establishes quickly and grows best on fertile, well drained soils, but is often chosen for areas where it is too wet at certain times of the year for satisfactory growth of other grasses. It is a bunch grass of upright growth and used in the cool and transitional areas for athletic fields requiring a thick, dense, quick growing sod. While it is fast to germinate and repairs quickly, the lower persistence of perennial ryegrass relative to other cool season grasses should be considered prior to use. Ryegrass can be mown to 1½ - 2 ½ inches, which is lower than most tall fescues. Ryegrass is a medium to high maintenance grass depending upon the amount of wear. It needs more watering than tall fescue. In general, perennial ryegrass seed is often used to over-seed permanent stands that go into dormancy and to provide early spring greenery until the permanent grass returns.

• Creeping Bent Grasses

Are the most finely textured grass of the cool season grasses and have the lowest growth rate and density. They can be mown tightly, as low as less than an inch down to ¼ of an inch. Bent grasses require more maintenance than the other athletic field grass and with the newer grass varieties bents are much more costly to maintain. The best use of this grass is on tennis courts and bowling greens and it is not often chosen for soccer, baseball, or football fields.

• Bermuda Grass

Is the most popular and best overall grass for use in warmer climates and in the south. It is used as far north as the transitional areas, when it is often over-seeded with other grasses such as perennial rye. This over-seeding occurs in the fall, to provide early spring greening. Bermuda grass has a medium to fine texture and forms a dense sod. It is a fast growing variety that is fast repairing. It can be mown short and low to the ground and forms dark green leaves that grow densely. Its root system is deep, which makes this grass more draught and heat resistant. As a result it is often used in warmer climates and where shade is not present. The many different varieties make it possible to grow Bermuda for any athletic field. Fertilization, watering, and mowing maintenance depend upon the intensity of the fields usage and the amount of repair growth that is needed.

• Bahia Grass

Is a durable and robust grass that is often used on local multi-sport play fields that might be used for baseball, softball, football, and general recreational sports. It has a strong ability to withstand and recover from foot traffic at special events, combined with Bahia grasses low maintenance requirements make it a good selection for budget limited sports organizations.

Choose the Modular Flooring System That's Right for You

Signature offers 6 natural turf protection options which vary in design, rigidity, weight loading capabilities, and durability. Depending on what type of on-field event or multipurpose activity is expected, Signature has a cost effective protection option available.