The content of this blog post was provided by RedSport Padel Belgium.. Installer of padel courts in Belgium and also our partner.
That it occasionally snows in Belgium and temperatures increasingly go below zero is no longer a surprise. The question many clubs and players are asking is whether you can play on frozen grass. Does it harm the quality of the grass? Is it dangerous for the players?
The answer to these questions is simple. It is especially important to act quickly when it snows. Don’t wait to clear snow until the next day, but do it as soon as it stops snowing. Below is a roadmap of how to quickly and efficiently ensure snow-free terrains.
After heavy snowfall, it is crucial to remove the snow from the terrain as quickly as possible. You do this initially with a snow shovel (plastic!) and then with a ‘hard’ brush. Do not use brute force here, but remove the snow as gently as possible. The grass under the snow is probably frozen, so be gentle! Remove the snow in straight lines. Don’t try to do this quickly, but make sure to treat it thoroughly with a hard brush. It is especially important to remove as much snow as possible before moving on to phase 2.
Why is it so crucial to act quickly? If you leave the snow cover for several hours or even a day, it will work its way into the turf. Perhaps the snow will partially thaw only to refreeze afterwards. Clearing the snow (or meanwhile: the ice) afterwards is a tough job, but especially harmful to the grass. Because the grass is frozen in the ice in the meantime, you can permanently damage the turf!
In the 2nd phase of snow clearing, sprinkle the terrain with salt. For this, count on around 5kg of salt per area. It is important to spread the salt granules over the entire surface of the turf, including in the corners and at the bottom of the glass. The grains of salt will cause the top layer of the grass to thaw, preventing the grass fibres from breaking when someone walks on it later.
The above information applies to all grass mats installed by RedSport Padel Belgium, with ‘Tarkett Sport’ as supplier for grass. Does your club have grass from another supplier? Then inform yourself well before using salt to thaw the grass.
The site is snow-free and the grass mostly thawed? Then be sure to check that on the fencing, in the corners, at the bottom of the glass, all snow has been removed. If the snow is not removed thoroughly, it will cause ice to form later. Difficult for those who come to play padel afterwards, but above all: dangerous if people start removing the ice on their own. People will try to do this with hard objects which can damage the structure of the pitch.
Have you completed the above steps? Then your site is once again ready to play for all the enthusiasts who want to brave the cold.
Is it safe to play on frozen ground? With the right footwear, you need not worry. A good padel shoe has a sole with sufficiently deep relief (in tennis, this is called ‘CLAY’). With such footwear, the terrain will feel no different than on a dry day. Have a lot of padel fun!
Still have questions about what equipment you need to clear snow or what method should be used at your club? Do not hesitate to contact RedSport Padel Belgium.
