"Hi, I am interested in field paint for a soccer field. I work at a very small school and we are putting in a soccer field for the first time. We obviously need to mark the field. We want to line the field only once and keep it that way for the whole season. Do you have a speical paint that will stay marked even when the grass is cut? If so, please let me know what kind and how it can be done." Andrew
I don’t know of any field marking paint that will “hold up” for a season on natural grass fields unless the grass is dormant.
Depending on the rate of grass growth you’ll be lucky if you can still see a painted line after three mowings.
One method to reduce the number of times a line is restriped is to mow the line shorter (approximately ½ to ¾ inch shorter using a 21” walk-behind mower) than the overall field. This should add a least another week before restriping unless there is a lot of irrigation taking place.
The second method to reduce the number of line striping operations is using a plant growth regulator (PGR) which slows the rate of grass growth so that you can go 10-20 days between line striping. Given our experience you add about ½ ounce of PGR per one gallon of diluted paint and only apply it on the every 4th line striping application. I’ve included a website link to an article I wrote concerning PGRs and an associated website link on an Iowa State PGR demonstration plot.
http://trumark.blogspot.com/2009/06/growth-regulator-in-field-marking-paint
https://picasaweb.google.com/105832309948818480130/PrimoPaintFieldTrial
There is a product where a synthetic turf line is placed in the turf surface.
http://www.permalinesports.com/prod.html
http://www.southhuronturf.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=11
Also there is product that uses tyvek type tape on the surface of the playing field. You might want to mow the lines first to maintain the tape closer to the ground surface.
http://www.port-a-field.com/
More field marking information:
http://trumark.blogspot.com/2010/11/synthetic-sports-turf-fields-temporary.html
http://trumark.blogspot.com/2011/02/sports-field-marking-and-lining-tools.html
http://www.trumarkathletics.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
We have not found a grass variety that will grow at a significantly different color so it can be used for line marking.Labels: Product_Review, Trends, Turf _Tips