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Summer Maintenance — Clay Court Manual · Konglungen TK
☀️ Season guide · Summer

Summer
Maintenance

Routines that keep the court in top condition all season. Little and often — not big clean-ups. Konglungen's 40 mm profile requires precision, but responds quickly when routines are in place.

🌅 Daily maintenance
2–5 min per court

Players' responsibility — after each day of play

  • Close all ball marks / holes with your foot immediately — especially at net and baselines
  • Circular dragging: Start at the outside, work slowly toward the middle in large circles
  • Extra focus on high-wear zones: Behind baselines, service boxes and mid-court
  • Check moisture level — dry = dusty, but avoid overwatering
💡 Why circular dragging? It preserves the crossfall and prevents material from building up in the middle. Straight back-and-forth dragging creates grooves and destroys drainage.
⚠ Common mistake: "Saving" the dragging for the weekend. Light daily maintenance is far more effective than heavy work once a week.
📅 Weekly maintenance
1–2 hrs per court

Grounds team tasks

  • Light rolling (1–2 times) if the court feels loose or uneven
  • Local top-ups with 0–2 mm where the surface opens up — especially in high-wear areas
  • Thorough circular dragging — remove loose material collected along the edges
  • Adjust watering: 10–20 minutes per court morning/evening in dry periods (spray up into air, not straight down)
  • Check lines, net, posts and drainage — report issues if anything is loose
🚿 Watering tip: Water in several short cycles rather than one long one. Let the water soak in between. Aim for a moist surface, not a saturated court.
📆 Monthly / as needed
3–4 hrs per court

Grounds team + volunteers

  • Full check of slope and evenness — straightedge / level check
  • Larger spot repairs with 0–3 mm if settlements or depressions appear
  • Clean court edges and drains to secure drainage
  • Review material usage — order additional clay in good time (typically 2–4 tons mid-season)

Green growth: right product, right zone

Green growth on a clay court is typically algae, moss and weeds — and they require different treatment. Do not use Roundup on the playing surface: it does not effectively kill algae, can bind to the clay and make the surface more slippery.

🎾 Playing surface

UgressNIX Effekt (pelargonic acid) + brushing.

  • Spray on a dry court in sun
  • Light brushing before spraying
  • Do not water afterwards — let it work
  • Brush again after a few days
  • 1–2 treatments per season is enough
🚧 Edges and fences

Roundup (glyphosate) here only — effective against deep roots along fences, behind benches and in border zones.

  • Not on the playing surface — does not kill algae and can cause a slippery surface
💡 The winning formula: UgressNIX + brushing 1–2 times per season. Prevention through good drainage and regular brushing is more effective than treating after green growth has established itself.
Diagnostics
See coarse structure / base layer?
→ Too little 0–2 mm surface material
Court dark, tight and slippery?
→ Too much 0–2 mm or over-compaction
Dust when players move?
→ Too dry — needs watering
Ball does not slide?
→ Too wet or too hard-packed surface
Puddles after rain?
→ Crossfall problem — needs structural work
🌵 Drought / strong wind
  • Water more often — morning and evening
  • Drag more gently to avoid dust
  • Consider a very thin extra 0–2 mm top-up if the surface breaks down
🌧️ Heavy rain
  • Reduce irrigation — let the weather do the work
  • Increase dragging to avoid a slick surface
  • Check drainage — water should run off toward the sides
The surface should be even, with controlled slide and a clean bounce.

Not coarse (too little 0–2 mm). Not tight/slippery (too much water or surface material).

When routines are in place, maintenance becomes a natural part of club culture — and the court stays excellent from May to September.
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