After the spring maintenance and the start of play on the fresh tennis courts, the groundskeeper enters the hot phase of tennis court maintenance.
On courts that are not yet fully hardened, extra shifts now have to be worked more often to keep the tennis courts in a condition suitable for playing and tournaments.
Plugging holes
At the beginning of the season, the tennis court often resembles a lunar landscape after a tournament day, riddled with craters. The next morning, these holes must be filled. This can be done with a leveling stick to smooth the surface of the tennis court.
However, caution is advised if the courts contain too much loose grain, as this will only spread the dead grain into the holes and prevent the tennis court surface from bonding properly in those areas. If there is too much loose grain on the court, it must first be removed. Regular watering, even throughout the day, helps to suppress the formation of loose grain.
Brick dust is then sprinkled over the leveled tennis court and spread with a drag net. This restores a smooth surface, concealing any holes from the tournament. Afterward, the court must be thoroughly watered, but don't skimp on the water, even if you think it's still soft. Water helps the court harden; it's simply a matter of judging how much water the surface can handle.
Slurrying
For an even smoother surface, use a slurry plane. Throw brick dust over the tennis court surface, thoroughly wet the court with a hand-held hose, and then spread the water evenly across the court with the slurry plane. This washes the newly added tennis sand into the holes, effectively filling them. The only important thing is to spread enough brick dust for your area. After a short drying period, you'll have a smooth tennis court that's also a bit harder than before.
Water
Watering is absolutely essential for a hard tennis court. If not enough water is applied, it takes much longer for the court to truly harden. It's a misconception to think that because the courts are still soft, you should be careful with the water.
We still frequently observe the mistake of allowing the courts to rest after spring maintenance, during which they are often not watered sufficiently. It is precisely during this rest period that the tennis courts should be thoroughly watered, especially at the beginning, and swept once a day.
Only as the opening date approaches will irrigation be reduced to prevent the courts from becoming too damp. However, the amount of water the tennis courts will then require also depends on the weather.