Spiking & Dragging Practices

Depending on depth, scarifying procedures are performed for the following reasons:

  • To maintain surface grade
  • Scarify and restore smooth playing surface
  • Loosen heavily compacted soils as needed
  • Mix soil amendments through the infield skin profile
  • Provide better resiliency

Deep Spiking and Mixing Procedure:

  • Most effective when infield soils have uniform moisture.
  • Have enough weight or down pressure for maximum penetration (greater than one inch in depth).
  • Keep unit clear of soil buildup on spikes.
  • Crosscut and vary spiking pattern to avoid waves.

Daily Field Maintenance Nail Dragging

  • Only spike deep enough to remove cleat marks and bumps (less than one inch in depth)
  • Nail drag to consistent depth over entire skin area
  • Most effective when infield soils have uniform moisture
  • Crosscut and vary spiking pattern to avoid waves
  • Avoid spike chatter by slowing ground speed and balancing nail drag
  • Use a hand nail drag in tight areas (cutouts, baselines, turf-soil interface)

More at Groundskeeper U

Paul Zwaska (contributor)

A former head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles, Paul has been a frequent contributor to Beacon’s Ballfield Blog and other resources and products. Among other contributions to Beacon, he authored Groundskeeper University, the pioneering online ballfield maintenance training venue.