Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is slit drainage?

A. A method of installing narrow trenches filled with gravel and sand to remove water from any grassed surface, quickly without downtime.

Q. Is pipe used in slit drainage?

A. Agricultural pipe is used in approximately half of the slit trenches installed by Turf Drain Australia. The piped trenches carry collected water to mainlines, off the playing surface. Very narrow un-piped, collector trenches intersect the piped trenches, intensifying the drainage system.

Q. How long after slit drainage has been installed can a playing surface be used again?

A. This will depend on a number of factors such as the time of year, location and the grass variety. We have found that in Sydney in spring through to early autumn, fields can be used very soon after the drainage has been installed. In northern NSW and Queensland, recovery can be extremely quick throughout the whole year.

Q. How long will a slit drainage system last?

A. A good slit drainage system will not last forever, however it will last for many years. A common problem is the compactible material (soil, clay etc) of the field closing over the surface of the slit drains. This can be fixed by sand grooving or avoided by top-dressing lightly with washed sand and scarifying.

Q. What is sand grooving?

A. Sand grooving is a method of cutting narrow channels 200mm apart and filling them with drainage sand. These slits are cut to a depth of 100mm x 20mm wide and back-filled in one pass.

Q. What are the benefits of sand grooving?

A. Sand grooving has great benefits in reducing surface ponding between slit drains. It also re-opens existing drainage systems, connecting then with the surface.