18 SportsTurf | October 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com
Field Science
and finally another 21-3-7 granular in early December. A shot of
PCNB before the first major snow fall had us prepared for winter
and the establishment of some good root mass.
Excellent color remained in the turf until time for the January
STMA conference in Daytona Beach. Colder weather
in February brought the plant dormant, but when the
weather broke in March, we were thrilled with the root
establishment, and set out to get the plant roaring out
of the gate. We hit the turf with a 5-28-0 to get the
phosphorous going for root growth, and introduced a
bio-nutritional program (mycorrhizae & humates) to
get beneficial microbes into the soil profile, especially
after the total fumigation in the fall.
Typically divergent Midwestern spring weather
brought the bluegrass into full bloom by early May, and
the players and public were awestruck by the continu-
ity and eye pleasing beauty of a new palette of great
looking turf.
There are no shortcuts when it comes to the work
and cost involved in baseball field renovation. But
with the proper pre-planning, contractor and sod selec-
tion, and due diligence in on-going cultural practices, a
well-done renovation provides the kind of safe playing
surface and intrinsic beauty that should be the goal of every sports
turf manager. ■
Keith Winter is head groundskeeper for the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
