SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/82015
FieldScience Quite a change huh? Let me try to explain the process and the goals. Why renovate? To remove the poa annua plants and their seed bank (lack of chemical options for poa removal and control due to regula- tions). To remove the organic matter that has begun to build up during the growing season to completely avoid any layer that could cause a slick surface (core aeration and heavy topdressing can not be done fre- quently during the dead of winter during the season because the plant will not recover). And to create a more hardy and durable stand of grass plants (Plants that re-generate are stronger and resilient) How to renovate? 1-Remove the top 1/8 to 1/2" of the pitch (termed "Fraze mowing"). 2-Proceed with a deep aeration (deep tine or Shock Wave). 3- Apply a layer of topdressing and/or run a Recycling Dresser to freshen up the soil base and create some loose material. 4- Drag a harrow across the surface to move around the loose material and fill in the low spots before the seeding takes place. 5-Seed, work in the seed and lightly topdress again. 6-Fertilize. 7-Grow. Four weeks later, the seed has germinated and is growing, and the hardy plants have re- generated and filled back in. So then the question becomes does any of this process make sense in the United States. Your initial reaction is likely the same as mine-No! But then realize that no matter how good the poa controls supposedly are, that still don't really work and that we could be facing the same bans on pesticides in the future that they do in the UK .Think about turfgrass possible with a positive, "get it done" attitude. Negativity does not exist. The challenge is respected. With the examples that I observed from the European experience, I continue to think about how I can help our operation at Maryland SoccerPlex set a stronger example of professionalism. May 24 "Offense wins games, defense wins championships." But is that really true? Defense is great until you meet a better offense. I am thinking "offensively" after visiting with so many fantastic Eu- Confidence and aggressiveness. It's [often said] in American sports, ropean groundsmen. There is such a confidence, assurance, and matter of fact approach to management. There is no fear. Or if there is, they certainly do not show it! To strip off a field and re-seed instead of sod seems like insanity to us; it's common place for them. Here playing ten- nis on grass seems impossible; they do it all the time. Here roofs on grass stadiums are few and far between; there every stadium there has a roof. Here extra events on a field cause stress; they welcome it as an op- portunity to try something new. They seem to always be on the offen- sive, working toward the next goal. Before my trip, I felt my management philosophy for turfgrass was The boldest part, without a doubt, is to re-seed and not to sod. Adding the layer of soil in sod is obviously a challenge. And with a tool like the Recycling Dresser, that layer can be reduced much more quickly. renovating a football field in the spring (that needs spring time renova- tion anyway)/ to Fraze Mow Bermudagrass in the south that is over- seeded heavily and needs transitioning/ Renovate soccer fields that are used for spring and fall play/ Fraze mow the lips around the edge of baseball infield skins after the season. And we could sit and talk and come up with more and more where pieces of this process could fit in. The boldest part, without a doubt, is to re-seed and not to sod. aggressive and simple: the grass has 2 choices, grow or die. After visiting Europe though I realize it's not that simple. Many decisions are from a "defensive" or conservative stand point. These de- cisions are still GOOD decisions. But they are made from a "what if" perspective with anxiety, uneasiness, hesitation, and even lack of confi- dence play into the decision-making process. The process is complex. It's "Defensive." provides challenge, but the strong turf can overcome. We sleep better at night with less stress! "Offensive" decision-making becomes less complex. Mother Nature Adding the layer of soil in sod is obviously a challenge. And with a tool like the Recycling Dresser, that layer can be reduced much more quickly. But if and when a field has 6-8 week opening for a renovation, why not seed instead of sod? I am considering it; we are renovating our stadium field (because of poa) the last week of August. I can seed by the end of that week and have 6 full weeks before our next event. When I stop and think, of course it can be done but wow, that sure does take guts right! But to save $60k? Hmm since my return have me glad it is the 1st topic. The traits I saw exhib- ited by all the groundsmen I met on the trip are amazing. The "techni- cal or ethical standards" of our profession are being created by these men. Placed under such impossible demands from weather and from traffic, they are setting the standards the rest of us are characterized by or conforming to. Pitch quality continues to rise, and less than perfect is absolutely unacceptable even if the weather or challenge could be used a plausible excuse for them. These professionals understand that extra traffic on a field is reality so they spend their time working to figure out how to produce the best May 21 Professionalism is on my mind and ironically, multiple situations 18 SportsTurf | September 2012 voking discussion over each of the points of focus from my European trip. So many good ideas continue to flow and already they are making a difference in our maintenance program here at SoccerPlex. The 3rd point to discuss is the manner in which several of the Euro- May 27 Thank you to everyone who has been engaging me in thought-pro- pean sports field operations run so self-sufficiently and how they are highly efficient in all of their tasks. With training grounds similar to the size of the 22-field Maryland SoccerPlex, several of the operations that I observed are similar to ours. However, ultimately, their opera- tions run very differently. Many of the major maintenance and renovation techniques that take place in Europe are done in-house by field maintenance crews. Specialized contractors are still involved, but many operations have their own equipment to do the tasks on their own as well. The European operations are more self-sufficient partially because they are so efficient as well though. Tractors in the 100 hp range are not uncommon. A 63-inch aerator (our biggest) is small by Euro stan- dards. From a manpower stand point, they are able to get many more tasks completed with fewer people because fewer hours are spent in op- eration of equipment. The extra time equates into the ability to accom- plish more tasks in-house. It seems so simple, but yet it seems so ingenious! Especially with the security of completing tasks such as aera- tion more quickly- 1 aeration cycle takes up to 2 week for our Soccer- www.sportsturfonline.com