FieldScience
1.THATCH/ORGANIC build-up, June 2012
2.THATCH/ORGANIC build-up, July 2013 (reduced by 1 inch)
3.FRAZE MOWING Patriot bermudagrass
4.GREEN RHIZOMES prepared to re-generate
from Celebration bermuda
5.GREEN RHIZOMES exposed from fraze mowing
6.THATCH BUILD-UP removed from Celebration
bermudagrass
7.EXPOSED RHIZOMES following clean out via
fraze mowing
1.
3.
2.
5.
4.
6.
28 SportsTurf | August 2013
7.
lightly verticut one time to stay ahead of the
thatch, and is showing little to no wear."
Fraze mowing next used when Maryland
SoccerPlex Grounds staff cleaned off three
fields of Patriot bermudagrass in early June.
Because the fields were sprigged only 18
months ago, the processes was intended to
transition out the ryegrass and promote a
quicker transition to full bermudagrass instead of cleaning out years of thatch and organic build up. The Patriot bermudagrass
was 30% out of dormancy when cleaned
off, but within 10 days all of the exposed
rhizomes were green and responding. A lack
of warm weather was again an obstacle for
the SoccerPlex fields, but not to the extent
of Dallas. See photos 7-9 for results.
The three SoccerPlex fields that were
cleaned off were 100% bermudagrass immediately. The non-fraze mowed bermudagrass fields still were only 80% bermuda
(rye being the other 25%) on July 1. Additionally, the removal of only a thin layer of
organic build up on top of the native soil
fields now allows water to be absorbed into
the soil faster. Following heavy rains, the
fraze mowed fields now soaking in rain
much faster than before, allow the fields to
be used more.
Also in June, a golf course fairway of
Celebration bermudagrass in North Carolina was fraze mowed to demonstrate the
process on active, fully growing bermudagrass. The Celebration had begun to build
up a thick thatch layer that needed cleaned
out (see photos 10-12).
Fraze mowing is a new process to the
United States turfgrass market. Yet many
intuitive sports turf managers have always
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