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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/232221
Facility & Operations Left: Inspection during site assessment is an important facet of maintenance. Middle: Mulch serves various purposes; it can reduce maintenance during mowing and serve to protect tree trunks from damage. Right: Providing shade and amenity is important, but ornamentals shouldn't encroach on the playing surface. different as well. Approximately 85% of the roots of most trees, shrubs and flowers are located in the upper 24 inches of the soil profile. Naturally, the depth and density of the root system varies with the species and age of the ornamental. Newer plantings of woody plants usually produce "spiker" or "sinker" roots to provide initial stability as well as horizontally growing feeder roots, and then transition to a greater percentage of lateral roots as they mature. The locations of the roots in the profile have consequences in terms of the best placement of applied fertilizers and pest control agents as well as potential encroachment of roots into the sports field. When necessary, delivery via surface application or through drip irrigation systems is a good approach. GOOD BED DESIGN The critical factors with good bed design are separation of turf and ornamentals and the creation of a smooth and naturally flowing bed line. As mentioned above, ornamentals have different needs in terms of water and nutrients. As such, the irrigation zones for ornamentals should be set for shorter runtimes and fewer days of the week. Regardless, the key principle of watering to the depth of the roots and keeping the roots moist but not dry or soggy is important for both turf and ornamentals. The lines of separation between turfgrass and ornamental plants should be natural and flowing rather than abrupt and geometric. Gentle bed lines are much easier to maintain and more pleasing to the eye than ones that create rectangular or narrow beds. Within the bed, size and function of plant material are important considerations. Trees should be placed such that they provide shade for fans and overall amenity without interfering with sports play. Implementation of gradation and recognition of the mature size of specimens should be considered with the taller plants being placed towards the back of the bed and shorter material in the foreground. SITE ASSESSMENT For established ornamental plantings, a site assessment is a very helpful process. Actually, assessment is composed of two steps: an assessment, the initial documentation of the existing conditions and 16 SportsTurf | January 2014 status of the plantings; and analysis, a set of value judgments and possible recommendations for the future health and welfare of the plants involved. For example, a tree may appear yellowish and struggling (the assessment), and upon further investigation, it is determined that it has a nutrient deficiency and soil treatment or nutrient injections could provide it with a fighting chance to return to good health (the analysis). A sample set of questions to use in site assessment/analysis is: • Tree roots growing into the field? • Plants too close to the field? • Trees with defects near the field? • Trees with nutrient deficiencies or pest infestations? • Insufficient ornamental plantings? Where could some easy to care for plantings be placed? In some cases, after the questions are asked, assistance from another green inThe positive dustry specialist should be sought. In the benefits that case of the safety of a tree near a facility, proper an ISA (International Society of Arborimulching culture) certified arborist should be consulted to inspect the tree to determine if provides are defects such as crossing limbs, decay, many, while girdling roots, basal flare injury or cothe negatives dominant leaders are present. If so, action are few. must be taken to remove or stabilize the tree in such a manner that it no longer poses a threat to people and property at the sports facility. Seeking the advice of a certified expert will not only increase the overall safety of the area, it will greatly diminish the liability of the property to potential lawsuits. Perhaps one of the easiest but most advantageous maintenance practices for ornamentals at a sports facility is mulching. The positive benefits that proper mulching provides are many, while the negatives are few. The overall objective is to replicate what Mother Nature provides, namely a naturally occurring layer of twigs, leaves and fallen bark—at the ball park. Using organic mulch made from processed pieces of former woody plants provides weed suppression, cooler soils, moisture retention, nutrient recycling and a clean, neat www.sportsturfonline.com