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/27931
F.O.Y. | Benedictine University times throughout the year. I have noticed that these areas are more playable after a rain event than they were before imple- menting this strategy. “While more expensive per ton than sand, my ordering calcined clay doesn’t raise an eyebrow. Furthermore, I know we would not be able to make the commitment neces- sary to begin a sand topdressing program on this field, and would likely add to the prob- lem at hand with potential layering issues. “I also try to combat drainage issues by at least swinging by the softball field and hitting the trouble areas whenever I have the aerator hooked up for any other reason. I am unable to aerate as aggressively as I would like throughout the year due to field use and access to equipment, but I try to make up for it come fall. I also try to stick with the light and frequent irrigation phi- losophy so that water doesn’t end up run- ning from higher areas to lower areas. If need be, I hand water an area as well.” “This softball field gets a high amount of use. After the college season, there are gen- erally two youth baseball or softball games played each weeknight, and a tournament every weekend, consisting of approximately 14-15 games plus a skills competition. “Depending on the level of play, bases can be set at 60, 65 or 70 feet, and the mound is moved anywhere from 35 feet to 50 feet. For this reason, the wear tends to be spread, and we can usually stay on top of re- pairing it before a hole gets made. Wear is spread in the outfield as well, and tends to not become noticeable. We have kids stand on the warning track when swinging bats and hitting wiffle balls before games and try to get them to move off the foul line to play catch as well. “Another challenge is the small amount of manpower available. To combat this, I use time-saving measures whenever I can. For example, I spray pre-emergent herbi- cides on the warning tracks because there tends to be annual bluegrass and some crab- grass that pop up there.” Allen works for Sodexo, which manages 35 college facilities throughout the country; the company’s team at Benedictine also in- cludes Peter Charcut, who has more than 35 years grounds experience. SportsTurf: What changes are you planning to make to your maintenance plan for 2011, if any? 48 SportsTurf | April 2011 Monthly maintenance plan March Spray herbicide (pendimethalin) on warn- ing track only for preventa- tive control of annual bluegrass and crabgrass April Aerate with 5/8-inch solid tines Fertilize with ammo- nium sulfate 0.5 lb. N/M Take and submit soil samples for testing Mow 3x/week Spray herbicide on warning track only for con- trol/preventative control of broadleaf weeds May Fertilize with 25-5-15 0.5 lb. N/M Spot topdress with calcined clay Mow 3x/week Spray herbicide (glyphosate) along outfield fence on warning track as needed June Fertilize with 25-5-15 0.5 lb. N/M Spot overseed areas showing wear and areas prone to wear Mow 2-3x/week July Aerate with solid tines Fertilize with 25-5-15 0.5 lb. N/M Spot overseed areas showing wear and areas prone to wear Spot topdress with calcined clay Mow 2-3x/week Spray herbicide (glyphosate) along outfield fence on warning track as needed Add warning track material as needed August Fertilize with 18-3-18 0.5 lb. N/M Mow 2x/week Spray fungicide (cu- rative application) September Aerate entire field in two directions with solid tines Fertilize with 18-3-18 1.0 lb. N/M Spot overseed areas showing wear and areas prone to wear Spot topdress with calcined clay Mow 2x/week Spray herbicide (glyphosate) along outfield fence on warning track as needed October Re-sod badly worn areas Aerate entire field in two directions with hollow tines & remove cores Fertilize with 18-3-18 0.5 lb. N/M Spot topdress with calcined clay Mow 2x/week Edge entire infield Have skin re-graded Add warning track material where needed November Fertilize with 15-0-30 1.0 lb. N/M (dormant fertil- ity application) Spray fungicide on entire field for snow mold prevention