F.O.Y. | North Kansas City Schools
Softball field maintenance, North Kansas City Schools
MARCH • Start mowing once a week • Charge irrigation/make repairs if needed
APRIL • 32-0-8 at 1 lb. of N •Mow weekly • Spot spray any weeds • Irrigate as needed •Mow weekly
MAY • Dress up warning track •Mow weekly • Irrigate as needed • Core aerate
JUNE • 0-0-7 with .067% Acelepryn •Mow weekly • Irrigate regularly
JULY • 22-0-3 50% at 1/2 rate of N •Mow weekly • Irrigate regularly
AUGUST •Mow weekly • Irrigate regularly
SEPTEMBER • 22-0-3 50% at 1/2 rate of N • Drill 9 lbs./1000 blue/fescue seed mixture • Solid tine aerate • Launch application
OCTOBER •Winterize irrigation •Mow weekly • 32-3-8 at 1 lb. of N
NOVEMBER • Put field to bed
>> FIELD is ready for play.
SportsTurf: What changes have you made to your maintenance plan for 2011, if any? Watt: During the "off-season" from field usage, we have implemented a consistent dragging program of the field to try and keep the material in the current location. The field has great surface drainage to the outfield corners, but it causes the infield material to migrate off. A consistent drag- ging of the infield also helps control weed infestation. As for the turf areas, aeration has been increased two extras times a year to help improve water penetration into the soil.
ST: What's the best piece of turf management advice you have ever re-
ceived? Watt: This is a great question and through my years of being an ath- lete, going to school, and work experiences I still think about it. Don't try to figure out what the head coach is thinking, go out and do your job, even you can impress yourself. On days when you come into work and see what happened to the field from the night before, don't get discouraged, it is your time to shine. Always keep challenging yourself.
Don't try to figure out what the head coach is thinking, go out and do your job, even you can impress yourself. On days when you come into work and see what happened to the field from the night before, don't get discouraged, it is your time to shine. Always keep challenging yourself.
38 SportsTurf | September 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com
