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/43432
Monthly maintenance and fertility program Weeds are spot treated 1 time per month with 3 gallon pump sprayer. 95% of weed infestation is goosegrass and Southern signalgrass. Insects are spot treated as necessary if past threshold. Only insects past threshold are mole crickets and fire ants. Top Choice is applied. Beneficial bacteria are applied 1 time per week throughout the year. Soccer field to track is edged two times per month throughout the year. No fungicides have been applied to field in 7 years of employment. JANUARY: outdoor/indoor track on field • 0-0-22 applied @ ½ lb. K/1000 ft2 • 14-5-14 with minors applied @ ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 FEBRUARY: outdoor/indoor track/ soccer individuals on field • 0-0-22 applied @ ½ lb. K/1000ft2 • 14-5-14 with minors applied @ 1/2lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied MARCH: outdoor track/soccer spring practice • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ ½ lb. N/1000ft2 APRIL: outdoor track/ soccer spring practice • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • Aerify with Aeravator aerifier ½" tines • Topdress 1/16" 220 sand MAY: outdoor track/ soccer camp • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 JUNE: outdoor track finals/ soccer camp • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 JULY:soccer camp • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • Verticut 4 directions and remove debris • Aerify ¾" core tine and remove cores • Topdress ¼" 220 sand and roll AUGUST: fall soccer/ fall football • 14-5-14 with minors and Ronstar applied @ 300lbs./acre • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • Aerify goalmouths and center of field with 3/8" solid tines • Liquid silicone applications on goalmouths and center of field • 21-0-0 applied to goalmouths and center on field @ ¼ N/1000ft2 SEPTEMBER: fall soccer/ fall track/ fall football • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • Aerify goalmouths and center of field with 3/8" solid tines • Liquid silicone applications on goalmouths and center of field • Topdress 1/8" 220 sand • 21-0-0 applied to goalmouths and center on field @ ¼ N/1000ft2 OCTOBER: Fall soccer/ fall/ track • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • Aerify goalmouths and center of field with 3/8" solid tines • Liquid silicone applications on goalmouths and center of field • 21-0-0 applied to goalmouths and center on field @ ¼ N/1000ft2 NOVEMBER: indoor track • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 500 lbs. Lime applied • 8% Chelated Calcium applied @ 4oz./1000ft2 • 12-0-12 AS with chelated Fe applied @ 1/2 lb. N/1000ft2 • 12-0-0 with minors liquid applies @ 4 oz./1000ft2 • Aerify field with Aeravator ½" solid tines DECEMBER: indoor track/ football bowl practice • 14-5-14 with minors applied ½ lb. N/1000ft2 • 0-0-22 applied ½ lb.K/1000ft2 ■ states. Sodding is needed very rarely and only in small square footage amounts (goal- mouths, etc.) if done. The amount of turf needed doesn't justify shipping charges from farms producing the GN-1 variety. Due to space limitations at the facility, there is no room for a sod farm to be in- stalled. A small area on the football field that the team doesn't use is set aside for any sod work needed with the GN-1. No ag- gressive maintenance is done to this area to help with some organic buildup and ease of harvesting with a small sod cutter. "Another issue that can be a struggle www.stma.org throughout the year is South Florida's weather patterns. Times during the winter months dry season, it can go for weeks with no rainfall and dry low humid conditions. During the rainy season, it can go for months with daily afternoon rain showers. This can be a struggle due to excessive moisture, wet playing surfaces during activ- ity, and inhibiting the crew from working the field due to lightning threats. Another weather factor during the rainy season is the threat of hurricanes. These storms can cause tremendous amounts of destruction and command a lot of time and efforts to secure everything and keep events on schedule post storm. Large amounts of salt water can be absorbed by these storms and brought inland with the rainfall. One last struggle is the amount of availability for the crew to work on the field. With two sports sharing the field, football and baseball using the field as an overflow, and condi- tioning and training of sports without turf- grass to train on, time for our maintenance can be very restrained. "The field is in use almost every day with athletes competing or training the ma- jority of the day. Extensive communication SportsTurf 39