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/49194
Tools&Equipment | Synthetic Turf What equipment every synthetic turf manager should have MIKE MCDONALD, CSFM, turf manager, University of Minnesota Tools needed: • Sweeper/cleaner of the turf • Brush/broom for fluffing of the turf • Tines for decompacting of the turf • A magnet attached to a piece of groom- ing equipment • A sprayer to knock down/static cling of the rubber (some machines have some or all of these with one unit/attachments, some are individuals pieces) • Backpack blower • Pull-behind big blower • Walk painter if lines are not inlaid • Paint remover machine if painting field • Sewing/patching glue kit • If in snow regions: walk snow blower; tractor snow blower; snow pusher; truck with snow blade SYNTHETIC TURF MAINTENANCE RECS From the Sports Turf Managers Associa- >> THIS 7,200-SQ. FT. SYNTHETIC TURF RESEARCH AREA at the University of Missouri's South Farm will focus on today's infill systems. on hand to properly maintain the next gener- ation infill products: A use: • Littercat (pulls behind a utility vehicle) • Groomer (pulls behind a utility vehicle) • Irrigation system or other ways to apply water • Extra turf and crumb rubber • Vacuum/ShopVac • Adhesive construction glue • Gum remover • Backpack blower • Utility knife • Sand for sub-base low spots • Shovel • Snowblower • Tractor • 2-foot diameter tile drain tube for snow removal 32 SportsTurf | December 2011 JARED HERTZEL, Head Athletic Turf Manager, University of Nebraska Here is some of the equipment that we few prominent turf managers who work on synthetic fields shared their lists of what equipment needs to be • Needle and thread • White rock for base • Tamp • Rack • Phone number to Midwest Fieldturf • Manpower DARIAN DAILY, Head Groundskeeper, Paul Brown Stadium Equipment we use on our synthetic field: • GreensGroomer (a must have; if you get nothing else to maintain your field, a Greens- Groomer is the one thing to get) • Sweep-N-Fill (a duel rotating brush that evenly distributes rubber; great for synthetic or natural turf ) • Tow-behind magnet • Buffalo Turbine blower/back pack blower (the use of air to move trash, seeds, and other debris has been a time saver) • Billy Goat debris vacuum (picks up the trash and debris) • A good removable paint as well as a paint removing machine (for the markings of the other sports, not inlaid) tion's A Guide to Synthetic and Natural Turf- grass for Sports Fields, here are maintenance recommendations. "All synthetic turf manufacturers have rec- ommended grooming practices. Generally, these include sweeping, dragging, and water- ing for a clean, uniform appearance. Depend- ing upon use and weather conditions, a sand/rubber mix may need to be added an- nually to help restore the field's resiliency. The sports turf manager will also need special knowledge in troubleshooting and minor re- pairs, such as seam repair and snow removal. The installer can provide this information per the manufacturer's guidelines. "All synthetic turf manufacturers have recommended grooming practices. Generally, these include sweeping, dragging, and watering for a clean, uniform appearance. Depending upon use and weather conditions, a sand/ rubber mix may need to be added annually to help restore the field's resiliency. www.sportsturfonline.com