compactor called the Shockwave that penetrates the soil with large, rotating metal blades. Morrow also uses reel mowers to trim the playing turf to 3/8 inch and the surrounding field grass at 5/8 inch. He raises that to 7/16 or ½ inch when overseeding with perennial rye in October. "In my experience, bermudagrass does its best below ½ inch. I
think you get better stolon coverage at that height," says Morrow. To stay on top of it, Morrow will mow all 4 acres himself, six times a week, which doesn't leave much time for maintenance. He leans on local Jacobsen dealer Luber Bros. to keep him up and running. "If I need anything at all, the guys are out here the next day, which is great," says Morrow. "With just me out here running the show, I can't afford any downtime."
STANDING TALL IN ARLINGTON While Morrow likes his grass on the low side, down the road in Arlington the Texas Rangers are playing a whole different ball game when it comes to turf height, as director of grounds Dennis Klein explains. "As you would expect, Nolan Ryan, our owner, president and CEO is big on defense and pitching. He asked me how we could slow things down and I suggested growing out the infield," says Klein.
zoysia grass as long as 1¾ inch during the season. It's too long for a reel mower, so the crew uses a rotary mower with a roller on the infield. "Of course, the hitters don't like the tall grass but the pitchers
And grow it out they did. Klein and his team keep their Y2
love it," says Klein. "Also, unlike a lot of infields you see, we don't stripe it. Some players can lose the ball in the patterns and we don't want to make the game any harder than it already is."
>> THE TEXAS RANGERS practice solid tine aerification twice a month and pull cores once a month.
www.stma.org
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