dirt ondirt - michigan state universitysturf.lib.msu.edu/page/2005mar11-20.pdfmar 11, 2005 · with...
TRANSCRIPT
Dirt on dirtlayer safety is the number one goal when choosing and usingyour infield mix whether its providing a good base inCincinnati for Sean Caseys knees true hops for a prized ClassA shortstop in northeast Ohio or your field
Greg Elliott of the Lake County Captains and Doug Gallantof the Cincinnati Reds discussed soil compositions and infield skin maintenance atlast Decembers Ohio Turfgrass Conference in Columbus Heres a recap of theirpresentations
You mustknow what youhave Elliott saidso get a profes-sional soil testOnce you knowwhat you have youcan determinewhat needs donewith what materi-als His EastlakeBallpark 16 milesnortheast ofCleveland andwinner of consec-utive Sally LeagueField of the Yearawards features asandy clayloammixture 58sand 22 silt20 clay
Gallant report-ed that GreatAmerican BallPark infield soilmixture is 71 sand 13 silt16 clay with
10 of the volume including Turface soil conditioner thats blended at the plantDont till your soil amendment too deep like 8 or 10 inches because it wont do youany good said Gallant
Soil conditioners can help level your surface and better manage moisturewhich limits rainouts and delays Elliott said Its extremely important to use one ofthese products This year we are going with Quantum Turf a new red-clay productfrom Moltan
Calcined clay products are inorganic amendments formed by expanding clay athigh temperatures (calcining) MuleMix Turface Klawog and Pros Choice amongothers all manufacture calcined clay products Diamond Pro makes a vitrified clayproduct which reduces absorption rates and allows water to pass through to the basesoil
We use 10-15 bags of conditioner every four days We like to keep 1 to 2 tons inthe top 3 inches Pro League Red (Turface) has smaller particles that Gallant said isbetter for passing water The vitrified Diamond Pro product acts as a barrierbetween infield clay and the players holds moisture and helps drainage
Without these products the surface would be more sticky and less playableGallant said He added that to topdress in Cincinnati he uses a 5050 mix of Turfaceand Diamond Pro products (the products are not mixed nor spread together howev-er)
httpwwwsportsturfmanagercom bull STMA
BY ERIC SCHRODER
MaintenanceGallant said his routine infield skin maintenance includes a first-thing-in-the-
morning tickle which he describes as light scratching Then he comes in with agroomer followed by a drag mat (from Beacon Athletic about (continued on page 18)
AerWays start at under $3500
Aerate All Year LongAeration needs changewith the seasons -from earlyestablishment and growth tomaintenance midseasonand then to topdressing andoverseeding as circumstancespermit
Design Your Own AeratorOnly AerWayreg lets youchoose a frame size and styleto suit your power unit andadd any of our quick-changetined rollers (ShattertineSportstine Finetine CoringTine) that suit the seasonalrequirement
Sportstine Fin etin ereg
for further information call 1-800-457-8310
A d van c e d A era t ion Sy s t emsw w wa e r w a v c o m email a e r w a y eia c r w a y c o m
Circle 145 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-145
SPORTSTURF 11
RONSTAR HERBICIDERONSTAR brand oxadiazon is a pre-
emergent herbicide that controls a varietyof annual broadleaf and annual grassweeds Product controls weeds through their shoots rather than their roots so it wontharm turfgrass roots In addition Ronstar is different chemistry than DNA (dinitroaniline)herbicides and does not face the same resistance threat as this class of chemicalsBayer Environmental Sdence201-307-9700For information circle 076 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-076
EXTENDED RELEASE HERBICIDEBesides the standard grade fertilizer carriers
used to deliver preemergence herbicidesLebanonTurf also features Expo extended releasesulfate of potash as a carrier Choose from 038Barricade 013 Dimension or 019Dimension and your preemergence herbicide willbe delivered on a homogeneous SGN 145 20-0-25 thats 100 Expo extended release potashRonstar fans can get a 15 loading on an SGN145 19-0-23 base thats 100 Expo potash Expoextended release potash is an exclusiveLebanonTurf product that delivers potash muchmore slowly than does regular sulfate of potasheffectively extending the benefits of this nutrientto the turfgrass plantLebanonTurf8oo-532-0090For information circle 075 or
hUplwwwonersimsca4571-075
DIMENSION HERBICIDENon-staining Dimension specialty herbicide provides season-
long control of poa annua crabgrass and goosegrass in oneapplication and controls or suppresses over 25 grassy andbroadleaf weeds including chickweed oxalis and spurge Itsearly post-emergence activity on crabgrass extends the treat-ment window Use Dimension on cool- and warm-season turfand overseeded turf It can be tank mixedDow AgroSciences317-337-3000For information circle 077 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-077
Circle 146 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-146
12 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Synthetic Super Duty Blue BrushesResist wear and will not deteriorate from moisture
science
PENDULUMHERBICIDE
Pendulum AquaCapis recommended forpreemergence controlof grass and broadleafweed species as theygerminate in turfgrassThe BASF-patentedmicro encapsulationtechnology combined withthe new water-based formulation results inseveral benefits including virtually no odor reducedstaining potential increased ease and flexibility of han-dling mixing and cleanup improved storage stabilityand improved environmental profileBASF8oo-545-9525For information circle 078 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-078
DG PRO FUNGICIDESDG Pro is a dispersible granular carrier that disperses almost
immediately upon contact with water Now you can improve theefficacy of turf treatment eliminate mower pickup and enhancedistribution of active ingredients all in one applicationThe Andersons80o-253-5296For information circle 081 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-081
rhe Striping PeopleV
Call us today at 800-877-1500 wwwpioneer-mlgcomCircle 095 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-095
14 March 2005
Circle 174 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-174
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
With Riviera your new reseeded orrepaired field can establish just asfast - as rich healthy and resilient too -whether youre in the bermuda grasstraditional or transitional zone
Its exceptional cold hardiness andoutstanding droughtstress toleranceassure vital pre- and post-seasonadvantages too
like Bob Dale added ~~Rveramadethe choice and my life muchess complicated
Ready to PIIt GwinnerDR your fieldRiviera Bermudagrass Seed Alsoavailable in sod for immediate orspecial needs
Simply make one call
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
RONSTAR HERBICIDERONSTAR brand oxadiazon is a pre-
emergent herbicide that controls a varietyof annual broadleaf and annual grassweeds Product controls weeds through their shoots rather than their roots so it wontharm turfgrass roots In addition Ronstar is different chemistry than DNA (dinitroaniline)herbicides and does not face the same resistance threat as this class of chemicalsBayer Environmental Sdence201-307-9700For information circle 076 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-076
EXTENDED RELEASE HERBICIDEBesides the standard grade fertilizer carriers
used to deliver preemergence herbicidesLebanonTurf also features Expo extended releasesulfate of potash as a carrier Choose from 038Barricade 013 Dimension or 019Dimension and your preemergence herbicide willbe delivered on a homogeneous SGN 145 20-0-25 thats 100 Expo extended release potashRonstar fans can get a 15 loading on an SGN145 19-0-23 base thats 100 Expo potash Expoextended release potash is an exclusiveLebanonTurf product that delivers potash muchmore slowly than does regular sulfate of potasheffectively extending the benefits of this nutrientto the turfgrass plantLebanonTurf8oo-532-0090For information circle 075 or
hUplwwwonersimsca4571-075
DIMENSION HERBICIDENon-staining Dimension specialty herbicide provides season-
long control of poa annua crabgrass and goosegrass in oneapplication and controls or suppresses over 25 grassy andbroadleaf weeds including chickweed oxalis and spurge Itsearly post-emergence activity on crabgrass extends the treat-ment window Use Dimension on cool- and warm-season turfand overseeded turf It can be tank mixedDow AgroSciences317-337-3000For information circle 077 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-077
Circle 146 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-146
12 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Synthetic Super Duty Blue BrushesResist wear and will not deteriorate from moisture
science
PENDULUMHERBICIDE
Pendulum AquaCapis recommended forpreemergence controlof grass and broadleafweed species as theygerminate in turfgrassThe BASF-patentedmicro encapsulationtechnology combined withthe new water-based formulation results inseveral benefits including virtually no odor reducedstaining potential increased ease and flexibility of han-dling mixing and cleanup improved storage stabilityand improved environmental profileBASF8oo-545-9525For information circle 078 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-078
DG PRO FUNGICIDESDG Pro is a dispersible granular carrier that disperses almost
immediately upon contact with water Now you can improve theefficacy of turf treatment eliminate mower pickup and enhancedistribution of active ingredients all in one applicationThe Andersons80o-253-5296For information circle 081 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-081
rhe Striping PeopleV
Call us today at 800-877-1500 wwwpioneer-mlgcomCircle 095 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-095
14 March 2005
Circle 174 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-174
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
With Riviera your new reseeded orrepaired field can establish just asfast - as rich healthy and resilient too -whether youre in the bermuda grasstraditional or transitional zone
Its exceptional cold hardiness andoutstanding droughtstress toleranceassure vital pre- and post-seasonadvantages too
like Bob Dale added ~~Rveramadethe choice and my life muchess complicated
Ready to PIIt GwinnerDR your fieldRiviera Bermudagrass Seed Alsoavailable in sod for immediate orspecial needs
Simply make one call
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Synthetic Super Duty Blue BrushesResist wear and will not deteriorate from moisture
science
PENDULUMHERBICIDE
Pendulum AquaCapis recommended forpreemergence controlof grass and broadleafweed species as theygerminate in turfgrassThe BASF-patentedmicro encapsulationtechnology combined withthe new water-based formulation results inseveral benefits including virtually no odor reducedstaining potential increased ease and flexibility of han-dling mixing and cleanup improved storage stabilityand improved environmental profileBASF8oo-545-9525For information circle 078 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-078
DG PRO FUNGICIDESDG Pro is a dispersible granular carrier that disperses almost
immediately upon contact with water Now you can improve theefficacy of turf treatment eliminate mower pickup and enhancedistribution of active ingredients all in one applicationThe Andersons80o-253-5296For information circle 081 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-081
rhe Striping PeopleV
Call us today at 800-877-1500 wwwpioneer-mlgcomCircle 095 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-095
14 March 2005
Circle 174 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-174
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
With Riviera your new reseeded orrepaired field can establish just asfast - as rich healthy and resilient too -whether youre in the bermuda grasstraditional or transitional zone
Its exceptional cold hardiness andoutstanding droughtstress toleranceassure vital pre- and post-seasonadvantages too
like Bob Dale added ~~Rveramadethe choice and my life muchess complicated
Ready to PIIt GwinnerDR your fieldRiviera Bermudagrass Seed Alsoavailable in sod for immediate orspecial needs
Simply make one call
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
science
PENDULUMHERBICIDE
Pendulum AquaCapis recommended forpreemergence controlof grass and broadleafweed species as theygerminate in turfgrassThe BASF-patentedmicro encapsulationtechnology combined withthe new water-based formulation results inseveral benefits including virtually no odor reducedstaining potential increased ease and flexibility of han-dling mixing and cleanup improved storage stabilityand improved environmental profileBASF8oo-545-9525For information circle 078 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-078
DG PRO FUNGICIDESDG Pro is a dispersible granular carrier that disperses almost
immediately upon contact with water Now you can improve theefficacy of turf treatment eliminate mower pickup and enhancedistribution of active ingredients all in one applicationThe Andersons80o-253-5296For information circle 081 orsee httpwwwonersimsca4571-081
rhe Striping PeopleV
Call us today at 800-877-1500 wwwpioneer-mlgcomCircle 095 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-095
14 March 2005
Circle 174 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-174
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
With Riviera your new reseeded orrepaired field can establish just asfast - as rich healthy and resilient too -whether youre in the bermuda grasstraditional or transitional zone
Its exceptional cold hardiness andoutstanding droughtstress toleranceassure vital pre- and post-seasonadvantages too
like Bob Dale added ~~Rveramadethe choice and my life muchess complicated
Ready to PIIt GwinnerDR your fieldRiviera Bermudagrass Seed Alsoavailable in sod for immediate orspecial needs
Simply make one call
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
With Riviera your new reseeded orrepaired field can establish just asfast - as rich healthy and resilient too -whether youre in the bermuda grasstraditional or transitional zone
Its exceptional cold hardiness andoutstanding droughtstress toleranceassure vital pre- and post-seasonadvantages too
like Bob Dale added ~~Rveramadethe choice and my life muchess complicated
Ready to PIIt GwinnerDR your fieldRiviera Bermudagrass Seed Alsoavailable in sod for immediate orspecial needs
Simply make one call
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
NEW BLUEG ASSWe are pleased to introduce Pickseeds newest bluegrass Moon Shadow a
top NTEP-ranking variety that includes dark green color wear tolerance heatand stress tolerance improved resistance to many diseases including leaf spotand summer patch and tolerance tolow mowing heightsPickseed West8oo-547-4108For information circle 083 orsee
This is the best and most affordablededicated sprayer I have Iound- I Hayes
Spray Technician
when only pedectlonwlII do
out our Web Specials Today8002281003 ext 34 bull salesbroyhillcom bull wwwbroyhillcom
Circle 172 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-172
16 March 2005 SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Keep your top 14 inch loose especially if you cant water Your players will beable to tell the difference Gallant said One other thing if you edge and keep yourgrassdirt interfaces clean it can go a long way toward making your field look better
Controlling your moisture levels is the most important thing Elliott addedEach manager has to learn what works for his or her field You cant control soilcomposition always but you do control time for repairs and maintenance
For managing lips Gallant saiduse a garden hose to blow productback into the dirt then rake the grassup Ask coaches and players to rakeout their lips a few times a week
(continued from page 11) $100) A broom can work better than the cocoa mats especiallyduring dry conditions Gallant said
We also like the stiff waffle mats which have a beam to fill empty spots and levelhigh spots he said When youre dragging go slow Pick up the drag at differentpoints on the infield to disperse loose material Then rake parallel with your grassedges I also recommend using bases with plugs that you can drag right over
bull Excellent Salt Tolerance bull Darker Green Color Than Bermudagrassbull Tolerates Gray Water Effluent and Many Medium-to-Poor Quality Water Sourcesbull Low Fertilization Requirements bull Handles Wide Range of Soil pH Levels 40-98
bull Minimal Pesticide Requirements bull High Tolerance to Salt Spray Water Logging andPeriodic Inundations bull Good Rooting in Sandy Clay or Muck- Type Soils
bull Can Be Overseeded with Bentgrass-Ryegrass- Alkaligrass Blendsbull Root Growth amp Functionality Still Maintained in 40-55degF Soil Temperature Range
bull Excellent Low Light Intensity Tolerance
Providing Excellent Footing amp Soft Landingsfor Professionals Amateurs and Beginners
Certified Seashore Pasnalumwwwseaislelcom
Circle 150 on card or wwwonersimsca4571-150
18 March 2005
Eric Schroder is editor ofS PO RTSTU R F
Water managementWe hand water six to ten times a
day depending on conditions saidElliott Water management is thekey to success while dealing with anysoil Over watering can result inmuddy wet conditions potentiallycausing an injury Under-wateringcan create cement like conditionsresulting in injury
We use hoses to hand water theskin while the team is in town andskin heads while they are gone Theskin heads allow us the freedom tokeep the moisture consistent so weare not forced to over water beforethe team returns
Water is everything to dirt yoursoil needs it as much as your turfGallant said At Great Americanduring a game day were puddlingthe infield every hour until about 2PM when we start backing off water-ing
Gallant bought skin tarps for hisinfield dirt use only which he saidwere especially useful during Redsroad trips We puddle the infieldput the tarp on and then we donthave to water it when the teams outof town he said Gallant says it cost$4000 for his customized tarps buthe thinks most managers would beable to use an old tarp and cut to fittheir fields
If the infield dirt sticks to myfoot its too wet to work Gallantsaid Once its ready gently workyour dirt in one direction to opensome air channels Gallant recom-mended Use drying agents for pud-dles (put the agent right in the pud-dle and then scrap it out its re-usable) because it changes your soilprofile he said
To prevent having to do morework than necessary Gallant recom-mended daily maintenance minimiz-ing wind and water erosion monitor-ing foot and vehicle traffic and keepall mechanical dragging at least 12 to18 inches from grass edges ST
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Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom
Sprinklers on DiamondsDesigning Irrigationfor Safety and Efficiency
e tapped the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC)regarding product selection and key design elements for irrigatingbaseball parks They forwarded us to a couple of pre-eminent irriga-
tion consultants who relish the challenging task of designing baseball park irrigationJeff Bruce is president of Jeffrey L Bruce amp Company in Kansas City MO
whose firm has engineered irrigation for Jacobs Field home of the ClevelandIndians Victory Field AAA Baseball Stadium for the Indianapolis Indians CamdenRiversharks M Stadium in Camden NJ and Canal Park MBaseball Stadiumhome of the Akron Aeros
And Doug Macdonald with Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins COwhich has designed irrigation for Doubleday Field in Cooperstown(see page XX) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Kauffman Stadiumhome of the Kansas City Royals
installing heads and riser assembliesJB Soil plays the larger part If its a tight soil we have to match precipitation
rates with the growing mediums infiltration rate We cant put on more water thanthe field can absorb Native-soil fields need lower volume heads
Another consideration is sand-based fields Sugar sands in Florida can stick-upsprinkler heads The sand grains get caught between the sprinklers wiper seal andriser so as the head goes up and down the sand scores the riser and can get caught- leaving the head sticking up
ST What makes sprinkler head selection so important in base-ball fields in particular What are the key site parameters in pick-ing products
JB You have to balance the amount of irrigation equipment on theathletic surface with a uniform irrigation distribution for proper turfgrowth The intent is to minimize the potential of athlete injury on theequipment
Baseball diamonds are unique theyre not configured in a rectanglelike other sports fields Therefore head placement for uniformity becomesmore difficult Its harder to tweak head locations We opt for sprinklersthat provide high application rates of water to load the sand system andminimize the operation time so we design accordingly If you cut yourwetting cycle in half you reduce the opportunity for disease
OM Sports field applications impose cleated high-volume use Soirrigation has to be installed with a small exposed surface area to avoidinjuries and damage We design with turf heads that provide a good distri-bution profile for good uniformity Good nozzle selection also is impor-tant One because it enables us to adjust arc and radius along the infieldborder and two it enables the turf manager to make minor adjustments in the field
There have been times when weve selected pop-up rotors that allow us to setthe exposed surface of sprinklers slightly below grade which also prevents playerinjuries As a rule we minimize the number of heads in the field to avoid playerinjury That is a paramount concern for any athletic field
ST 00 you always spec big turf rotors Is there ever a need for smallerrotors pop-up sprays or drip
JB For the outfield and infield we generally spec identical large turf rotorsMost fields have their collar behind home plate and that space varies between 15and 25 feet This is the most challenging area so we use some of the smaller turfrotors there with stainless-steel sleeves
OM It depends on the application We use the largest stainless steel rubber-covered rotors we can with acceptable uniformity those with a 50-70 foot throwradius We try to use medium-radius turf rotors between the base line and thefenced area where spacing is tighter But thats really the only area we use those
ST How much of a role does soil and turf type have in selecting and
20 March 2005
If your sports field base is composed of rounded sand its like growing turfthrough BBs The surface turns into a volleyball pit Good sand-based fields useangular sand because it locks up and stays put However this can have a degradingvalue on the head In a high sand environment stainless steel heads protect againstthat
Generally though we look at using plastic sprinklers that flush on the up anddown stroke The high-density polyethylenes are pretty durable and equal or exceedthe durability of old brass heads
For installs we specify swing joints because they hold equipment more verticalIf large rotor heads arent correctly compacted when they throw 50-60 feet they areexerting that same pressure around the back of the heads They begin to wobbleand donuts form around the head which create surface irregularities and playerhazards
OM Both play into it for sure We want to utilize sprinklers that allow the turfmanager to match the application rate to the infiltration rate of the field Most ofthe manufacturers are making plastic-type sprinklers Theyve gotten away from
SPORTSTURF bull httpwwwgreenmediaonlinecom