Prep your fields for spring
1 Jan, 2003 By: Boyd Montgomery Landscape ManagementPreparing cool-season fields for spring sports involves a thorough program that actually starts each fall
Spring challenges sports turf managers. Baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer begin before the turf has awaken from the winter. The adversary is the weather - if it's not snowing, the spring showers are probably dousing your fields. How are you supposed to get your fields ready for play?
 Aerate your fields as soon as the fall sports season ends |
Think fall before spring
Providing good fields in the spring always starts with the work that you do the previous fall -aeration, fertilization, overseeding and fungicide treatments.
Generally, aerate your fields as soon as the fall sports season ends, native soil fields in different directions. It's a great time to overseed, too. Start in early fall.
 Monitor root growth once spring hits. |
Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season turf, too. Check with your cooperative extension for the best time in your area.
Be ready when the turf wakes up
Start working on your fields as soon as the weather breaks in the spring. You may want to monitor the turf at several locations at your facility. When the temperature reaches 50º to 55º F, the turf will start waking up. Irrigate carefully in early spring as putting water onto fields too early could slow the warming of the soil.
If time allows and you have native soil fields and the turf is growing, you can aerify once again in spring. Make sure the turf is growing so it doesn't get ripped up.
In northwest Ohio, we apply pre-emergent fertilizer in March. Fertility programs begin in early April. Your timing may be different.
In our program, we spoon-feed light applications every three to four weeks using slow-release fertilizers. This increases the turf health while preventing it from growing too fast, resulting in more mowing.
Time to conduct tests
Soil testing is another key component to spring field preparation. As soon as the turf begins to start growing, take a soil sample and get it tested for nutrient needs.
If an even clearer picture is desired, consider a tissue sampling program, which requires you to collect fresh clippings and send them in for analysis. A higher level of commitment, however, is required for this program as testing should occur every month. Whether soil testing or tissue sampling is done to monitor soil fertility, you must make changes and modifications to your program once the test results come back to ensure the proper nutrient program is being applied.
Conduct a field or facility survey early each spring to identify potential problems, such as wear areas from fall sports. Sometimes you can solve this problem by rotating or altering the layout of your fields. This will allow worn areas to recover.
Don't get worn out
You can hand-overseed some of these bad spots. Begin as soon as the soil starts to warm. Mix seed, fertilizer and soil and hand-spread it over the worn areas. You'll get better results if you pre-germinate the seed, then lightly rake it in. You can also use green divot mix or extra grass clippings. They'll help you disguise the wear areas as they recover.
If any worn area is unsafe and needs immediate repair, try to find an area off the field with the same type of grass and soil and cut a piece of sod for replacement. If you have an area on your facility that isn't being used, look into developing a sod farm for these needed repairs.
 The areas in front of soccer goals may require seasonal aeration, overseeding. |
As soon as activity begins on your turf, begin assessing your fields' condition daily. This will allow you to quickly attack weakening areas with overseeding and aeration. If you choose to aerate once the season begins, you'll need to either remove the cores so you don't disrupt play or use solid tines.
Don't forget about mowing
Start mowing as soon as the turf starts growing and the soil is dry enough to mow. Cut often enough to keep up with the growth of the grass - one, two, three or even four times a week depending on the requirements of the sports played on your turf. You may have to adjust mowing heights to get the grass to the desired height. Don't mow more than 1/3 of the grass blades at a time.
Monitoring is key
Watch for additional problem areas resulting from spring activities. Create a map of your field or facility and highlight them for a history that will benefit you down the road. If fungal diseases begin to develop, your best bet might be the use of an appropriate fungicide. If poa annua is a concern, monitor in spring so you can identify areas for treatment or eradication.
The games are going to go on no matter if the turf is actively growing or not!
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