2. Seeding
• First Things First Know What You Need!
• Step 1- Determine a Good Grass Type for
your particular are
• Step 2 Select a Cultivar/ Mixture
• Step 3- Seed, Sod or Sprig?
• Step 4- Planting
• Step 5- Maintenance and Grow in
3. Fertility
• Most professionals agree that a soil test should be completed at least once
every 3 to 5 years, the soil should be analyzed to determine acidity and
nutrient status. This will be used as a guide for specific lime and fertilizer
applications.
• Athletic field turfs can vary considerably in soil type, turf type (different
species and cultivars), exposure to sunlight, ect. These and other factors
influence the rate and timing of fertilization.
4. Mowing
Standard mowing heights
for sports turf grasses are
usually between .75 and 3
inches, depending on the
sport and the amount of
maintenance the turf
receives.
Athletic fields that do not
receive supplemental
irrigation should be
mowed at the higher end
of the mowing height
range.
5. Weed Control
• Use only labeled herbicides
• Get the right equipment
• Train your applicator
• Calibrate all equipment
• Control weeds during the off-season
• Water preemergence herbicides
• Make applications when field is not in use
6. Water Application
It is very difficult to maintain an
athletic field without irrigation.
Irrigation should be scheduled to
supplement rainfall. Duration
depends on environmental
factors and limitations of the
irrigation system.
Apply enough water to soak the soil
to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches. On
medium-textured soils, this usually
means applying about 1 inch of water
per week during the summer
The best time of day to irrigate is
before sunrise because there is less
wind and lower temperatures, thus
less water loss to evaporation.
7. Scheduling, Field Rotation, and Moving
Goals
• Why Is this even important and how does it
relate to turf?
• Wear on the Fields
• Rotation
• Goals kill the grass
• Keeps people off your fields
8. My Experience with Athletic Fields
J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex
City of Wilson, NC
Parks Superintendent Mr. Dale Edmonds NCSU Turf Degree (1990)
9. Gillette (Seeding)
• Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass (Hybrid Bermuda)
• Perennial Rye Grass (700 lbs/A)
Math- How many lbs of seed
will it take for all 6 soccer
fields? One field is about 2A.
10. Gillette (Fertilizers)
• On Average about 1lb/N/1000sq ft (Varies in
Colder Months) once a month especially in the
active growing months (May-September)
• Potassium as needed (Once a Year) to help
with wear tolerance
• Complete Fertilizer as Needed (3-1-2 Ratio
when in the maintenance stage, and when in
the recovery stage a 5-1-2 ratio is often used.
Ex. 25-5-10
12. Gillette (Weed Control)
• Spray out Rye Grass (Usually First of April)
using Revolver or Monument
• Preemergents twice a year (Spring and Fall)
• Postemergents 2-3 times a year as needed
• Wetting Agent (Dew Dropper) once a month
at low rate (6oz. Per Acre) Why???
13. Gillette (Water Application)
• Toro Sprinklers
• 6 Soccer Fields, 4 Baseball Fields, and
Surrounding Area
• Summer Months-100,000 gallons per day
• ALL Reclaimed Water
• 1 cent per 1000 Gallons
14. Gillette (Mis.)
• Top Dress twice a year to level fields and fill in
major holes. Once in Fall and once in Spring.
• Some form of aeration is done usually twice a
year. This changes year to year also.
