Lots of traffic on turf… Need advise…

inthecurl – posted 12 March 2004 09:48

I work at a juvenile correctional facility which has a yard with grass on about 1500 Sq.Ft. From now until October I will be fighting the compaction/disease/heat game. Does anyone have this sort of problem, and what do you do to relieve the field and keep it going. I live in Southern Oregon and it has been wonderful weather for the past two weeks. I am going to roll the field/aerate the field today (two passes in opposite direction)and filll in bare spots with seed and sand. What else should I do before it gets to late in the summer season???? Should I vertical cut/seed?? Dethatch??Any help would be most appreciated.

cohiba – posted 14 March 2004 06:55

Your lucky to be in a great part of the country for growing turf. With the traffic I can see your problems. Whether to verticut depends on your turf type. Ryegrass, bluegrass and fescues don’t require verticutting. Bent and bermuda respond the best with vertictting while growing. Is thatch out of hand? If not leave it alone to help take some of the traffic. The real thing you have to ask yourself is the soil question. What type of soil am I growing turf in? If sandy soils are pesent aeration will help but the soils cannot get that compacted. 2X per year should be good, If you are growing in silt or clay soils more aeration is needed. Also, have you considered spiking? Especially over the time of year where you need to help it dry out or help it to get wet. Is irrigation available? What is our fertility program? Have you ever tried crumb rubber as a topdressing or incorporated into those perpetual bare spots? Hope this helps, good luck.

inthecurl – posted 15 March 2004 09:48

Cohiba,Thank you for the info. I have to correct myself. I have about 15000sq. ft. (65yds x55yds). The field is build on clay and a small amount of topsoil. It is a state facility, so they took the lowest bid on constucting the field, and they got what they bought!!! I have another issue. The last person put about 3 pallets of Turface on the field and it is now turning into clay, making the field even harder. Is there anything I can put on the field to counter the “claying” effect of the Turface. I just aerated yesturday and am going to drag out the plugs and work them back in the field (the last person they had take care of the field raked the plugs and threw them away The field looks good now, but when the heat comes the grass will be very stressed and lots of kids on the field. There are obviously walls all around the grass 25 ft. tall and are tan, so it’s like an oven in there (about 10 degrees warmer than the outside). I’m using sand in bare places mixed with seed. Any comments by anyone would be very helpful. Thank you

cohiba – posted 15 March 2004 13:58

inthecurl, Clay stinks.If money were not an issue I would aerate over the next few years with a Machine called a Floyd-McKay Drill and Fill. It will basically drill 3/4″-1″ Holes about 2″ on center and replace the clay with sand material. The sand has to be kiln dried, bagged is best. The operation we use is subcontracted out.Cost is about .25 per square foot. We are currently doing 3 putting greens 1X per season. Consider topdressing with a 80/20 or 90/10 mix of sand and peatmoss. Warning: If you topdress you will be creating a layering effect that is not for the faint of heart. If you keep topdressing heavy for a few years you will create a new rootzone. If you have a soil test I may be able to tell if Gypsum may be a help to you. I am working for a government owned golf course so I know the $$$ are not always there. Good Luck….