Tips Library: Infield Maintenance
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Our infield, especially around 2nd base, holds water. We raised the infield and put more material around 2nd base but it keeps holding water. Any ideas to help 2nd baseman from swimming?
"When it rains and we see the water standing, we continually add Turface mixed with sand. This builds up the spots and the Turface MVP helps keep them dry in the future. Eventually this will make the spots dry and hard and we will turn the infield once a year to keep it soft. Laser Grading once a year also helps.
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Kenny Pauley - Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
"If we are unable to regrade the field and slope it away from second base, we have been installing a run or two of slit drains thru the problem areas to a low area or catch basin off of the play area. Back fill with the right sand and topped off with Turface MVP and infield mix. We have been having excellent results. "
Ray Sprow - Sports Turf Specialties, Pittsburgh, PA
"We had the same problem you talk about, but it was along one base path. A good tip is to put in a french drain. Dig out the area about 2 foot long and as deep as you want to dig right in the middle of the area that is always underwater. Fill the hole with pea gravel or anything of the like to about 6-8 inches from the playing surface, then back fill with your infield material. This should do the trick.It worked for me!
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Ben Polimer - Sharon Youth Baseball Assoc., Sharon,MA
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I have three tarps, one for home plate, one for the pitcher's mound and a big one for the entire infield. Does anyone have an idea as to how to hold these tarps down besides using tires?
"We use post hole diggers to go down 2 - 3 feet and then we fill the holes with Pro's Choice. Since we have done this procedure we have not had one rain delay or one canceled game. You may need multiple holes for this to work.
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Lance Tibbetts - City of Westbrook, Westbrook, ME
"I've used socks with sand (good for about one year, then they fall apart), had stakes made with 20pn nails and washers (works fine, just labor intensive - nailing down and removing), money bags from a bank w/sand; even bricks. Best solution, make sure tarps have heavy duty grommets and spend the money to have some strong stakes made, taking care to make sure they are painted brightly so as not to get lost in a hurried removal and stay on the field for a player or mower to find.
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Bobby Chappell - SBCPRD, Statesboro, GA
"The University of Notre Dame uses 2"x6"x10' boards end-to-end to hold the large infield tarp down"
Jim Smith - University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
"Make sure all of your tarps have grommets. We use 10 inch spikes with fender washers welded onto the head so that they don't slip through the grommets. We also use sand bags where the synthetic warning track does not allow us to use the spikes.
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Scott MacVicar - San Francisco Giants, Pacific Bell Park, CA
"We use 4 inch PVC, 12 inches long, filled with concrete, with nylon rope for a handle to hold tarps down.
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Larry Bridges - Franklin College, Franklin, IN
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Has anyone used the Rahn groomer for brushing infilled synthetic turf?
"Love it. For clay management it works great. We use the broom attachment as well to sweep the outfield in the morning to remove dew. The combination of the Springtine Scarifier with the broom down will give you a super smooth surface for brick or turface.
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Brian VanDuyn - Burnett Park, Jacksonville, FL
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Infield/skinned area grooming tips.
"Moisture levels in the infield are critical. Water according to your weather conditions."
Mark Razum - Colorado Rockies/Coors Field, Denver, CO
"When putting grass infield in, extend the pitchers mound 3 inches out in front of the mound. This avoids damage to the infield grass.
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Ray Wussow - Ellisville Athletic Assoc, Ellisville, MO
"I have found that using a power blower, hand held or backpack is very good to blow the infield material off the grassed areas. We do this after every game. It is also crucial to repair the clay areas at the mound and batters boxes after every game. The clay should be replaced, packed, and wet down. These areas should then be covered."
George Trivett CGM, CSFM - Granite Falls Middle School, Granite Falls, NC
"Water to keep infield moist, nail dag to open pores in clay, for water to get into and soil condition to hold moisture in the clay."
Justin Spillman and Rusty Reese - Altoona Curve/Blair County Ball Park, Altoona, PA
"Dragging the skin surface should take place daily basis to keep the dirt material compaction free and consistently mixed."
Domingo Castillo - Irvine Unified School District, Irvine, CA
"Hand rake only down the baselines with wide (3'+) leveling rakes. Stay away from the turf edge with infield machines to keep the infield mix from invading the turf. Make sure to lift the drag when exiting the skinned area in order to keep the mix in the skinned area. "
Kevin Yeiser - Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
"We skin. Nail drag daily with small nail drag (I prefer a hand pull nail drag). If you walk your drags on the skin, you can get a good feel for your infield where your hard/soft areas are located. Therefor you will be able to tell what areas will need more water. Mat drag with screen. Water as needed throughout the day."
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
"Infield cut outs should be large enough to keep the traffic on infield skin and off the turfgrass edge. Moisture levels are critical to protect the stability of the surface. Daily repair is mandatory for professional results. "
Stephen Guise - Guise & Associates, Fullerton, CA
"Keep moisture level high."
Bob Milano Jr. - Memorial Stadium, Berkley, CA
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Opinions and advice expressed by the participants on the www.torosports.com web site are those of the authors. The Toro Company disclaims any and all liability for those actual results. Visitors of www.torosports.com rely on such information at their own risk.
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