Tips Library: Mowing
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Mowing tips for multi use fields.
"We change direction every time we mow (first base, third base, batters eye, ect.) This helps keep a uniform cut and the rutts down"
Clay Mears - Maryvale Baseball Park/ Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training Facility, Phoenix, Arizona
"Focus on mowing patterns on all fields, high school, college, etc. because you can convince coaches, players and fans that you have really improved your fields simply by burning in a pattern.
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Paul R. Curtis - Penn State University - Athletics, University Park, PA
"I found 2-1/2" cutting height works best for our muti-use fields. ie...baseball, soccer and football."
Paul Griffith - City of Woodbury, Woodbury, MN
"Mow frequently to reduce clipping problem, improve density, reset divots."
Bob Milano Jr. - Memorial Stadium, Berkley, CA
"Mow every other week, keep fescue lawns at a minimum of 2-1/2" and bermuda at 1/2" to 3/4". No water should be on fields at least 2 days prior to mowing."
Domingo Castillo - Irvine Unified School District, Irvine, CA
"Try to mow a few times a week during the growing season. This will help you stay within the 1/3 rd rule. Better to mow when grass blades are not wet, unless you have dollar spot. "
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
"Aggressive fertilization program. Aeration/seeding, top dressing at least once a year. - mowing: keep consistent height of turf (2-2-1/2") whatever you choose- sweep as needed. Mow 1-2 times per week as needed."
Roger Daigle - City of Fort Collins Parks Division, Fort Collins, CO
"I mow our Bermuda grass 3/4 of an inch. I try to mow every day during the baseball season. It is mowed at alternating stripes for a checkerboard pattern for baseball. During football season it is mowed at 1 inch and mowed in alternating stripes every five yards. It is mowed every other day during football season."
George Trivett CGM,CSFM - Granite Falls Middle School, Granite Falls,NC
"Mow every other day. On game day, mow the lines 1/2 inch shorter then the rest of the field . When soccer has a game scheduled, mow lengthwise or diagonal . When football has a game scheduled, mow crosswise every 5 yards to give a striping effect.
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Ron Werner - Kasson-Mantorville Schools, Kasson, MN
"Mow the turf 2-3 times a week. This will promote a good stand of turf. Also the big key is aeration. At least once a month. Use a shattertine during heavy use periods. This will allow play to continue while you battle compaction.
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Lance Tibbetts - Recreation Dept., Westbrook, ME
"Directional mowing, always mow dry. Keep at 7/8" or 1" - bermuda. Decrease mowing in the high traffic area from time to time, results in less stress, i.e. soccer field, football center & goal area.
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Chris Collins - Advanced Microbial Solutions, Pilot Point, TX
"Change mowing patterns routinely. Cut the grass as high as possible without interfering with the play of the particular sport.
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Kevin Yeiser - Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
"Leaving grass long during football, soccer events, and field hockey where there is more wear on the field."
Justin Spillman and Rusty Reese - Altoona Curve/Blair County Ball Park, Altoona, PA
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What situations would you choose a reel vs rotary mower?
"Always use a reel mower! Its scissor-like cut produces a healthier stand of turf. We mow our ryegrass baseball field at 7/8" in the outfield and a little shorter on the infield. Both are mowed using Toro equipment. If there are debris problems, we rake first. If the turf is overgrown, we have the school district mow it short over a two week period. We switched from having it mowed with a Toro 580 D 16'rotary mower to using a reelmaster 216 gas with belt driven reels. Everybody is happy, the turf is thicker and is mowed at a regular interval so that the 1/3rd rule is followed. We are the only high school in the area using a reel mower to mow the field. Our field looks better than the rest and we plan to mow the other fields too!
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James L Tyree II - Aloha High School, Aloha,OR
"Terrain is a factor, type of turf, mower height"
Chris Collins - Advanced Microbial Solutions, Pilot Point, TX
"We use reel mowers on all game fields or low cut practice turf such as field hockey fields, all other practice fields and common areas are cut with rotary mowers."
Kevin Yeiser - Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
"We use reel mowers. As long as you can sharpen them frequently the reel mower does less damage to the turf plant."
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
"Mower blade selection is determined by height of cut required and levelness of field. Reel mowers should be used for sports turf."
Stephen Guise - Guise & Associates, Fullerton, CA
"Types of lawn and playing surface desired. On bermudagrass, I prefer to keep it cut from 1/2" to 3/4", you will need a reeel for this."
Domingo Castillo - Irvine Unified School District, Irvine, CA
"What's best for show is reel, for practice fields - rotary - long grass is better 2-1/2" - 3"."
Dale Wysock - Minnesota Vikings, Eden Prairie, MN
"Reel - high quality, uniform, low heights, spectacular appeal. Rotary - high heights, park areas."
Bob Milano Jr. - Memorial Stadium, Berkley, CA
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What's the best way to stripe or pattern a field with a mower?
"Becoming comfortable with your mower is key to a beautiful surface. Your mowing will be more accurate this way. Archs should only be used on a baseball field once every 5 - 7 mowings.
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Nate Mezera - Mezera Mowing
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When mowing any athletic field use the painted lines as reference lines for mowing straight lines. If there are no painted lines on a field arch's or circles make a field look good. Be sure to rotate your patterns"
Lenny Irey - Lawrence Parks and Rec., Lawrence, KS
" If you have trouble making straight lines, focus on an object at the end of the field or don't try to mow straight lines. Circles and archs don't show mistakes as easily. "
Nathan Johnson - Grace Bible College, Grand Rapids, MI
"We use a reel mower. The rear rollers lay the grass down in order to stripe the filed. In order to create a pattern in your field, you need to mow the same direction day after day. In order to get straight lines, don't look down. Focus on something out in front of you and don't take your eyes off of that target until you are at the end of your pass. "
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
"Use the proper equipment designed with rollers. Patterns should be changed occasionally to prevent ball roll issues in baseball."
Stephen Guise - Guise & Associates, Fullerton, CA
"Reel mowers work best for striping fields. Rotary mowers with a light roller or sweeper towed behind will provide a striping appearance as well. Mowing when the field is slightly wet or damp will stripe a field. Be sure the turf is not to wet so clippings do not clump."
Kevin Yeiser - Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
"Repeat motion 2 or 3 times in the same direction."
Justin Spillman and Rusty Reese - Altoona Curve/Blair County Ball Park, Altoona, PA
"Cut in different directions with a reel mower for patterns."
Domingo Castillo - Irvine Unified School District, Irvine, CA
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Other tips for mowing.
"Spraying a silicone type spray product, such as PAM, will help prevent clipping build up if mowing when grass is wet."
Abby McNeal - Denver Broncos, Denver, CO
"Sharp blades often, P.M. on equipment is critical, use Toro Mowers."
Chris Collins - Advanced Microbial Solutions, Pilot Point, TX
"Sharp blades - change direction from visit to visit."
Roger Daigle - City of Fort Collins Parks Division, Fort Collins, CO
"Keep blades and reels sharp. We sharpen once a week."
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
"Keep equipment clean and blades sharp. You are only as good of a groundskeeper as your mowing equipment. "
Stephen Guise - Guise & Associates, Fullerton, 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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