Tips Library: Turf Maintenance
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What reaction(s) has anyone experienced with Primo on KBG(100% sand)ball diamonds?
"I made an application on a new field in Cedar Rapids, IA. The thought was that it would help us out in July when temperatures were at their worst. It did help in the long run, but hurt us in the short term. Recuperative ability was low, even at 1/2 the recommended label rate. Personally, I will not be using it on my field this year.
"
Greg Elliott - Lake County Captains, Eastlake, OH
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Does anyone have any information on control of smut grass in 419 bermuda? I have 3 soccer fields almost 50% infiltrated.
"The DMI fungicides, fenarimol, triadimefon, and propiconazole are best used to manage smut. Read your chemical label for those ingredients.
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Wesley Wright - Student, Waco, TX
"Princep at 2.0 qt/A applied three weeks apart should provide good control. However, this should be a spot treatment applied directly to the crown of the plant, as most triazine applications - particularly during the summer - pack quite wallop on Tifway.
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Laurie E. Trenholm,Ph.D.- Urban Turfgrass Specialist, U of FL, Gainesville, FL
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Can anyone relate experiences with pesticide free turf maintenance on sports fields? (Both positive and negative.)
"Maintaining healthy turf for Little League Baseball Fields is a hassle not being allowed to use much or any pesticides. I have found that having really strong turf (good root development) combats most pests like grubs. I constantly over seed by hand, slice seeding and sod where necessary."
Ben Polimer - Sharon Youth Baseball and Softball Assoc., Sharon, MA
"We are trying Steinernema scaptersci, a benificial nematode for the control of mole crickets in Bermuda Sports turf. We are having good results. The results will be published by the Univ. of Fla. who is running the test. Also try humates and benificail bacteria to lower fertilizer use.
For more information, check link to U of Florida website - University of Florida"
Matt Burke - Turf Specialist, City of Altamonte Springs, Altamonte Springs FL
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Has anyone ever been successful at controlling Poa annua in their Ryegrass overseeded Hybrid Bermuda turf ?
"There is a relatively new chemical made by Griffin called Tranxit that can be applied 10 to 14 days prior to overseeding to control Poa Annua. I have not tried it yet but it is worth looking into."
Tom Burns - Texas Rangers, Arlington Tx
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What is the best hybrid seeded Bermuda for school play fields? Our climate is like Las Vegas--hot summers, warm winters. Water & Soil are alkaline.
"There is a true hybrid bermuda grass available from
Pennington Seed called Princess 77. You can call
them at 1-800-286-6100 ext. 281 or on the web at
www.penningtonseed.com
Hope this helps you out. The bermuda triangle is a
great blend as well.
"
Ronnie L Whitman - R & R Irrigation and HydroSeed Inc, Pace,Fl
"First off, don't waste your time listening to lectures about whether a seed can be a hybrid or not. Anyway, we also had great success with Bermuda Triangle. We seeded when the soil temp was 68 (May for us). We watered lightly 12 times a day. By start of school (Aug. 12) Our sports field was up and strong, ready to be played on. It was amazing.
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Robb Willie - Washington County School District, St. George, Utah
"We seeded a ball field with "Bermuda Triangle". It's a hybrid mix of Sydney, Sultan, and Yuma seed. We used a pre-plant fertilizer followed by a grow in program. Keep in mind you have to syringe water 6 or more times per day for a while. The turf was knit in well after 3 months. It holds up great in heavy play but has a more course texture than 419. It also seems to hold up well to drought. Our PH is also high.
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Matt Burke - City of Altamonte Springs, Altamonte Springs, FL
"Hybrid bermudagrasses can only be vegetativly propagated. Hybrid Bermudagrass seed, if available, would be useless, as it is sterile (hybrids produce no pollen). Propagation would have to be from sod, plugs or stolons. There are however, improved Common Bermudagrass cultivars which do have seed commercially available. All these have their particular benefits. Contact a reputable seed supplier for further information. Make sure you know completely what your turf needs are. Check with your local Ag. Extension Service or Land Grant University for technical assistance. 'NuMex Sahara' is just one of several improved Common Bermudagrasses now available. NuMex Sahara was developed at New Mexico State University by agronomist Arden Baltensperger, Ph.D.
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Albert Villalobos - New Mexico State University-Grounds, Las Cruces, NM
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Is there a way to chemically induce the natural process of harding off before a hard freeze?
"We lower our nitrogen levels in the fall and bump up the potassium to help harden off the plant. We also try to get our soil moisture as close to field capacity as possible to help limit the cold air moving into the root zone.
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Tom Burns - Texas Rangers, Arlington, TX
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What is the biggest turf maintenance problem/concern at your facility and how do you handle it?
"Fairy ring control - We have tried Pro-Star and over N applications. "
Timothy Peterson - Arizona Cardinals, Tempe, AZ
"Applying pesticides -- trying to utilize IPM practices while working around playing schedules. There is usually a conflict.. Sports field mangers need to have a complete understanding of the mechanism of action of the pesticides they use in order to get results and still not allow players to be exposed to turfgrass pesticides.
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John Grande - Rutgers University, Pittstown, NJ
"Our biggest issue seems to be field overuse. The way we are trying to overcome this issue is by aerification and topdressing regularly."
Damon Ervie - Liberty Schools, Kansas City, MO
"Not enough time. To help, we crosstrain the employees for optimum use of time. "
Matt Carl - City of Ankeny, Ankeny, IA
" Goal mouths of soccer fields. Right after the season or as early in spring as possible we use a gas powered edger to scarify the worn areas and overseed them,to try and promote new seedlings as soon as possible. Even before we aerify, we may lose some to coring but it has worked well.
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Don Wirick - Merrillville Community Schools, Merrillville, IN
"Wear of turf is the largest issue on sports fields. Proper irrigation and the ability to move goals for soccer help. Painted fields need to be moved occasionally."
Stephen Guise - Guise & Associates, Fullerton, CA
"Trying to communicate and educate coaches, administrators, students, and the community about what we are trying to do and why. For example, what is topdressing and why is it important?"
Kevin Yeiser - Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
"Disease, spraying fungicides every 14 days."
Justin Spillman and Rusty Reese - Altoona Curve/Blair County Ball Park, Altoona, PA
"Soccer goal; mouths, rotate fields out of these areas and resod."
Roger Daigle - City of Fort Collins Parks Division, Fort Collins, CO
"The turf wearing out around the home plate area and pitchers mound. We use enkamat and a wind screw type of material over the grass and we tack it down to protect the grass. We make sure to aerate the area on a regular basis."
Heather Nabozny - Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers, Detroit, MI
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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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