LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

By John C. Fech

Two of the most critical influences in terms of landscape plant success in the sports turf or campus landscape are the separation of turf and ornamentals and getting new plants off to a good start. Unfortunately, sports field managers often find themselves caring for plants that are co-mingled or co-located with mowed turf. Since these two groups of plants have very different needs in terms of maintenance requirements, whatever you do to one ends up causing damage and compromising the health of the other. The best solution is to physically separate them from the start or redesign the space to allow for customized management practices. Proper yearone management techniques further enhance the success of overall grounds management.

METHODS OF SEPARATING TURF AND ORNAMENTALS An examination of the sports turf landscape is the first step. For spaces that surround the field( s), identify non-turf plants that have been placed in the middle of turfgrass installations. Since turf is cared for very differently than ornamentals— mowing, aerification, topdressing, pest control techniques and higher inputs of water and fertilizer( usually)— a prudent action step is to redesign these spaces to exclude ornamentals from the turf or to replace the turf with groundcovers or mulch. In addition to different maintenance techniques, removal of trees often results in reduced shade stress and water competition for the remaining turf plants.

For areas that have not yet been established, work with a landscape designer to create areas that separate turf and ornamentals right from the start. Initial separation minimizes conflicts such as bark injury from string trimmers and mowers, over / under watering and herbicide injury. In addition to keeping each group of plants healthier than when co-located, a significant budgetary savings will result as well.

28 SportsField Management | April 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com