FIELD RENOVATION
many all-nighters they can pull in a row before they can ’ t function . I then explain grass is also living and needs rest to recharge , uptake nutrients , and repair itself just as humans do . There are many charts and opinions online that take an educated guess on how many different kinds of use the different kinds of grass can take per day . Beyond that , it doesn ’ t matter what the rootzone , fertilization , overseeding and watering is .”
Additionally , noted Matt Wimer of Hummer Turfgrass Systems , it ’ s not as though field problems appear full-blown overnight .
“ A lot of times , an issue will develop over time and worsen until it becomes a safety or playability issue ,” said Wimer . “ Examples are the middle of a high-use field is getting thinner and thinner year after year as overseeding can ’ t keep pace with the wear .”
Wimer added that it ’ s essential to remediate the source of a problem immediately or else it is likely to continue .
“ One issue we see a lot of is heavy stands of Poa annua on fields or
Photo courtesy of Hummer Turfgrass Systems , Inc .
portions of fields ; this is one of the underlying causes of fields not draining well ,” he said . “ That issue needs to be corrected in order to fix the issue that can be seen , which is the drainage problem . Getting to the root cause of the issue that you can see is something that a sports field contractor can help with .”
But if a field owner is still insisting the field wasn ’ t built correctly , said Wimer , he or she may just be right – although they may not like the conclusion that is drawn , particularly if the contractor was selected on the basis of a low bid .
“ One of the biggest issues with natural grass sports field construction at the high school and small college level is unqualified contractors being hired to perform the initial installation . That is an issue that leads to a lot of post-construction renovations that could have been avoided if the fields were built right from the beginning ,” Wimer added .
Working with a contractor who has field-specific experience is an absolute necessity – just as necessary as having a skilled field manager to oversee the facility once it goes in . Finally , the field manager should have ongoing communication with the contractor . If issues crop up , a proactive approach on the part of the field manager and the contractor can help head off problems at the pass .
“ The biggest concern in many organizations is often in the areas of the communication , and educa-
Photo courtesy of Hummer Turfgrass Systems , Inc .
20 SportsField Management | December 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com