TREE CARE

Trees and shrubs have been placed at your sports field for several reasons . They bring a lot of value in terms of amenity and shade to a sports facility , but if neglected can turn from an asset into an eyesore . Here ’ s how to keep them looking and functioning great .

Inventory Before attempting to maintain anything – a car , a shopping mall , an air conditioning unit , a church building – it ’ s crucial to identify the exact specifics at hand . After all , Ford parts just don ’ t work well for a Dodge pickup . In this application , knowing that Ficus , viburnum , juniper and maple are the plants in the planting beds that need to be maintained establishes the foundation for any actions going forward . Each of these plants has unique needs that must be met in order for it to thrive ; if those needs aren ’ t met , the plant will struggle and become a drag on the facility .

An inventory can be a simple procedure . Starting with a simple sketch of a field or group of fields , simply draw in the hardscape features ( such as the parking lots and concession stands ), then the actual fields , then the plantings . At this point , it ’ s best to draw ovals , circles , rectangles and other geometric shapes instead of getting real detailed . An overall view document of this type is called a bubble diagram – one that establishes the size and shape of the sports field landscape .

After the bubbles have been located , take each one and draw it again , at least large enough to fill an entire page of graph paper or legal paper . This will provide the space necessary to be specific regarding the identity of each plant and its needs . Next , draw the smallest and lowest-to-the-ground plants , usually the short shrubs and hedges . Then draw in any trees that cast shade over the top of them with a rough wavy circular line , using a different color . If you know the names of the plants , great ; go ahead and write them in at this point . If not , seek out their identity . Nursery vendors , experienced landscapers and university extension faculty are great resources for this , as are some of the smart phone apps that utilize recognition software . Label each plant or plant grouping with a corresponding letter , such as Group A = mass of Ficus , Group B = 2 hackberry , Group C = 7 lilacs , etc .

Trees used for screening may cast excessive shade on sports turf .

14 SportsField Management | October 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com