Can you identify this turfgrass problem?
Problem: Wet grass
Turfgrass area: Professional stadium field
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Turfgrass variety: 419 bermudagrass
Answer:
Early in the Atlantic Hurricane season last year at the end of July, Tropical Storm Debby hit the Jacksonville area and deposited more than 3.5 inches of rain on the stadium field before the winds hit the area. This occurred on the same day as the Premier League hosted a game on the field. This caused a four-hour rain delay. The field is constructed with Prescription Athletic Turf, so the field has an impermeable liner, gravel, drain lines and suction pumps, as well as a sand-based rootzone. The sports field manager sprayed a penetrant to aid in the drainage before the game as this is usually a wet time of year. The suction pumps come on automatically 30 minutes after a rainfall event and remove all the water quickly. The crew had to roller squeegee the area where the artificial turf meets the natural grass on the perimeter of the field on both sides of the field to remove standing water. The game started 30 minutes after the rain stopped, and the field played fine. Overall, from July 27 through Tropical Storm Debby, the area received a total of 11 inches of rainfall.
Photo submitted by Mark Clay, SR sports field and grounds manager for ASM Global and EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida.
John Mascaro is president of Turf-Tec International
If you would like to submit a photograph for John Mascaro’s Photo Quiz, please send a high-resolution digital photo to John Mascaro via email at john@turf-tec.com. If your photograph is selected, you will receive full credit. All photos submitted will become property of SportsField Management magazine and the Sports Field Management Association.