Cover Story
MIDSEASON SPORTS FIELD CHECKUP By Tom Serensits, Manager – Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research Andy McNitt, Ph.D., Professor of Soil Science / Turfgrass at Penn State University
FIG. 1. Worn Turf due to Excessive Traffic
T
he heart of the fall sports season is now upon us. Although the stresses of summer heat have passed, the rigors of games and practices are not only hard on players and coaches, but the playing field too (Fig 1). A few simple tips can help minimize the effects of field wear and tear whether you are managing natural or synthetic turf – or both.
SEED EARLY AND OFTEN
The importance of overseeding heavily-used fields and heavilyused areas within a field cannot be emphasized enough. Seeding is one of the most important in-season maintenance practices on heavily-used fields (Fig. 2). You should not wait until the turf begins to thin. Seeding highuse areas before significant turf loss creates a “temporary seed bank” in the soil, which is ready to spring into action as the existing turf stand thins. In almost all cases, perennial ryegrass provides the most in-season seeding success. Compared to other options such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, perennial ryegrass offers several advantages.
FIG. 2. Seeding High School Field
20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2021 www.vaturf.org
