The Ohio State University

Home SportsNotes Now is a great time to do a variety of tasks that will prepare athletic fields for 2009. I believe it was Dr. Dave Minner that coined the phrase "putting the field to bed" and it captures perfectly the idea that there are certain maintenance tasks that can be done right now, just before winter, that will have a tremendous benefit the following spring.

* Safety first! Fields that have major holes and undulations in high traffic areas (goal mouths, between hashes) need renovating. Sandy loam or soil material that matches the rootzone as much as possible needs to be imported and holes filled it (see top picture in collage).

* Soils are moist but are not yet frozen, and so are in prime condition for Aeration equipment to move across the field without causing too much surface damage/soil compaction. Aeration equipment such as a core aerator or deep tine (2nd picture) opens up the soil surface and allows for gas exchange. In addition, it creates open spaces for seed, fertilizer and topdressing.

*Any seed applied now will be considered a Dormant Seed in that it will not germinate until spring 2009. Kentucky bluegrass is an ideal candidate for dormant seeding. Some caution is needed with tall fescue and perennial ryegrass as they may germinate in warmer weather and then be subsequently killed by frost. A dormant seed typically has a higher mortality rate than a conventional seeding, so 30-50% more seed is needed. The added advantage of a dormant seed is that seed is in place and ready to germinate, which may give the seed a slight competative edge over aggressive spring weeds like crabgrass and knotweed.

* It is not too late to apply a Late Season Fertilizer(LSF) in central and southern Ohio. In northern Northern Ohio it is probably too late. The nitrogen source for LSF is 100% quick-release, so that it is rapidly taken up the turf plant. A suitable material (and economically the best) is Urea 46-0-0. Field managers that have conducted soil tests and have deficiencies in P & K may look for a blended quick-release fertilizer source that also contains P & K, otherwise 46-0-0 is sufficient. The rate for LSF is 1 to 1.5 lbs N/1,000 sq.ft. Field managers with sandy soils should apply lower rates, to prevent nitrogen from leaching through the sand profile.

* The final step in "putting the field to bed" is to cover the aeration holes, seed and LSF with Topdressing Sand. Topdressing sand offers numerous benefits: (1) Most importantly, it fills in undulations and smooths out playing surfaces. This is paramount for the safety and perfomance of athletes, (2) Sand is a granular material that can improve finer textured soils by increasing the macroporosity (large air spaces). Increased macroporosity in turn increases drainage rates and helps to promote deeper root systems, nutrient uptake, and gas exchange (3) The topdressing material acts as a cover to conserve moisture and protect the crowns of the turf plant.

These tasks, done together, have a much better effect on turf health than done on their own. These tasks are particularly important on those fields that host spring sports and need to be ready as early as April 2009.

Topdressing picture taken by Dr. Stephen Baker, STRI

Posted by Pamela J. Sherratt & Dr. John R. Street