Baseball
Turf Maintenance
Baseball
turf maintenance practices the pros use. Make your bounces dependable.
85% of the game occurs in the infield.
This
section covers everything you need for mowing, edging the grass, aerating,
top dressing, seeding, sod, fertilizing, dragging, watering, sanding,
and rolling… including tips and avoiding common mistakes.
Here
are the basic steps to. I've done this entire process dozens of times
on fields from T-Ball to little league, to high school, to college. It
just takes a little effort and a little time. Then you'll have a better
baseball experience for players, coaches, and parents. |
For a complete
program of baseball turf maintenance,
follow this 10 step process.
This process is ideally done 3 to 4 weeks before your spring season
starts.
You can also
do this before summer tournaments and in late fall when you are done
for the year.
Each step is described including bonus tips &
hints as well as common mistakes to avoid.
So, here’s what you do:
Once your field is dry enough, start
your baseball turf maintenance by mowing your turf.
In the early spring and fall, cut it a bit shorter than you normally do.
That allows for 3-4 weeks of growth. Next,
mark your sprinklers so you don’t hit them when you aerate
and edge
your turf.
This
is followed by adding topdressing if possible. Usually a dirt mixture
that includes sand is best.
Then over
seed the turf.
Now the magic steps. Drag
the turf to blend the seed and dirt, to smooth the surface, and to
force materials into the aerification holes.
After the above process has been completed, fertilize
the turf and start
watering. After about 2 weeks spot
seed any areas where there is thin growth.
Once the turf
has grown to 2 to 3 inches, it is time to start regular mowing.
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