| What
you're going to do After
the topdressing is applied, seeding should follow.
Don't skimp on grass
seed; make sure it is certified.
Try to keep about
a half a bag of infield and outfield seed for filling in thin spots later.
Why you do
this
Overseeding fills
in thin areas and strengthens turf for another season of baseball. This
helps improve the field so it is safe, true, and consistent.
How you do this
- The infield is
seeded with Champion Sports Turf which is an 80/20 mixture of rye grass
and bluegrass. Seed at a rate of 6-8 pounds per 1000 sq ft.
- The typical infield
requires about one and a half 50 pound bags of seed. Put a little extra
seed on the area around the mound, between the mound and home plate,
and around first and third base.
- The outfield is
seeded with a 90/10 mixture of fescue and bluegrass. Seed at a rate
of 6-8 pounds per 1000 sq ft. The high school outfield requires about
nine 50 pound bags of seed.
Tips &
Hints
- Rye grass germinates
faster than fescue. It can be applied when it is still cold out early
in the spring. In northern California it can go out mid January.
- Fescue does better
if it warms up a bit. In northern California it does best when put out
in late February. If it goes out earlier, it will just take longer to
germinate.
- If your grass edge
lines are not growing out as far as they should, you can put extra seed
along the edge letting it go past the edge line. After it grows, you
will be able to cut a very nice edge.
- Keep about 20 pounds
for spot seeding later. Keep more if you can tell you'll probably need
it.
- The bigger, walk-behind
spreaders are easier and more consistent than the smaller hand-held
type.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sometimes you can
be anxious to be the job done before you play on it. If you overseed
when it is still quite cold, most of it may be eaten by the hungry birds.
- Once you start
watering, you need to keep it going for the seed to germinate and grow.
If you don't, the seedlings will die. In early spring, the rains may
do the job, but if you have a couple week break, you need to water.
- Don't let people
walk all over the newly planned seeds. Even if you have to put lots
of flags around the area to let people know they should stay off!
For
info on seed and fertilizer to use, check this section on baseball field
maintenance products. |
|
overseeding
thin areas
overseeding
helps this
don't skimp on seed
50 lbs
for the infield
thick
turf after seeding
rye grass for the infield
fescue
for the outfield
keep
off the new grass!
|
