INNING Grass Baseball/Softball Field Renovation

Transcription

1 INNING Grass Baseball/Softball Field Renovation

2 Background Typical ball fields suffer plenty of damage, especially in primary high-impact areas and as a result of poor maintenance, including limited budget, staffing issues, overuse, etc. Things would improve with better field maintenance, but at certain points some major rework is in order.

3 How Did This Happen? Beyond the visuals, let's list the factors that result in this predicament: Ag-lime raking results in compaction at perimeters of skin while the grass grows into those poor breeding areas. Grass which encroaches onto skin areas is not edged or removed, grows poorly and adds to the compaction especially creating lips in all directions. Continual stress points on pitcher's mound, batter's boxes (right, left, catcher, umpire), and also first base typically results in holes and uneven conditions. Grassy areas left to nature suffer from ag-lime contamination and high traffic stress. Irrigation lines and heads migrate and realign from stress, climate, temperature, etc.

4 Planning the Plan Here are the primary topics to consider in a renovation project: Clearly stated objectives and priorities Establish a preliminary work team and/or contractors Determine material and labor requirements resulting in budget Complete plan and procure materials and contracts

5 INNING Plan Here are the primary events to consider in your renovation plan: Dimensions establish correct alignment, elevation, and distance dimensions Pitcher's Mound establish new foundation and proper material composition* including perimeter Home Plate establish new substructure materials and conditions of batter's box, catcher's box, and umpire's box Base Lines establish desired width, material composition* and alignment Infield Skin Edges establish material composition* and elevations for all lips (inner and outer) Infield Skin Surface establish correct material composition* and leveling of all infield skin surface Warning Tracks establish correct material composition* and level transition between grass and skinned areas Irrigation identify and mark all irrigation - lift, and reset all sprinkler heads *Material composition includes necessary removal of old material and replenishment with new product. It's pretty much a nine inning game, but be prepared for extra innings! Infield & Outfield Grass establish level playing surface for all grassy areas and repair as necessary including new sod/seed

6 INNING Dimensions Set transom from home plate Establish all base locations by distance and elevation Secure base stakes Assure alignment with foul lines on fencing (May have to compromise given paint lines on fence)

7 INNING (Top) Pitcher s Mound Identify and mark areas around mound for new grass edge Remove and replace pitcher s rubber if necessary Dig out base beneath mound area to be resodded

8 INNING (Bottom) Pitcher s Mound (Cont d) Roto-till mound clay if necessary Spread fresh topsoil for area to be sodded Tamp topsoil to establish firm base for sod Rake upper level of topsoil and place sod Set and tamp mound area material

9 INNING Home Plate Scribe rough outline of batter s, catcher s, and umpire s box area & remove old base Establish proper depth below area roughly 3-4 inches With proper depth determined, complete tamping of base material Confirm boundaries and place clay bricks (or alternative) Complete fill with new material, level, and pack

10 INNING Base Lines Mark new grass line and remove old material roughly 4 inches deep Complete removal of poor material Rake (or roto-till as necessary) remaining base line material Establish level surface for base lines with grass edges Complete grading and finish work

11 INNING Infield Skin Edges Determine new lines to remove current grass lips on inner and outer edges Remove grass and skin material roughly 4-6 inches deep Refill trenched area with new material as needed Tamp repaired areas Reestablish level surface for skin Complete grading and finish

12 INNING (Top) Infield Skin After infield skin lips have been repaired, begin leveling surface Till all skin material and replace with new as needed Incorporate with amendment* to skin material if needed *Example would be calcined clay

13 INNING (Bottom) Infield Skin Cont d Follow with grading of all surfaces Complete with grooming equipment of all skin surfaces

14 INNING Warning Tracks Repair lip areas as needed around all warning track skin areas Remove all contaminated material and replace as necessary Complete with leveling and grooming

15 INNING Irrigation Identify and mark all irrigation problem areas (depressed heads Raise/lower and reset (with repair/replacement as necessary) Following total project work, test all irrigation coverage

16 INNING Infield & Outfield Grass Repair and level as necessary all grass areas Fertilize and water properly to finish your good work

17 INNINGS Additional Considerations Keep your work crews hydrated and fed and.don t be that guy

18 INNINGS Additional Maintenance Schedule (Ideals Noted Below) Edge all the grass lines including the bullpen area (Annual) Aerate the turf (2 4 times/year, or more) Fertilize (2 4 times per year) Repair lip buildup on all grass/dirt edges (Annual) Level out infield skin especially around bases (Ongoing) Rebuild the infield and bullpen mounds (Annual) Remove weeds growing in the skin (Ongoing) Level out bumps and holes developed in turf (Ongoing) Tamp batter boxes, catcher, umpire, and mounds (Ongoing)

19 For more information about projects such as this, contacts & references as follows: MPSTMA Jeff Turtinen, Executive Secretary MPSTMA is a state chapter of STMA, Sports Turf Managers Association Credits and additional thanks