Carolina Athletic Fields: - TurfFiles - North Carolina State University

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Carolina Athletic Fields: A Guide to Maintaining Quality Turf on Athletic Fieldsduring spring green-up, slowing transition back to bermudagrassand often weakening the stand. Overseedingalso encourages the buildup of winter grassy weeds suchas annual bluegrass (Poa annua).Overseeding TimingPlan to overseed when daytime temperatures in late summeror early fall consistently fall into the 70s F. This usuallyis late September for the piedmont and mountain regionsto mid October for the coastal areas. Where field use is extremelyheavy, it may be necessary to overseed when thereis a break in the event schedule. In these cases, it is bestto schedule overseeding earlier in the season to providefuture opportunities to apply more seed if necessary.Grasses Used in OverseedingPerennial ryegrass is the best choice for most athleticfields. Perennial ryegrass is noted for fast germination,finer leaf texture, darker green color, seedling vigor,thicker growth, and better disease and traffic resistancecompared to annual ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass seedcosts more than annual ryegrass, but is well worth theinvestment if a high-quality playing surface is desired.Overseeding bermudagrass field with ryegrass is performedprimarily to provide green color during the winter and spring.SeedingOne month before overseeding, core aerify in several directionsto help relieve soil compaction. One to two daysprior to overseeding, drop the mowing height by ½ inch,and mow the area in two directions to open the turfgrasscanopy to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Removethatch as necessary before seeding.Apply seed at a rate of 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000square feet (or 430 to 650 pounds per acre, depending ondesired appearance. Budget restraints may require thatlower rates be used but should not be less than 6 poundsper 1,000 square feet. Seed in two directions (at rightangles) and go over the area with a dragmat to help workthe seed into the soil. Irrigate the field frequently enough(two to four times per day) to promote seed germination.One-eighth inch per application is sufficient at thistime. As seedlings emerge, reduce watering to once dailybut increase the amount and eventually reduce wateringto an as-needed basis (approximately once or twiceper week). Reducing irrigation frequency will encouragedeep rooting while discouraging disease development.Mow the overseeded ryegrass about two weeks afterplanting to a 1-inch height after it reaches 1½ to 2 inches.Use only a sharpened mower blade to avoid excessiveshearing of the young, tender seedlings. Mowing frequencyis generally weekly in winter but may be requiredtwice per week in spring, when active growth resumes.Do not fertilize with excessive nitrogen just prior toor during the overseeding process as this may encourageexcessive late-season bermudagrass competition.Adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium, however,should be maintained during this period for good plantgrowth. Normally, ¼ pound to ½ pound of nitrogen per1,000 square feet every 3 to 4 weeks using a soluble nitrogensource is adequate to promote desired growth andcolor without over stimulating growth and encouragingdisease. Traffic during turfgrass establishment should beminimized whenever possible.Spring TransitionThe main objective in spring is a gradual and smoothtransition from overseeded grasses back to bermudagrass.Dormant bermudagrass shows signs of green-upwhen soil temperatures reach approximately 60°F.During transition, overseeded turfgrasses become verysensitive to management practices designed to encouragebermudagrass recovery. The three main means ofproviding a desirable spring transition are proper timing,gradual reduction in mowing height, and a correspondingincrease in nitrogen fertilization.Turf ColorantsUsing turf colorants rather than overseeding provides anaesthetic alternative on fields which receive only limitedplay. Appropriate dilution rates, mixing, and uniform applicationare critical for successful painting of fields. It ishighly recommended for those inexperienced with paintingto experiment on a non-overseeded practice field toperfect the technique before trying it on the playing field.Specialty paints for athletic fields are available and arehighly recommended for desired quality and little longtermnegative effects to the permanent bermudagrass.12
available through the NC Cooperative Extension Service.Alternatively, most of this information is available on thewebsite www.turffiles.ncsu.edu.WeedsWeeds do not kill healthy turfgrass but appear when turfdensity and competitiveness decrease. However, with theextensive damage from traffic on sports fields, weeds canbecome established, and control measures are usuallynecessary.Painting a logo on a field in preparation for a game. Onlypaints formulated for use on turfgrass should be used tominimize damage to the turf.INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENTPeople are becoming more aware and concerned aboutthe effects of chemicals on our environment. Researchindicates that pesticide use poses a minimal threat to thehealth of humans, animals, and the environment whenused appropriately. But because we can’t be certain, manypeople choose to avoid pesticides. So how would youhandle a pest problem that is destroying the appearanceof your field? Do you use pesticides, change culturalpractices, or both?The balanced use of all available control methods iscalled Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The idea issimple. All available prevention and control methods areused to keep pests from reaching damaging levels. Pesticidesare used only when necessary.Planting the best-adapted grass and then watering,mowing, and fertilizing it properly form the basis forintegrated pest management. Keeping the turf healthyenables it to tolerate low levels of pests and makes thearea a good habitat for beneficial organisms that helpcontrol pests.If chemical control is necessary, select the safesteffective pesticide and follow label recommendations.Chemicals should be applied when the pest is mostsusceptible. Treat only those areas in need, and regardpesticides as only one of many tools available in turfcare. Integrated pest management can be successful, butmore time and labor are required and high expectationsmay not be met when pest pressures and environmentalconditions are severe.For specific weed, insect, and disease identificationand control recommendations, readers are referred to thepublications Turf Pest Management Manual and The PestControl Recommendation Guide. These publications areInsectsSeveral insects can infest sports turf including molecrickets, white grubs, fire ants, armyworms, and sodwebworms. Cultural practices such as over fertilizingwith soluble fertilizers, irregular mowing, overwatering,and thatch build-up encourage lush succulent growthwhich can lead to insect damage. The turfgrass areashould be checked weekly for insect damage. Furtherexamination for sod webworms, armyworms (infestationsalways start along the edge of the field), and molecrickets can be done by a soap flush method based oninsect life cycles. Mix one fluid ounce of dishwashingsoap in a 2-gallon sprinkling can full of water anddrench a 2 square feet area. Observe the area for severalminutes, and, if present, insects will emerge. (Theone exception is white grubs.) Follow the managementguidelines in Turf Pest Management Manual to reducethese problems.DiseasesVery few diseases pose a serious threat to athletic fieldswhen proper turfgrass management practices are followed.Spring dead spot, caused by the soil-dwellingfungus Ophiosphaerella korrae, is one disease that cancause severe damage to bermudagrass athletic fields inNorth Carolina. Symptoms of spring dead spot appear inthe spring as circular patches or rings, from 6 inches toseveral feet in diameter, that remain dormant as the surroundingturf greens-up. The affected turf is completelydead and eventually collapses to leave sunken depressionsthat severely detract from the safety and playabilityof an athletic field surface. Since the affected turf is completelydead, recovery from spring dead spot is very slowand may take the entire summer in severe cases.Fungicides can be used to prevent spring dead spotdevelopment. Products containing fenarimol (Rubigan)or tebuconazole (Torque) are the most effective but mustbe applied preventatively in the fall prior to the onset ofwinter dormancy. These preventive applications shouldbe watered in immediately with ¼ inch of irrigation to13
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