Buckeye Sports Field 10 Point Plan

The Ohio State University just posted this 10 Point Plan on their website. It is not only good reading, but also a great piece to present to user groups, AD's, GM's etc.

Click HERE for the link to the article.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

A Couple of Photos From This Week

A fun Friday post..............

You never know what you will see as I travel the country and visit over 3,000 athletic fields a year. Below are a couple of interesting photos from this week.......

First stop, Indiana Tech - the team is carrying the cage on the field. Needless to say, a couple of new wheels are now on order.

Next, what do you do when tennis courts are too close the the baseball field? Build a large backstop. This photo was taken at Franklin College. This is the largest backstop I have seen.

To learn more about Indiana Tech baseball, click HERE.

To learn more about Franklin College baseball, click HERE.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

DePauw University - Late Oct

Can a bermudagrass surface be successful in Indiana in late Oct? See the photos below from DePauw University yesterday. The field was overseeded in early Sept with 20 lbs of ryegrass per 1000 sq ft. The field has had over 75 events since Aug 15.

A quick photo from a cool season turf field after less that 50 events.

To follow the entire process this summer, go to the JUNE, JULY, and AUGUST posts.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - Victory Field - V

The first phase of the sodding project at Victory Field was completed yesterday. The sod, from Tuckahoe Turf Farms was delivered and installed on the infield and the foul territory areas. During the sodding process, a John Deere 1200A bunker rake was used to elimate any footprints/tracks in the sod. The sod was then rolled and hand watered. Below is a photo journal of the process.

The sod arrives in Indianapolis.

The first roll is installed......

The process continues and is completed.......

On Monday, additional Dura Edge Pro infield mix from the Natural Sand Company will be added to the infield and the baselines. The material will be blended with a Blecavator, rolled and laser graded. Look for photos of that process on Tuesday.

To learn more about Tuckahoe Turf Farms, click HERE.

To learn more about Natural Sand, click HERE.

To learn more about the Indianapolis Indians, click HERE.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

Wet Football Fields? - A Great Answer to the Problems

I will take a break from the baseball field renovations for a day and focus on wet football/soccer fields. The Indianapolis area has received over 2 inches of rain in the past 48 hours. Needless to say, the local football fields will be wet this weekend.

So, I wanted to post a link to a great sand cap article/research project that was concluded and published at Michigan State University in 2010

Click HERE for the link on sand-capped football/softball fields.

One researcher once told me, "The research in out there to address many athletic field issues, the decision makers must review it and put it to action."

Below are two photos from Speedway High School taken today. This field has been under a annual aerification, overseeding and topdressing program. As you can see, there is some wear through the middle of the field, but after over 20 games, it is in pretty good shape for $5,500 a year of maintenance.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - 5/3 Field - I

The renovation of 5/3 Field in Dayton, OH has begun and is in full swing. J&D Turf is partnering with Nolan Thomas and Co. on this renovation project. The 12 year old sand cap field is scheduled for the following:

1. Removing of all the existing rootzone.
2. Installing new irrigation
3. Scoping all the drain lines to check for breaks
4. Installing 8 inches of new rootzone
5. Sodding the playing surface

The field is being renovated due to extreme annual bluegrass contamination and slow/poor drainage.

Here are a few photos from today.

The temporary ramp to handle the truck traffic:

The final pile of the "old" rootzone and a photo of the load out of the rootzone:

Look for more posts on this project in the future........

Click HERE to view a March post on 5/3 Field.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - Victory Field - IV

The renovation of Victory Field is arriving to a point of sodding later this week. All the heads and swing joints were located via GPS before the project began. Here is a photo of the swing joint after the renovation.

Next, a photo after a new head is installed.

Look for more photos of this project this week, as sod will be installed by the end of the week. Also, I will have an update from the work in Dayton tomorrow.

To learn more about J&D Turf, click HERE.

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - Victory Field - III

A number of photos as the work continues at Victory Field.......

First, a couple of photos as the infield mix is edged and readied for the next to last finish grade. the infield is now graded in a cone with .5% fall.

Next, a look of the sand based rootzone interfacing with the warning track.

Finally, A high look of the field late last night......

Look for more photos in the next couple of days......

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - Victory Field - II

We have been at Victory Field for almost a week. I thought I would take some time to explain the project and the plan of attack. Victory Field is a sand based surface that was last re-resodded after the 2003 season. I was the Head Groundskeeper at the time of the 2003 renovation and worked with Nolan Thomas and Co. to produce a successful product. The field aged well, but with all sand based fields, organic material builds along the soil surface and the field begins to seal off and drainage slows. So, another resod project is in order. Why is the infield and the foul territory areas the only areas renovated this fall? Stay tuned for that info, but it has to do with a relatively large event that takes place each winter........

With that said, back to the project. Here are a number of photos:

First, a shot of the rootzone after 4 inches of organic material has been removed. The J&D turf crew along with Nolan Thomas and the Indians staff handled over 400 tons of organic material and 400 tons of new rootzone sand on Thursday and Friday last week.

Next, a photo of the field before the infield mix is placed. Notice the crews have been owrking from 7 AM to 7:30 PM.

GPS guided dozer pushing the infield mix back across the infield.

Look for more posts this week as the mound and plate is installed, edges formed, and the rootzone is prepped for sod.

Click HERE, to learn more about Victory Field.

CLick HERE, to learn more about Nolan Thomas and Co.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie

October is the Month for Baseball Field Renovations - Victory Field

This month, J&D Turf will be renovating a number of baseball fields across the midwest. First stop, Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians. Look for a more detailed post later this week, but I wanted to post a quick photo of the beginning of the project.

GPS is not only used for cars.......

Play on!
--Jamie