With the Warm Weather, Is Crabgrass Germinating?

The short answer, yes!  Please see the link below from the Advanced Turf Solutions - Around the Turf Scene Blog.  The authors for this post were Scott Brame and Dan Dunham.

http://advancedturf.com/resources/crabgrass-is-here

Check this blog frequently, as it is updated often with turfgrass tips.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Midwest Regional Turf Foundation - The MRTF Supporting Turfgrass Research

I wanted to post a photo from an MRTF board of directors meeting last week.  As the President of the MRTF in 2012, I am overseeing the continued goal of the MRTF.  The MRTF supports the turfgrass research and education at Purdue University for the betterment of the turf industry in Indiana, the Midwest, and the world.  

Please consider attending an MRTF event in 2012.  


To learn more about the MRTF, click HERE


To learn more about Purdue Turfgrass, click HERE


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


Play on!
--Jamie

Indiana Athletic Directors Tradeshow

The Indiana AD tradeshow is wrapping up today in Indianapolis.  Athletic directors from all over the state meet to discuss policies, rules, etc while also attending the tradeshow.  Here are a couple photos of the tradeshow:

To learn more about the Indiana Athletic Directors Association, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

One More Photo From Ft Wayne - Tarp Drum Logo

I wanted to share one last photo from Ft Wayne.  Check out the logo placement on the tarp drum end cap.  Maybe another sponsorship option?

To learn more about the Ft Wayne Tin Caps, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Fort Wayne Tin Caps - Parkview Field

I was in Ft. Wayne yesterday and stopped by Parkview Field.  Head Groundskeeper, Keith Winter, has the field in great shape for the upcoming season.  Here are a few photos:

The DuraEdge custom pro infield mix has been rolled down and the infield is now ready to be conditioned for the year.  Keith will add a blend of calcined and vitrified clay from Diamond Pro.

To learn more about the Diamond Pro line of products, click HERE.

To learn more about DuraEdge products, click HERE.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

High Silt Infields - Is This Your Infield?

High silt infields cause maintenance issues throughout the year.  They are dusty and firm when dry and difficult to manage after rain events.  Typically, high silt infields have a blond/light tan appearance.

High silt infields cause a lot of issues coming out of winter and the freeze/thaw cycle.  I wanted to post this photo of a high silt infield.  Notice the material displacement after someone walked through the infield after a 1/2 in. rain.

How do you how much silt is in your infield?  What is your SCR?  Go to Dura-edge.com to learn more about the T.A.C.S. process.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Cheviot, Ohio - 1937 Baseball Field

I was in Cincinnati, OH yesterday.  I stopped by Cheviot Fieldhouse in Cheviot, OH.  My task was to look at a baseball field that was build in 1937.  Here are a few photos:

The bleachers are from the original Cheviot Race Track.  Could this field be in line for a significant renovation in 2012?  Stay tuned to the SmartTurf Blog for updates throughout the year.

To learn more about Cheviot, OH, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Dura Edge Pro - Installed at The Cove

Last week, I was in South Bend at Coveleski Stadium, home of the South Bend SilverHawks.  Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Midwest League.   FieldTurf was installed prior to last year.  Prior to the 2012 season, the decision was made to install Dura Edge Pro Infield Mix around the bases and around the clay bricks in the home plate and mound areas.  Here are a few photos of the process.

Compacting the sand sub base and finishing the clay brick install.

Beginning to install the Dura Edge Pro

Compacting the first 2 inch lift of Dura Edge Pro

The plate was completed after lightly working up the compacted material, with a final two inch lift of material and compacted.  

A question I get frequently is, "How do I level my material in tight spaces such as plates and cutouts?"  Well, here is a photo of leveling the 3rd base cutout at The Cove.

In this case we used the base anchor which was set via laser and the edge of the cutouts.

Finally, a couple of additional photos of The Cove.  The stadium was renovated in 2011.  

A special thanks to Head Groundskeeper, Joel Reinebold.  Best of luck in 2012.

To learn more about Coveleski Stadium, click HERE.

To learn more about DuraEdge products, click HERE.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

University of Kentucky - Early Spring Baseball Can Bring Challenges

Early spring baseball in the North can bring challenges in February and March.  I made a quick visit to Lexington, KY yesterday.  The grounds crew was prepping for today's game Tennessee Tech.  What I did not expect was a snow removal process to prep for today's game!  Lexington received approximately 4 inches of snow on Sunday night/Monday morning, and with UK off to the best start in college baseball, the games must go on.  

Here are a few photos from yesterday.  

Marcus Dean and his crew were doing an outstanding job pushing the snow off the grass with tarp drums attached to tractors to the outfield wall.  Then, the snow was loaded into gators and taken to the parking lot.

Click HERE to see an article documenting the 11-0 start to UK's season.

Click HERE to see the remaining 2012 schedule for the 'Cats.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

A Layered Infield - Great for Cakes, Terrible for Infields

Layered cakes are great to look at and great to eat, but layered infields will cause major issues.  The most severe issues are seen in the spring and after rainfall events.  This morning I stepped on a infield with 3 layers.

As you can see from the photos above, there is approximately 1 1/2 inches of calcined clay, followed by approximately 1 inch of infield material trucked in from a southern part of the country (notice the red color - iron oxide in the soil) and then finally a base material that was either imported during initial construction or native to the field.  

There are a couple issues here.  First, the layer of calcined clay is too deep.  Even with a great base mix, a layer of calcined clay exceeding 1/2 inch will be very loose and unstable in dry conditions. Secondly, the 1 inch layer of infield mix was not incorporated into the native material.  This causes a layering issue that causes the mix to chip off as well as being difficult if not impossible to manage in wet conditions.

So, what is the solution?  There are a couple for this field.

1. The calcined clay material should be removed and stockpiled. 

2.  The infield mix and the native material should then be tilled together, rolled and graded.

3. Finally, the calcined clay can be topdressed across the infield at a 1/4 in depth

But, there is another issue on this field:

There is a lip along the back edge and the infield is low.  So, this would be the new plan.

1.  Remove and stockpile the calcined clay

2.  Pull a sample and send to an independent lab to determine the composition of the 4 inch column of infield profile

3.  Add a custom amendment from the DuraEdge line of products, blec, roll, and laser grade

4.  Add DuraEdge Classic to bring the infield to grade blec, roll, and laser grade

5.  Finally, the calcined clay can be topdressed across the infield at a 1/4 in depth

Click HERE to learn more about topdressings

Click HERE to learn more about how to add new infield mix to an existing mix

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

Play on!

--Jamie 

Purdue Baseball - Alexander Field

I stopped by Alexander Field at Purdue University late last week.  Here are a few photos of the project....

First a photo of the seating bowl and press box.

Next a photo of the infield.  As you can see the Dura Edge Pro infield mix is approx. 40% complete.

A photo of the unique wood wall.

One last photo of the seating bowl and the forms for the warning track.

Click HERE to see renderings of Alexander Field.

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

Play on!
--Jamie