Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church - Patriot Bermudagrass

I stopped by yesterday to view the install of new Patriot bermudgrass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Carmel, IN.  Here are a few photos:

Will this be the last Indianapolis area Catholic church with bermudagrass this summer?  Stay tuned to find out more next week.

To learn more about Our Lady of Mt Carmel, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Butler University - Atlantic 10 - Baseball and Softball

Yesterday, it was announced that Butler University will join the A-10 effective for the 2012-13 sports year.  To learn more about the move, click HERE, for an article from the Indianapolis Star and HERE for an article from Butler.

I stopped by Butler to check on the softball and baseball fields yesterday.  I thought I would share a few photos.

First, the softball field has seen great improvements over the last 12-18 months.  New bleachers, backstop net, bullpens, cages, wall padding, etc have all been installed.  The playing surface is a rye/blue blend that is maintained at 1 1/4 inch cutting height.  The infield was amended with FieldSaver50 and conditioned with Diamond Pro Professional Calcined Clay.  Here are a few photos:

Next, I stopped by the baseball field.  An indoor hitting facility, new dugouts, backstop wall and net are all new to the baseball complex in the last 18 months.  The playing surface is a rye/blue blend.  This field was also amended with FieldSaver50 and conditioned with Diamond Pro Professional Calcined Clay.  Here are a few photos:

Both facilities have improved greatly in the last 18 months, I would expect more improvements as the Bulldogs move to the A-10.

To learn more about Butler Softball, click HERE.
To learn more about Butler Baseball, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Drought Stressed Turf - Link From Purdue

Central Indiana received approx. .25 inches of rain this AM, but there is still drought stressed turf in our area.  To see a great link from Purdue in regards to drought stressed turf, and watering requirements, click HERE.  This blog post from Dr. Aaron Patton was posted today.

I also wanted to post a photo I took last week.  Do you think tall fescue is more drought tolerant than bluegrass?  

Bottom line, turn on the irrigation.  I see more damage from under watering than from over watering.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

The 2012 Indy 500 - In Photos

As promised.  I attended the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 yesterday.  Here are a few photos....

The flyover:

The National Anthem:

Another view of the flyover looking from turn #1 into turn #2:

Finally, a photo of Bryan Herta driving the car of last year's winner, the late Dan Wheldon:

If you have never been to the 500, I would highly recommend it.  To experience the largest single day sporting event in the world is unique to say the least.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Grass Baselines for Baseball

Does that really work?  I get that question all of the time.  So, I stopped by Dunker Field today to take a few photos.  J&D Turf applies fertilizer and chemicals to the field during the year.  We also laser grade the infield each fall.  Enough with the background info, lets get to the photos.  Keep in mind, this was after over 100 games and practices..........

First base and third base:

As you can see, the baselines are in great shape.  A couple things to remember with grass baselines:

1.  There will be maintenance to the lines.  Constant overseeding with ryegrass and allowing the runners to "cleat it in" is necessary weekly when there is play
2.  Don't be afraid to sod the area off of 3rd base.  As you can see from this photo, the area where the players lead off will be worn.  Just install a row or two of new sod each fall.  Sure beats trying to dry wet baselines!
3.  Finally, grass baselines work best when building a new field or when renovating and laser grading an existing field.  Click HERE to see a renovation that took place last summer at Martinsville High School.

So yes, grass baselines will perform well with the correct installation and maintenance plan.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Multi-Use Baseball Fields, Drought Stressed Turf

I wanted to post a few photos of a number of items I viewed this week.

First, a question I get from time to time is: "How do I play 60/70 ft bases and not have two mounds?"  Simply, move the home plate/have two home plates.  Here is a photo from Billerickey Park in Fishers showing two foul lines that allow for two base distances with one mound.

Next, it is VERY dry across most portions of the Midwest.  Run the irrigation system frequently, cool the turf down.  Here is a photo of a cricket field that is drought stressed.  Notice the tire marks.  There can be turf loss if traffic is present on drought stressed turf.

Finally, just a neat photo I took Monday before Senior Night at Covenant Christian.  Andy Gossel has the field in great shape.

Look for more posts this week as well as the annual Indy 500 post on Sunday/Monday.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Indianapolis Colts Training Camp - Anderson University - Bermudagrass Fields Vol. 1

Today is the first of what will be many posts as I follow the fields at Anderson University.  J&D Turf will assist the Colts to ensure that the fields are ready for 2012 Training Camp.

So, lets get started.  Here are photos taken today. (5/22/2012)  Notice how green the Patriot bermuda is at this time of year.  The field came through the winter very well.  Notice the annual ryegrass plants that were controlled with Katana herbicide 14 days ago.

The next items on the 2012 program include an application of ammonium sulfate and three (3) core aerification/topdressing events before July 20.

Check back for additional posts on the playing surfaces at Anderson.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Patriot Bermuda Grass at St Luke in Indianapolis

Well, we have another cool season field in transition to warm season turf.  The location, St. Luke Catholic Church in Indianapolis.  The work begins tomorrow as 60,000 sq ft of the existing blue/rye/fescue field will be sprayed with RoundUp.  Here is what the field looks like today:

The next step will be to scalp mow the field, one more RoundUp app, and then the renovation.  J&D Turf will be responsible for all of the work and the grow in from sod.  The field will have 100% cover by August 1.

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

Play on!
--Jamie

Core Aerification - Huntington Park

I stopped by Huntington Park last week.  They had just completed core aerification with a Toro ProCore.  So, I wanted to share with you a couple of photos:

Check out the hole spacing.  After aerification the cores were removed with a sweeper.  If you are on native soil, you DO NOT have to remove the cores.

The next photo shows where the guys stopped aerifying.

Finally a shot of the field.  Wes, Nick, and their crew always has the playing surface in great condition.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

How Do I Repair A Batter's Box?

I get this question numerous times in my travels.  So, let's look into the repair:

First, the plate after the game:

First step, rake the plate with a landscape rake.  Look to lower high areas:

Second step, remove all conditioner and loose clay by using the leveling blade on the rake and a broom:  NOTICE - the use of both a push broom and a standard broom and how clean to sweep the batters box.  NO loose material should be present.

Third step, add water to hydrate the existing clay.  This can be accomplished with a garden hose, watering can, or a sprayer/spray bottle:

Next step, add new mound clay.  In this case Dura Pitch Mound Clay was added:

Then, rake new clay into place and use a flat bladed shovel to chop the new clay into the existing clay:

After adding the clay, lightly compact the clay with your foot and then tamp using a hand tamp:

Then, rake the compacted clay in 3 directions to level the clay.  

Next step, use a small amount of water to hydrate the clay and use your foot to smear the clay together and blend all the seams into one solid piece of clay:

Then, push the existing conditioner to the plate, screen with leaf rake and add conditioner as needed to maintain a 1/4 inch depth of conditioner:

Lastly, finish drag,water and paint the plate.  

Use this program, and your plate area will be the best in your league.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Purdue Turf Tips

Good afternoon.  I wanted to pass along 2 turf tips from Purdue University.  Both tips are written by Aaron Patton, Extension Specialist at Purdue.

Both topics are very relevant to turfgrass management in the Midwest.

Grassy Weeds in Turf Planted Last Fall.

Sharpen Those Mower Blades - Seedhead Production

I took this picture of annual ryegrass on a football field in western Indiana last week:

To learn more about Purdue Turfgrass, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Alexander Field - Mid May Update

I stopped by Alexander Field at Purdue University last Thursday.  The field is coming along nicely.  Here are a few photos:

Lastly, a couple of photos of the lights before they are lifted into place.

When this place opens, it will go to the top of the list of college ballparks in the Midwest.

It will be a busy week for the SmartTurf Blog.  Check in for updates.

To learn more about Purdue University Baseball and Alexander Field, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Prasco Park - 2012 NCCAA World Series

I stopped by Prasco Park in Mason, OH this week.  Trent Hanna and his crew were preparing for the Div I and II NCCAA  World Series.  Here are two photos of the field:

Needless to say, Prasco is one of the nicest complexes in the Midwest.

To learn more about the 2012 NCCAA World Series, click HERE.

To learn more about Prasco Park, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

What does 100% Patriot Bermudagrass Look Like in Indiana Right Now?

Your answer is below.  This was taken at DePauw last week.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Bermudagrass Conversion Season is Here - DePauw University

DePauw University will transition another cool season field over to bermudagrass this summer.  I will follow the progress as I assist Rob Harper, Grounds Manager, with the grow-in.  Here is a photo of the Patriot bermudagrass field we completed last year.  The field has rye overseeding in place.  The ryegrass will be sprayed out with Katana this week.

Next, is a photo of the field that will be converted this summer.  The existing DePauw soccer field was sprayed with glyphosate and tilled.  The J&D Turf crew will be on site to laser grade the rootzone this week.  Then, the field will be seeded with Riviera bermudagrass.

Look for additional posts this summer as the J&D Turf crew assists with numerous bermudagrass fields in central Indiana.

To learn more about DePauw athletics, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer