Renovating a Mound On a Budget - Re-post from Spring 2011

The second of two re-posts from spring 2011.

Back to Avon South Middle School for renovating a mound on a budget. For this task, we had 50 bags of Dura Pitch Mound Clay and a new Jack Corbett 4-sided pitching rubber to install. A picture of the mound before we started this process is below

After tending to the edges (see renovating a home plate on a budget post for edging details) the task was to install the new pitching rubber 10 inches above home plate and making sure it was centered and square. The pitching rubber should be 60 ft 6 in from the apex of homeplate and each corner of the pitching rubber should be 59 ft 1 in from the corresponding front corners of the homeplate. Also, you will see a string line from the apex of homeplate to the middle of second base. The pitching rubber is center on the string line. To learn more about setting a pitching rubber click HERE.

After setting the pitchers rubber, the clay was added, once again with the concentration being on the slope of the mound, keeping in mind that we had limited clay due to the limited budget

Next, the new mound clay was tilled into the existing material

The mound was then sloped to spec - (i.e. - 6 inches in front of the mound was level with the pitchers rubber, and then falling one inch for every foot for the next six feet. To learn more about sloping a mound click HERE. A photo of the slope is below

After sloping the mound and building the table we boarded the rest of the mound in a similar fashion to the plate. Then we tire rolled the entire surface.

To see pictures of the tire rolling a homeplate and boarding of the plate click HERE and HERE.

1 1/2 hrs later, we have a renovated mound on a budget!

The bottom line is, with the correct planning and the right materials, you can renovate a mound and plate on a very limited budget. Cost of the materials for both projects - $920.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Renovating a Homeplate on a Budget - Re-post From Spring 2011

Fall is a great time to renovate baseball fields.  Since many coaches and grounds staffs are renovating their fields, I wanted to re-post two articles from spring 2011.  The first is renovating a plate on a budget.  Tomorrow will be renovating a mound on a budget. 

As you can see from previous blog postings, J&D Turf travels to fields and facilities of all levels of play. Our company view is "Provide safe and playable fields for athletes of all ages and abilities." With this in mind, yesterday the J&D Turf crew was at Avon South Middle School renovating a home plate area. Obviously, with this being a middle school field, funds were limited. So, we renovated the home plate area on a shoestring budget. How did we do it? See below:

The photo below shows the installation of a new homeplate. It is difficult to see the string lines from each existing foul pole in the photo. The elevation of the homeplate was set via a laser to ensure positive drainage, i.e. - rain water will not run back onto the plate.

The next step was edging the plate. The plate was edged at a 15 foot radius. You can see the dashed painted lines showing the 15 ft mark. This field was not used for 10 years, so the edges are still a little inconsistent, but after all, sodding was not in the budget. Photos of before and after the edging below:

After edging, bring on the clay. For this project we used Dura Pitch Mound Clay from the Natural Sand Company. We only had 40 bags for this project, so we concentrated on the batters and catchers boxes, and added the remainder around the plate.

After adding the clay, bring on the tiller. A smaller tiller is just fine for this type of wrok to till the new material into the existing material to a depth of 3 inches.

After tilling, bring on the board! We used a 16ft long 2x6 to level the plate. One edge of the board was on the plate, the other edge of the board on our newly created grass edge. Three passes were made to ensure positive drainage.

Next, the plate was tire rolled. This is simply, using the weight of equipment to compact the soil. Ideally, the use of a three ton roller is the best application, but after all, we were on a budget!

After tire rolling, a quick rake and mat drag competed the plate.

Calcined clay topdressing was not added for this project due to the limited budget, but ideally 3-5 bags would be advised to topdress the plate area to a depth of 1/4 in.

The bottom line is, this process is not recommended at the higher levels of play, but if you have a couple of hours and a limited budget, there is an answer!

To learn more about Dura Pitch Mound Clay, click HERE

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

How Do Fall Seeding Dates Effect Establishment?

There have been numerous research reports detailing the proper seeding windows to establish Kentucky bluegrass in the Midwest.  I wanted to share a couple of photos from a project the J&D Turf team has been working on in Columbus, IN.

Columbus North High School constructed a new baseball complex with two fields.   Due to the construction schedule, the new JV field was seeded on Aug 28, 2012 with Barenbrug HGT bluegrass.   Here are photos taken of the field on September 27, 2012:

The new varsity field was seeded on September 10, 2012 with Barenbrug HGT bluegrass.   Here is a photo taken of the field on September 27, 2012:

Needless to say, seeding dates do matter.  The closer the August 15 the better.  Look for continued updates on the project later this fall.  Do you think the varsity field will catch up to the JV field by the end of the growing season?

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Should I Overseed My Bermuda Grass Field?

This is the first of what will be many photos/posts this fall as I monitor bermuda grass fields in the Midwest.

First stop, St Luke Catholic Church in Indianapolis, IN.

Patriot bermuda grass, overseeded with Barenbrug Turf Star Elite ryegrass on Sept 4, 2012:

The field has received non-stop football and soccer play since early August.  It is still in good shape, as illustrated in the photos, the middle of a football field requires consistent overseeding to keep up with the traffic.

Next stop, Brebeuf High School in Indianapolis, IN.

Riviera bermuda grass, not overseeded:

This field receives football and soccer play.  The play has not been as much as St. Luke.  As illustrated in the photos, the field is in great shape and still has good color.

I will keep an eye on these fields as well as other fields as the fall continues.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Youth Field at Camp Swoneky - Vol III

The third and final post from the youth field renovation at Camp Swoneky in Oregonian, OH.

Setting base anchors:

Installing Dura Pitch Mound Clay in the batter's boxes:

Applying Diamond Pro Professional Calcined Clay:

Completed field:

This field will provide Camp Swoneky with a playing surface that will host youth baseball, kickball, and softball games.

So, where did this idea come from?

PETCO Park's Park at the Park.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Youth Field at Camp Swoneky - Vol II

The second of three posts from the youth field renovation at Camp Swoneky in Oregonian, OH.

First, removing the sod:

Removing 5 inches of native material:

Installing infield mix and boarding baselines:

Rolling the infield mix:

Look for additional photos over the weekend as the project is completed.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Youth Field at Camp Swoneky

The J&D Turf team is working on a project in Oregonian, OH.  Today, the new field was laid out utilizing a layout that is set for T-ball, kick ball, and youth play.  Here are a few photos from the layout.

Look for more photos later this week to see/guess where I got this design idea?

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Overseeding Athletic Fields - Ohio State Article

Overseeding athletic fields have been a recent topic.  NOW is the time to overseed athletic fields.  HERE is an article from Pam Sherratt and Dr. John Street from Ohio State discussing overseeding.  Two items that I think are of interest.

1. Rate of overseeding - Are we overseeding fields with enough seed?
2. Slit seeding - Is this the best method?

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

Play on!

--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Should I Topdress My Athletic Field with Sand?

That depends on your situation.  Do you have irrigation?  Due you have the funds to continue to topdress in the future?

HERE is a great article on building up a sand cap on a athletic field from Michigan State University.  J&D Turf topdresses a number of athletic fields across the Midwest.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Fall Core Aerification Article from Ohio State

This past week, Karl Danneberger, from Ohio State University posted a great article on core aerification.  Click HERE to see the article.

Are you core aerifying your field this fall?

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

St Luke - Patriot Bermudagrass After 3 Inches of Rain

I wanted to share a couple of photos from the playing surface at St Luke Catholic Church from this past week.

First of all, the area received in excess of three inches of rain on Friday night.  They were on the field at 9 AM on Saturday:

The damage after play, Sunday morning:

To be honest, there was not one divot on the field.  The turf was a bit discolored from the play, but 100% cover remained.  Why?  The sand topdressing and excellent shear strength.  Look for more updates later this year on this surface.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Shear Strength Testing - Bermudagrass and Bluegrass

I travel the Midwest with a Turf-Tec Toma Shear Strength Tester.  Why?  I use it as a tool to compare the strength of turf across all sports.  Here are a few recent findings:

St Luke Catholic Church - Patriot Bermudagrass Sod - June 2012 - 25 ft. lbs:

DePauw Soccer - Riviera Bermudagrass Seed - May 2012 - 15 ft. lbs:

DePauw Field Hockey - Patriot Bermudagrass Sprigs - June 2011 - 25 ft. lbs:

Needless to say, a seeded field is weaker than a sodded field during the first year of play.  Secondly, a field that is in its second year is as strong as a newly sodded field.

Bottom line:

A "normal" blue/rye field will test 15-20 ft lbs.  A "normal" bermudagrass field after a year of establishment will test 25-35 ft lbs.  So, the first year of a seeded/sprigged field will act more like a cool season turf in regards to shear strength.  The second year will produce a field with superior shear strength.

Look for a post from St Luke tomorrow with photos of play after 3 inches of rain......

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer