Growing Degree Day Tracker - A Great Tool for Application Timing

Spring has been slow to arrive across the Midwest.  A unpredictable spring with many ups and downs in the weather can make application timing challenging.  One way to determine application timing is by using growing degree days.

A grounds manager can track growing degree days (GDD), but the easiest way to follow the GDD progress is to use the Growing Degree Day Tracker  brought to you by the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation and Purdue Turfgrass.   This tool is a great way to assist you decision making on crabgrass control applications and many other applications of time sensitive products.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Grass Baselines for Baseball?

With spring arriving, also arriving is the wet midwest weather and the question of, "Should I Grass My Baselines?"  Here is a repost from an earlier blog posting in regards to grass baselines.

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

Baseball and Softball Dugout Designs and Extra Items

In this final installment of dugout design and layouts, I am going to look at a few "extras" that can be placed in dugouts.

Reds Urban Youth Academy - Cincinnati, OH - dugout storage 

Huntington Park - Columbus, OH - lighting along the back wall 

University of Notre Dame Baseball - South Bend, IN - heaters on roof and helmet racks running the length of the dugout 

University of Notre Dame Softball - Notre Dame, IN - heaters on roof and doors leading to clubhouse

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Travel Teams, Colleges and Professional Dugout Designs

The second of three installments on baseball dugout design and layout.  Today we are looking at travel teams, colleges and professional dugouts.

"Fenway Park" at the Ripken Complex in Aberdeen, MD - open concept 

Prasco Park in Mason, OH - below grade with padded rail 

 Legacy Field in Mason, OH - basic dugout with nice finishes

 Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN - block design with padded rail 

DePauw University in Greencastle, IN - on grade dugout with uncovered seating 

Werner Park in Omaha, NE - professional design with drainage in the middle of the dugout

In the final installment, we will look at "extra" features to dugouts.  

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

High School and Park and Recreation Dugout Design and Layout

Dugout designs and layouts come in all different shapes and sizes across the country.  With different designs and layouts, costs can vary greatly.  In this 1st of 3 posts on this subject, the focus in on high school and park and recreational settings.

Brown County High School, Indiana - facade the matches the area 

Dublin, OH - open concept with roof at a miracle league field 

Noblesville High School, Indiana - covered and non covered areas

As you can see, dugout design and materials can vary greatly.  If you have questions in regards to dugout design and construction, please let me know.  Look for travel teams, colleges, and professional dugout designs in the next blog posts

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

A Great Winter Project/Tricks of the Trade - Sharpening a Rake for Clay Maintenance

A great quick winter project ahead of spring maintenance.  A quick tip to turn a standard steel garden rake into a clay shaving tool.

Take a standard tine rake to a bench grinder and sharpen the teeth.  Now, the rake is a clay shaving tool:



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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

A Great Winter Project - Grounds Crew Shoe Rack

Many times grounds areas are are full of different types of shoes.  Rain shoes, tarp shoes, running shoes, game shoes etc.  How do you keep them neat, clean and orderly?  Consider building a shoe rack.  Here is a photo of the grounds crew shoe rack at Victory Field.  Simply using 3/4 inch plywood and sealing it with black paint did the trick for this application.  Then, each area is labeled for each grounds crew member.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer