Columbus Clippers - Here Comes The Rain - Vol. 2

The second set of 2 volumes of my visit to Huntington Park. Volume 1 ended with the tarp placed on the field. The next step for Wes and the crew was to "float" the tarp. Many groundskeepers have experimented with floating tarps. Here is how the tarp is floated in Columbus:

The plan uses six carpet blowers. Two blowers are placed at first and third base and a final set behind home plate.

The photos below are from first base. The carpet blowers are set on plywood which was placed on top of Enkamat. After the blowers are set, stools are used to slightly lift the tarp to allow for initial air to get under the tarp to start the "floating"

The next photo a long distance shot showing the set up at third base.

Finally the set up at home plate.

The last two photos......

The tarp before it is inflated and after the blowers are turned on.

Notice that when the tarp is inflated it “floats” above the turf at a height of approximately 5 ft.

Why float a tarp? The ability to lift the tarp allows for some air movement under the tarp but also, the turf does not become matted which it typically does after the tarp sits on the field overnight. Finally, by lifting the tarp, disease pressure in less.

The most famous application of this, Wimbledon (photo below). The All England Lawn Tennis Club performs all of the maintenance of the turf under “floated” tarps during the typical wet conditions during the tournament.

To learn more about the Columbus Clippers, click HERE.
To learn more about Huntington Park, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie