Homemade Growth Blanket

A quick post on how to build a homemade growth blanket.  In this example, an area was disturbed due to construction in late fall 2012.  Grass needed to be re-established in early spring 2013.  As many of you have experienced, this spring has been cool and soil temperatures have been very slow to warm.  The site did not have the funds to purchase a custom growth blanket, so we worked with them to build their own blanket:

A piece of 6 mil plastic sheeting.  Drill a 1/4 inch hole every 1 1/2 inch:

The same area after removal of the tarp:

Needless to say, this prototype was a success.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Indiana University New Baseball and Softball Facilities

On Saturday, this past weekend, I was on site at the new baseball and softball facilities at Indiana University.  Here is a photo journal of the trip:

Indiana University Baseball - 100% synthetic:

Indiana University Softball - Kentucky bluegrass sod and Hilltopper infield mix:

Both facilities will serve the programs well.  The facilities were part of a $19.8 million dollar project.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Covedale Elementary - A New Youth Field

The third and final post from this project.

After the local mix was laser graded, 25 tons of FieldSaver 50 was added.  Click HERE to see a similar post from another project (Brian Wilson Field) last fall where a local mix was blended with FS50 to create a hybrid mix.

Once this process was complete, the infield was rolled laser graded and conditioned with calcined clay:

This field will function well for many years as a youth field for the students at Covedale Elementary.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Covedale Elementary - A New Youth Field

Back to Covedale Elementary in the Western Hills area of Cincinnati.  The project at this site is very basic.  Install a coaches pitch/t-ball infield for the school.

To see the first post which describes the layout, click HERE.

After the layout of the field was complete, the bulk of the project started.

First, the existing grass and topsoil that existed on the new infield was removed to a 4 inch depth, stockpiled and removed from the site to be stockpiled.  The sub base was then laser graded to ensure a consistent 4 inch depth.

Next, 150 tons (3 1/2 inches) of a local infield mix from Alvis Materials was added, laser graded and rolled.

This work completed day 1 of the project.  Day 2 and the completion of the project will be detailed later this week.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Should I Apply My Crabgrass Pre-Emergent?

That question has been asked over the last week to ten days.  The answer, you still have time to apply the product.  Looking for an easy way to keep track?  Click HERE for the GDD (Growing Degree Day) tracker from Michigan State and supported by Purdue Turfgrass and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation.  This is a great site to track a number of applications throughout the year.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Spring Seeding? - Purdue Turf Tips

Are you planning on seeding your athletic field this spring?  If so, what type of seed blend do you plan on using?

HERE is a great blog post from Dr. Aaron Patton, Turfgrass Extension Specialist at Purdue University.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Layout of a New Youth Field

This is the first of a couple posts this week as the J&D Turf crew installs a new t-ball/coaches pitch field in the Western Hills area of Cincinnati.

This post details the layout of the field.  First a location of the homeplate was discussed.  The principal for Covedale Elementary, where the new field will be located, decided the best place for the plate is in the NW corner of the property.  As many of you know, the plate location in the SW or NW of a property is ideal.

Once the location of the plate was decided a string was pulled in a line towards what will be the new LF foul pole:

After the string was pulled a simple 3-4-5 triangle was used to ensure that the field will be square.  In this case, 9 ft was pulled down 3rd base line, 12 ft down 1st base line and 15 ft from the 9 ft mark on third base to the point where the 15 ft tape crossed the 12 ft line on first, now the field is square:

After string was place along the first base foul line, bases where measured.  Distance from the apex of the plate to the back corner of first and third - 60 ft.  From the apex of the plate to the middle of the second base anchor - 84 ft 10 in.  

The pitchers rubber was measured - from the apex of the plate to the front of the rubber - 46 ft.  And, the radius of the plate was measured - 9 ft radius:

Finally the back arc was measured - 50 ft from the pitchers rubber to the back arc.  Lastly, the proposed fence location for the backstop and sidelines were painted with a dashed line:

Total time for 2 guys to complete this project - 40 minutes.

Look for more posts this week as this field is completed.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer