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>> CULTIVATION GOALSThere are many cultivation methodsavailable for sports turf manage-ment. The best method of cultivationcan be selected when specific culti-vation goals have been determined.

medium and fine category are accept-able for topdressing sport fields. Avoidusing sands high in the fine and veryfine range since they do not contributeto increasing macropore space. ■

Dr. Dave Minner is an extension tur-fgrass specialist and professor at IowaState University.

WHAT HAPPENS TO A PREMIER SOCCER FIELD thatis predominantly annual blue-grass in the middle of a hot

messy summer in southern New Jersey whenthey turn off the water for two weeks? A rhetor-ical question? Unfortunately no, this is whathappened to David Wood, head groundskeeperat The Richard Stockton College of New Jerseywhen the school decided to resurface the trackthat circles the field.

“We were a month and a half away fromwhen the team comes back to start practice for aSeptember 1 opening day game when theystarted a two week resurfacing of the track thatcircles our field and I was informed that wecould not run our irrigation system at all whilethe track cures for fear of getting water on thenew surface,” Wood said about the school lo-cated in Pomona, 15 minutes outside of AtlanticCity. Summers in the mid-Atlantic states are notgreat as anyone managing turf knows, humidityis very high and the temperatures typically canreach into the high 90’s.

22 SportsTurf | October 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com

FieldScience | By Joel Simmons

The Soil Profile: Stockton College of New Jersey

The soccer field is amix of many grassesaccording to Wood, thefield is mostly poa butthere is a little bit ofeverything there, somebluegrass, ryegrass,fescue and even somebentgrass.

David Wood, headgroundskeeper atThe Richard StocktonCollege of New Jersey


“I guess we were lucky that they didn’tdo this last summer which was the worstsummer I can remember but not long afterthey turned off my water we hit tempera-tures in the low 100’s,” Wood said.

Dave Roesch has been the Supervisor ofLandscape Maintenance at the college formore than 20 years and described the origi-nal construction of this soccer field as lessthan ideal. “The field was build in the mid1980’s and was designed to have a herringbone drainage system through the wholesite but the design was changed duringconstruction and the decision was made tomake this site a recharge storm water basinand because of the this the constructioncompany didn’t have room for a properdrainage system.” A series of corrugatedpipes were laid in a bed of gravel and cov-ered with a landscape fabric 14 inchesbelow a mix of native soil, which is pre-dominately a sandy loam, and a collectionof subsoils.

“The field has always caused us drainageproblems especially before we brokethrough the landscape fabric that heldwater just below the playing surface, andthe soil mix was not what anyone wouldwant on their stadium field,” Wood said.

Stockton College of New Jersey was es-tablished in the late 1960’s and is the homeof the Stockton Ospreys men’s soccer team,the 2001 NCAA Division III nationalchampions. The stadium field is currentlyused almost exclusively for the men’s soccergames. Stockton College does not have afootball team so men’s soccer takes on ahighlighted spot in the sports program atthe college. David Wood manages this fieldalong with four practice soccer fields, al-most 20 acres of intramural fields, onebaseball field, one softball field and a newsynthetic sports turf field as well as turfand landscape responsibilities across the1,600 acre campus.

On July 7 the resurfacing work beganon the track that completely encompassesthe main soccer field. A rubber based poly-mer composite was used and a total of fivecoats were needed to finish the project.“The coating only takes a few minutes todry but they can only apply the material inperfect conditions so the process ended uptaking a couple of weeks to finish. The ma-terial used on the track can easily drift so if

Soil Report


FieldScience

the wind is moving in the wrong directionswe could have wound up with buildingspainted red!” Wood said. One of the mostdamaging parts of the process was a tarpthat they had to lay down around the entireparameter of the track over the turf, andwithout David’s knowledge, this tarp washeld down with 6-inch spikes one of whichwent through an irrigation line.

The soccer field is a mix of many grassesaccording to Wood, the field is mostly poabut there is a little bit of everything there,some bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue and evensome bentgrass. “Last year was a tough yearfor this field, the weather was horrible and

the poa started a slow decline in June anddidn’t recover until October,” Wood said. Itwas at that point that he decided to makesome changes in his agronomic approach totry to provide the field more sustainabilityand try to create a situation where the fieldcould survive the tough New Jersey sum-mers. David is a graduate of the turf man-agement program at nearby RutgersUniversity and has many years of experiencemanaging golf courses.

“I spent a lot of time managing poa on agolf course but it’s not the same when youput a soccer team on that grass for a fewhours of heavy play,” said Wood.

One of the concerns David expressedabout the soils he was managing was thelevel of sodium. Test data showed that thisfield was consistently running at levels be-tween 40 and 60 pounds per acre of sodiumon the soil colloid but the water solublepaste extract was indicating an ever worsescenario. Along with the sodium concernspotassium levels were showing constant de-ficiencies which will only complicate thesodium problems creating added stress onan already stressed field. One recent watersoluble paste extract showed a sodium per-centage of 35 and a significantly lowerpotassium percentage which is often an in-dication for the potential of sodium in-duced wilt and more plant stress.

He started in October of last year with arecovery program of over seeding ryegrasswith a starter fertilizer and frequent applica-tions of gypsum to help knock off the excesssodium. In November he aerified with hol-low tines in a 2-inch spacing and applied acombination zeolite, compost, rock mineralproduct at 25 pounds per 1000 square feetin the aerification holes and a composted 5-4-5 organic fertilizer to help recovery. He re-peated this process again this past April.

“I wanted to get some recovery in thisfield and knew the organics would help butI also changed my topdressing programfrom a straight sand to a 70/20/10 mix in-corporating a little peat moss and soil,” saidWood. In the spring he incorporated a newfertility spray program using a 5-ounce mixof each of three products, a soil condi-tioner/bio-stimulant, a liquid calcium prod-uct and a carbon based NPK product.“What really sold me on this new approachwas how well the soccer field recovered after2 weeks with virtually no water. The poa isnow strong and well rooted, last year at this

Saturated Paste Report

“I wanted to get somerecovery in this field andknew the organics wouldhelp but I also changedmy topdressing programfrom a straight sand to a70/20/10 mix incorporatinga little peat moss and soil,”said Wood.


time you could pull it up with your handso you could imagine what the soccer teamdid to it, but now it is holding up to every-thing!” said Wood.

I asked David what the first thing he didafter he was able to get back on the soccer

field after the track resurfacing project andwith a laugh he quickly replied, “I wateredit heavily!” He also went back with somezeolite and organic fertilizers to help recov-ery. He plans on continuing a regular gyp-sum program to fight the sodium that iscoming in from the 10,000 gallons of waterthat he enjoys irrigating nightly. He has no-ticed a slight magnesium deficiency in re-cent soil tests and plans on making a coupleof sul-po-mag applications this fall but willalso continue the use of potassium sulfateto fight potassium deficiencies and stayahead of the sodium to potassium balance.

I wouldn’t wish 2 weeks of no irrigationon any turf manager let alone to have ithappen in the middle of July and I have tosay my expectations upon visiting David’sfield were pretty low, but I was overly im-pressed with the recovery that has occurredin such a short period of time. He still hassome work to do and the weather has nothelped much but the field is definitelyplayable, the few weak areas and field edgeswill be managed and over seeded. By open-

ing day September 1 the players and specta-tors will not know there was ever a point ofconcern and David and his team will lookback at this experience with a chuckle and asigh of relief. ■

Joel Simmons is the president of Earth-Works Natural Organic Products and SoilFirst consulting and teaches the Soil FirstAcademy. He holds a master’s degree fromPenn State University and is a former PennState extension agent and instructor of soils atRutgers University, [email protected].

The Soil Profile is a quarterly interview se-ries that will be accompanied by soil test au-dits of a selected field from all corners of thesports turf world. Our goal is to evaluate thesoil and water tests from a selected sports fieldand build a fertility program based on the soilprofile. We would like to encourage all sportsfield managers who would like to be inter-viewed for this piece to contact the magazine.Along with Logan Labs he will provide freesoil test work and consulting to the selectedsite.


Facility&Operations

RECORDSETTING SNOWFALL coupled with strong windssocked cities across the UnitedStates last winter. For some areasit’s the norm, but for many the

snow has been an unwelcomed surprise. And inmost parts of the country, people equipped torid their region of that snow remain in high de-mand. For safety and sanity, it’s critical to getsnow and ice off of traveled areas quickly andthoroughly—of course, that’s easier said thandone. A haphazard approach or partially com-pleted job will create more problems than itsolves in the long run, making it imperative foryou to be thoroughly prepared.

After 36 years in the snow-removal business,Randy Strait could easily be considered an expert

on getting rid of the white stuff. He owns ArcticSnow & Ice Control Inc. and has tackled every-thing from his own driveway to parking lots atsome of the nation’s largest businesses. And hestresses the key to quality work and reduced lia-bility is to be prepared for each and every snowremoval job.

No matter the size of the job, Strait says “it’sbetter to be safe than sorry when it comes topreparing for snow removal.” Although there aremany issues that need to be addressed beforehand,such as the size of the lot and the state of theequipment, taking a little time to do so will en-sure any event is handled quickly and effectively.This is especially true, Strait says, since, “the cli-mate is changing and the times are changing, andyou never know what Mother Nature may bring.”

Prepping for the powder:how to prepare for any snow event

>> SNOW EVENTS don’t operateon a 9 to 5 schedule. Implementa chain-of-command plan to en-sure all events are handled asquickly as possible, even in themiddle of the night. Photo cour-tesy of Randy Strait.

Editor’s note: This article was prepared by Alyssa Kram of IRONCLAD Marketing, West Fargo, ND on

behalf of Arctic Snow & Ice Control Inc., Frankfort, IL.

“Snow andice removal isa compromisefor my passionto managesports turf.”-Mark Frever,CSFM, directorof grounds,Albion College,Albion, MI.


By learning to expect the unex-pected, snow contractors will bepoised to handle any winterweather scenario. And knowinghow and for what to preparewhen a snow event hits is criticalto success. Strait recommends youanswer a few questions before-hand to gauge your preparedness.

PROPERTY POINTSAlthough all parking lots may

seem the same to the average per-son, snow removal contractorsknow each is vastly different. Inorder to clear each unique prop-erty well, snow contractors mustconsider several factors before everarriving onsite. The first aspect isthe property’s size.

Imagine a building contractorpreparing for a new home con-struction job. When drawing upblueprints, he or she must knowthe dimensions of the empty lot.This will help determine the sizeof house that can fit on the prop-erty, how large of a crew isneeded, the quantity of suppliesthat will be required, and howlong it will take to complete theproject. In the same way, a snowremoval contractor won’t be pre-pared to plow without first

knowing the size of the propertybeing cleared.

The property size will dictatethe type of equipment necessary,and the number of machines andpersonnel required to expedientlyhandle the situation. However,when attempting to estimateequipment needs, Strait stressesthe importance of using machinesand plows currently owned.

“You should always estimatebased on the plows and equip-ment you currently have,” he ex-plains. This touches on Strait’snext point: knowing the prop-erty’s size can help prevent over-stocking, and reduce thelikelihood of time and moneywasted on excess machines andstaff. It will also avoid bringingequipment that may be too largefor the job.

“Everyone always wants topush more snow, faster. Efficiencydrives the majority of our deci-sions,” Strait says. But he stressesthat the largest plow may not al-ways be the best for the job. Forexample, a snow contractor with alarge 19-foot loader-mountedsnow pusher may want to opt in-stead for his 10-foot skid-steersnow pusher to properly handle a

WHEN WINTER STARTS UP, the last thing you want is for your

spreader to stop working. Fortunately, a routine maintenance

program is simple. Some units may require more care than

others, but, in general, there are four simple, yet important,

rules to follow.

WASH DAILYWashing the spreader is the most frequent mainte-

nance requirement, since corrosion is the number oneenemy of snow and ice professionals. In fact, a spreadershould be washed after every use in order to prevent corro-sion from eventually forming. This task is most crucial whendealing with steel hoppers, which are highly prone to rust,but it’s also good practice with polyethylene hoppers. It’s agood idea to wash out old salt and sand, as well as foreignmaterials.

USE PLENTY OF GREASENext on the list is to regularly grease all moving

parts, such as bearings, chains, conveyors, rollersand augers. Of course, this requirement varies based on thetype of spreader being maintained. For any electric-poweredspreaders or those with electrical connections for compo-nents, such as lights, all terminals should be coated with di-electric grease. This helps prevent corrosion and ensureseasy reconnection. For best results, apply dielectric grease tothe terminals anytime they are disconnected.

TIGHTEN THE BELTWith any spreader that uses belts, chains or con-

veyors, the tension should be properly adjustedthroughout the winter to reduce slippage and performanceproblems. The owner’s manual will provide specific informa-tion, but some points are universal. First of all, be careful notto over tighten the drive belt or chain, as this could lead todamage. Furthermore, before adjusting conveyor belt tension,make sure that deicing material or sand is not trapped orfrozen between the conveyor belt and the surface below.

If the spreader doesn’t have a conveyor belt, it likely usesan auger to deliver material to the spinner.

CHECK THE ENGINEAND HYDRAULICS

Maintenance for electric-powered spreaders endshere. But for gas-powered units, one must also follow themaintenance schedule outlined in the engine owner’s manualto check or replace the oil, air filter, spark plugs and more.

If the spreader is powered by a hydraulic system, changethe hydraulic fluid periodically. Replace any hoses or fittingsthat are damaged or leaking, and be sure to cap all hydraulicconnectors to prevent system contamination.-James Truan,vice president of sales & marketing, SnowEx. ■

Four tips to keepyour spreaders running

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>> EVEN THE SMALLEST PRACTICES will have a big impact when it’s time tohandle a snow event quickly. Rich Johnston, a snow contractor from Westville,IN, stands with his fleet, faced out and ready to go at all times. Photo courtesyof Johnston Landscape and Maintenance.


Facility&Operations

mid-size parking lot. A 10-foot snow pusher will be ideal for clear-ing narrower aisles, handicapped parking spaces, and will even workin the case of plowing during the day, when traffic is present.

Finally, an accurate estimate of how long the job will take can bedetermined. Many contractors that use containment plows use aformula based on acres and pushing capacity of these types ofplows. For example, one 10-foot containment plow with a pushingcapacity of 13-yards will take roughly 30 minutes to plow anywherefrom two to three acres; of course, this will be dependent on severaloutside variables that will change from event to event. A snow eventwith a 4-inch accumulation of heavy, wet snow will take longer toclear than an event dropping two inches of light, fluffy snow. Acontractor using, for example, a 16-foot model with a 28-yard ca-pacity can estimate the same job in the same weather conditions totake about half the time.

But running an efficient snow removal operation involves morethan just sending out the crew and instructing everyone to startplowing. Having a plan in place for how to clear the lot is crucialfor maximized efficiency, especially in the case of larger properties.For example, it may be wise to divide the area into sections andassign each operator his or her own area. This gives each individ-ual a specific portion on which to focus efforts, leading to moreefficient plowing and eliminating the possibility of doubling-upon a single area.

Parking lots pose additional challenges you must be aware to en-sure quick and thorough plowing. Parking lots often include obsta-cles such as light poles, medians, etc. Noting and planning for thesesmall details will make a big difference, in providing top-notch serv-ice and preventing accidents.

You also need to factor in appropriate equipment and personnelfor curbs and sidewalks, which require additional time and re-sources.

This level of adequate preparation is key, as every minute insnowfall response time can be crucial. But rather than take the timeto plan for fast, complete snow removal, many contractors relyheavily on salt as a primary tool. Salt has advantages, but also comeswith its fair share of disadvantages, all of which you must be aware.

THE RIGHT PLOWThere’s no doubt salt can be beneficial in some situations, but re-

cent shortages have affected many of us. In addition to shortagesand of course, the high cost of salt, the narrow window of its effec-tiveness is another factor to consider.

“Salt is most effective when the temperature reaches 20 degreesFahrenheit and above, and the sun is out to activate it,” Strait says.Experience shows that these types of ideal days are few and far be-tween. The best bet is to remove the snow and ice as completely aspossible to reduce or fully eliminate the need for salt, and prevent

>> KNOW THE DETAILS of each property in advance to ensure the proper equipment is used. Though it may seem like the obvious choice to always usethe largest snow pusher, a smaller one will be best for small entranceways and tight corners. Photo courtesy of Randy Strait.


slip-and-fall hazards as well. In order for you to success-fully achieve clean, clear results, a good snowplow is anessential part of the snow removal team.

A snowplow is more than just a piece of equipment,it’s the real workhorse of a snow removal operation. Thebetter the plow, the better the snow removal job will be,leading to less chance of excess ice build-up. For example,containment-style plows, also known as box plows, havecome a long way over the years, and many different stylesand models exist, each with their own technology andfeatures. Looking for a plow that incorporates features de-signed for fast, efficient removal of snow and ice will bekey in effective operation and preventing liability issues.

Many snowplows incorporate steel cutting edges,which are very effective at scraping even hard-packedsnow and ice down to the pavement. Some manufacturersoffer sectional moldboard designs, which contour to vari-ances in the pavement grade, allowing the plow to getinto dips and depressions in the pavement. This allows forcleaner results, and more snow and ice to be removedwith each pass. Recently, special drop-and-go hitch de-signs have been introduced to further enhance theamount of snow and ice removed with each pass. Thesehitches let the plow move freely from the equipment andautomatically adjust the plow to any change in pavement.

Beyond boosting the effectiveness of a snowplowing operation,the equipment can affect your ability to respond to and handleeach snow event quickly and efficiently. To ensure the equipmentdoesn’t slow down the crew, it’s imperative to keep inventory wellmaintained and serviced.

KEEP EQUIPMENT IN CHECKIn nearly every area of the country, a snow event will show up

unannounced at some point. It’s not uncommon for the weather togo from 60 degrees Fahrenheit one day to blustery, blizzard-likeconditions the next. It is crucial to keep all machines adequatelymaintained so they’re ready to tackle any job and last throughoutseveral hours of tough plowing.

The first step in any proper routine maintenance plan is themost basic—keep the snowplow clean. Taking just a few momentsat the end of each shift to quickly clean the plow will provide atwo-fold benefit. First, a good cleaning will remove any excess iceor salt that could damage the plow or cause corrosion. Second, itwill allow the operator to spot any obvious issues, such as damagedor severely worn parts. Replace these immediately to avoid a de-crease in performance or a full-scale breakdown in the middle of aplowing job.

Good maintenance is an ongoing process, and should receiveadequate attention, both during the season as well as the off-sea-son. Investing a small amount of time into basic plow upkeep willpay dividends, as the plow will be ready and waiting to go as soonas the flakes begin to fly.

It’s beneficial for a snow removal fleet to include more equip-ment and machines than needed at any given time. In the event aplow becomes damaged during use, having an extra one on hand to

replace the damaged one immediately will eliminate costly down-time. Rather than leaving a machine idle while its plow is beingfixed, it can be fitted with a backup unit and be right back out onthe jobsite.

READY WHEN YOU ARE All snow events must be handled with urgency, as every minute

counts. When it comes to the argument of whether to wait for thesnowfall to stop before plowing, or get out there an attack thewhite stuff while it’s still coming down, Strait’s philosophy is sim-ple: “Don’t hesitate for a minute. As soon as the snow begins to fall,we’re out there immediately.”

When faced with an impending winter storm or blizzard, Straiturges how crucial it is for the operator to respond quickly so thesnow doesn’t get too far ahead. The longer it takes a crew to re-spond, the more time snow has to accumulate and ice to build upand the more likely it will be to cause a detrimental slip-and-fall ac-cident.

The first impediment to a quick response time is obvious: badweather. A snow event will make travel conditions to the jobsiteless-than-ideal, so the closer personnel and equipment can be to thejobsite, the faster they can respond.

Finally, even the simplest policy can save time. Consider back-ing equipment on the lot, facing the exit, so it’s ready to go in anemergency. This will shave off crucial minutes in the event of anurgent snow situation, leaving less time for snow accumulation andless chance of a slip-and-fall accident.

Although responding to a snow event immediately seems likethe obvious way to handle a storm, it’s easier said than done.Knowing how to prepare, and for what to prepare will ensure everysnow event is handled quickly and efficiently. ■

>> USING A PLOW that incorporates features designed for fast, efficient removal ofsnow and ice will reduce the need to use salt, which is less effective in cloudy,colder conditions. Photo courtesy of Randy Strait.

Using compressed air to force water out of the irrigation system is the most common methodof winterization. However, irrigation systems equipped with automatic or manual drain valvesmay not require compressed air to winterize if the piping has been installed with slope leadingtoward the drain valve. If you are not sure that the system was designed to drain itself com-pletely, then use compressed air. Using compressed air on an irrigation system equipped with au-tomatic or manual drain valves will not harm the components of the irrigation system whenproperly executed and will ensure the irrigation system is properly winterized.

SELECTING AN AIR COMPRESSORA properly sized air compressor is critical in effectively and efficiently blowing air into the

irrigation system, forcing water out through the sprinklers. Air compressors are available invarious sizes. The most common portable air compressor, which represents roughly 80% ofthe portable air compressors going into rental fleets today, is the 185 portable air compressor.

Irrigation&Drainage | By Tom Barrett


This machine is rated at 185 cfm at 100psi at full load. You can find one through acontractor’s equipment rental shop that ismore than adequate to get the job donefor most residential and commercial irriga-tion systems. Smaller 5 horsepower electricair compressors, although capable of deliv-ering 100 psi, are not capable of deliveringenough volume of air to adequately win-terize an irrigation system. For winterizingsprinkler systems, it is the volume of airthat is more important than high pressure.In fact too high of pressure will causedamage. The preferred operating pressurewill be set at 40-50 psi. This is enough airpressure to evacuate the water through thesprinklers within each zone.

WINTERIZING ANIRRIGATION SYSTEM WITHCOMPRESSED AIR

A note of caution: The expanding aircoming from the air compressor into theirrigation system will get hot and maymelt the plastic pipe. Carefully check thetemperature of the air-hose connection atthe blow-out point, and make sure to slowdown or stop momentarily if it feels toohot. Cycling through each zone two orthree times for short intervals will preventtoo much heat buildup. Another option isto use long stretches of compressor hoselaid on the ground to absorb much of theheat before it enters the sprinkler system.Those who have experience winterizinglarge systems will use a combination ofboth or try and find an air compressorthat will blow cold air. They are not ascommon, but they do exist.

DRAIN SYSTEM WINTERIZATION

Although using compressed air is themost common method for winterizing anautomatic irrigation system, there are twosystems that do not require the technique.The first type is a system equipped withautomatic drains that open when the sys-tem pressure falls below 10 psi. For thesesystems, it is usually only necessary to turnoff the water.

An irrigation system equipped withmanual drain valves requires locating and

Winterizing yourirrigation system

A S FALL APPROACHES and temperatures drop, the water inyour irrigation systems can expand as it freezes. Now is the time tostart thinking about preparing your irrigation systems for winter.Since automatic irrigation systems are usually buried only about 12

inches below the surface of the soil, water left in an irrigation system in freezingclimates over the winter, even a mild winter, will certainly freeze, causing dam-age to pipes, fittings, valves, and sprinklers. Damage caused by a frozen irriga-tion system can be expensive and time consuming to repair next spring.Preventing winter damage by properly winterizing the irrigation system is animportant consideration now.

A note of caution: The expanding air coming from the aircompressor into the irrigation system will get hot and maymelt the plastic pipe.

ment. the best method of cultivation can be selected when...

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