61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180
518-272-4210
61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180
518-272-4210
A Year-Long
Sports Field Maintenance Plan
March
Soil
testing - send samples off to Cornell or other soils labs as soon as ground
thaws or in late fall (every three years)
Scout
for areas of thinned turf and plan for annual weed management and
overseeding or re-seeding of bare areas
Scout
for snow mold damage
April
Early
annual weed management with pre-emergent herbicide (crabgrass) on areas of thin
turf
Optimal
time for overseeding and fixing bare patches
Optimal
time for core cultivation
Scout
for red-thread disease
Raise
mowing height whenever possible
* 1
1/2 inches minimum, 2 1/2 inches optimum, 3 1/2 inches maximum for Kentucky
bluegrass and perennial ryegrass
* 2
inches minimum, 3 inches optimum, 5 inches maximum for Tall fescue
Remember
to lower mowing height gradually
May
Fertilizer
(1 - 2 lbs. N/1,000 sq. ft.)
Scout
for possible need for post-emergent crabgrass management
Scout
for need for broadleaf weed management and make application if necessary
Scout
for red thread disease, leaf spot diseases, anthracnose
Irrigation
Deep
(6 to 8 inches) and infrequent best
Total
of 1 to 1 1/4 inches maximum needed each week
Early
morning is the best time
Dormant
fields in drought should be watered once every four weeks to prevent turf loss
June
Fertilizer
application late in the month if lower rate of slow-release fertilizer used
in May
Begin
watching for warmer-season diseases (brown patch, pythium blight, summer
patch, etc.)
Apply
grub insecticide to areas with a history of grub problems if using imidacloprid
(possibly the best option for fields used for fall sports)
Optimal
time to core cultivate (especially after spring sports are over, and if rainfall
is adequate or irrigation possible)
July
Continue
scouting for warmer-season diseases
Scout
for chinch bugs
Possible
time to core cultivate before fall sports begin
(although
use caution on stressed fields)
August
Best
time for major seeding and renovation work
Optimal
time for overseeding
Possible
time for core cultivation (through September)
Scout
for grubs and spot treat or take other action if needed
Continue
scouting for warmer-season diseases
Scout
for broadleaf weeds and treat if necessary (through mid-October)
Fertilizer
now or early September (preferred time for fields fertilized once a year)
September
Good
time for major seeding and renovation work through the middle of September;
possible to germinate perennial ryegrass until end of September
November
Fertilizer
as turf goes dormant (about the time of the last mowing)
December
through March
Possible
times for dormant seeding of bare patches and thinned areas
