Athletic Fields - Natural Turf

Natural turf athletic fields require specialized attention to keep them safe and playable. A standard “lawncare” approach to maintaining natural athletic surfaces is a recipe for disaster. SPS’s approach to athletic maintenance is to develop a strategy for keeping your natural grass surface thick and uniform so it plays well and the soil profile loose and well drained reducing risk of personal injuries and rainouts. When SPS manages your facility, we take it personally. We will monitor watering schedules and mowing and advise if adjustments are needed. Additionally, we will visit your facility at least once a week during the growing season just to make sure all is well! P.S. Our personnel are as familiar with warm season Bermuda Grass as they are with cool season grasses!

Aeration / Top Dressing

Aeration is the most important process in keeping a natural turf field responsive and playable. Thatch management, good drainage and deep rooted grass plants are all results of a comprehensive aeration program. Deep-tine aeration is the first step to having a well drained field.

Our VERTIDRAIN deep tine aerator has the ability to penetrate the soil up to 16” deep. Its patented kicking action shatters the soil down deep to help reduce compaction and improve drainage. Surface aeration is managed using a JOHN DEERE AEROCORE to aggressively open the soil and reduce thatch by removing ¾” cylinders of soil up to 4” deep. The resultant core debris is broken up via dragging and working the topsoil back into the surface. We highly recommend taking advantage of the open surface from aeration to top-dress with sand and dragging the surface thoroughly to work to sand into the soil profile. It is important to use only clean washed sand that meets USGA standards. This sand is uniformly applied with a TYCROP top-dresser.

SPS IS A “CERTIFIED REDEXIM CHARTERHOUSE CONTRACTOR” for VERTI-DRAIN AERATION

Custom Spraying and Fertilization

Disease management, weed, grass insect control and nutrient management are all processes that should be left to a professional. The accuracy of our computerized application equipment will give you peace of mind knowing that pesticides will be applied to your facility precisely at label recommendations for maximum effect. We can custom design an annual program, work “on call” or apply your pesticides for you. Additional custom applications include plant growth regulators (PGR) specialized nutrients and drainage/soil enhancers.

Turf nutrition starts with soil testing, making it possible for us to formulate an effective nutrient program. The basic nitrogen source for all of our programs is POLYON fertilizer. The unique action of Polyon makes it possible for us to apply a full years’ worth of Nitrogen with a single application. That means fewer applications, uniform color throughout the season with no flushes of growth and fewer chances of application setbacks. Deficiencies in Phosphorus, Potassium and pH levels are addressed on an as needed basis. When you call, we respond. In most cases we will be on your property in 24 hours or less to meet your needs.

Grading/ Sodding/ Goal Repair

All natural turf facilities sustain normal use injury every season. Fields should be kept safe and playable by rehabbing face-off and goal mouths after each season. This is a simple process of stripping the existing surface, verifying grade to avoid puddeling and re-installing new sod.

Eventually, no matter how much maintenance is performed, your playing surface will need to be replaced. Like an inner tube in a tire, after too many patches it becomes ineffective! SPS has all of the tools needed to give your field a face-lift. Our Rotadairon Soil Conditioner is the must have tool for tilling under an existing field and preparing it for fine grading and big roll sod installation. We only use “big roll” sod on our sod installations no matter if they are 500 sq. ft. or 50,000 sq. ft. Big roll sod is delivered to us in rolls that are 42” wide and 120’ long (420 sq. ft.) versus palletized sod which is typically cut in strips containing 9 sq. ft. Fewer seams help the sod to grow in much faster and provides a smooth, uniform playing surface.

Whether it’s repairing a goal or replacing an entire field, SPS has the expertise and equipment to provide tilling, fine grading, soil amendments and sod installation on your facility!

Infield Maintenance

There’s more to athletic fields then just grass! Proper infield maintenance on baseball/softball diamonds is paramount! Ball reaction, drainage and good footing are considerations when formulating an infield maintenance schedule. We fine grade our infields to assure proper movement of water from the playing surface. We then apply only the finest clay based mix using a top-dresser to assure a uniform layer which reduces the risk of “bird baths” in the play area. Regular rolling and careful dragging is a must throughout the season.

The two major wear areas on a diamond are the batter’s box and pitcher’s mound. We build the entire mound from our special infield clay mix to wear, then inlay clay bricks to specification in the kick and landing area. These clay bricks are inlayed into the batter’s / catcher’s boxes to insure good footing and eliminate the wear of “digging in”. A properly built and maintained infield, using quality products, will reduce rainouts and provide a safe uniform surface for many years.

Natural Turf Services

Listed below is all of the services that we can provide for "Natural Grass" Athletic Fields.

* Preventive spray programs for disease	* Infield dressing & maintenance
* Undesirable grass & weed control	* Pitching mound & home base building
* Rotodairon tilling	* Verti-drain deep tine aeration
* Top-dressing/soil amendments	* Aerocore aeration
* Polyon fertilization programs	* Standard core aeration
* Soil testing	* Rolling
* Over (slice) seeding	* Fine grading
* Big roll sodding & goal repair	* Insect control