Field 14 Sod Installation Complete!

Field 14 Sod Installation Compete

The Patriot and NorthBridge sod installation on Field 14 was completed Friday evening.  Fields 14 & 17 are now installed with 1 week of grow-in time before August Cup 2013.  

 

Field 17 Topdressing

Field 17 received its 1st topdressing today.  Topdressing is important to not only fill in sod seems and smooth the surface, but the topdressing also creates better durability for the 20 matches that the field will host next weekend

1/4″ of Sand Being Applied to Riviera Side of Field 17

Riviera & Latitude 36 Begin to Grow

The Riviera bermudagrass installed 7 days ago has rooted in 5-6″ nicely.  It is now to the point where it can not be pulled up.  The Latitude 36 was installed 5 days ago, and is also rooting.. but is slightly behind.  Both were rolled today and will be topdressed tomorrow

Riviera on Left. Latitude 36 on Right

Field 14 Nearly Ready for Sod Installation

Field 14 sod installation will begin tomorrow, August 14 w/ Patriot bermudagrass to be installed on the west 1/2 of the field.  NorthBridge will follow on Thursday.

Installation of Sand Continues on Field 14

Field 14 Sand Watered and Prepared for Sod

Field 17 Sod Installation Nears Completion

The installation of the Riviera and Latitude 36 sod on SoccerPlex Field 17 is nearing completion.

The Riviera was installed Tues/ Wed:

Riviera Sod Installed On West 1/2 of Field 17

 

The Latitude 36 was installed Thurs/Fri:

Latitude 36 Sod Installed on East 1/2 of Field 17

 

Field 14 Patriot and NorthBridge will be installed next week in preparation for the fields to open on August 23.

 

Field 17 Set for Sod on Tues, Aug. 6

Over 90 loads of sand that make up the base of Field 17 have all been put into place. Irrigation heads are now being installed, and the final grade is being made using lasers. The lasers allow machines to get the sand grade to be absolutely precise… down to 1/8″. The end product is a field that is completely smooth and ready for play almost immediately!

Initial Sand Grade Being Established

Sand Trucks Arriving for Field 14

Field 17’s sod will begin to be installed on Tuesday, August 6.  The Riviera bermudagrass will be installed on the west 1/2 of the field, while Latitude 36 bermudagrass will be installed on the east 1/2 of the field.

Innovation Announcement: Bermudagrass Performance Test

Innovation Announcement  

Bermudagrass Performance Test

 
SoccerPlex to Administer Real Time Performance
Test of Four Bermudagrass Varieties

 

Details:  Maryland SoccerPlex to test four varieties of bermudagrass on two re-constructed sand base fields.  NorthBridge & Patriot on Field 14, Riviera & Latitude 36 on Field 17.  The varieties side by side will provide a real time performance test on sand base fields hosting over 1000 hours of play per year in the Washington, DC region. 

Germantown, MD, July 31, 2013:  Starting with installation next week, Maryland SoccerPlex will administer a real time performance test of four cold hardy and traffic tolerant bermudagrasses.  The varieties are Latitude 36, NorthBridge, Patriot, and Riviera.  The bermudagrass will be installed on 2 fields currently being re-constructed with sand base root zones for the fall season.

The performance test is a continuation of the SoccerPlex mission “to be an innovative leader in sports field and environmental management”.  The goal is to compare and contrast the four grasses on fields consistently under heavy use while receiving the same maintenance practices.

“When selecting a bermudagrass for our new fields, we have four excellent options”, says Jerad Minnick, who oversees the SoccerPlex Grounds Management and Field Development operation.  “Each variety has had success in different situations, but never have they all been compared in the same situation. This test gives us the opportunity to compare and contrast the varieties head to head under heavy use with our aggressive maintenance practices.  We will develop an understanding for which variety is best for not only us, but for others with high traffic bermudagrass fields as well.”

SoccerPlex Fields 14 & 17:  Fields 14 & 17 are being re-constructed from a native clay soil base into sand base fields.  With the installation of sand, Fields 14 & 17 will host more matches and trainings, as sand does not compact from foot traffic like soil.  Also the sand base will allow Fields 14 & 17 to be exempt to rain cancellations, just as SoccerPlex Stadium (which is sand).

Follow the progress of the construction, the performance test, and all other SoccerPlex Grounds & Environmental Management practices at www.soccerplexgem.wordpress.com or by following Seed_McGrass, the SoccerPlex Field Spokesman on twitter.

 

Field 14 & Field 17 Re-construction Continues on Schedule

The reconstruction of SoccerPlex FIelds 14 & 17 continues on schedule for opening August 23 for the Rush for the Cup Soccer Tournament.  SoccerPlex’s lead construction company, Landscapes Unlimited (www.landscapesunlimited.com), has installed 45 of the 90 loads of sand needed for Field 17.

1st Loads of Sand Arrive for Field 17. 90 Loads of Sand Are Required for Each Field

Irrigation is installed on Field 14, with drainage work beginning for sand deliveries to start new week.  Field 17 will begin to have sod installed on August 6.

Drainage Installation on Field 17

 

Irrigation, Drainage Installation on Field 17

The re-construction of Field 17 is moving along quickly.  After 1 week, Field 17’s base grading is complete… irrigation is being installed…  as is the drainage.

Drainage Main Line Installed, Lateral Drain Pipe Prepared, Irrigation Line Assembled

Irrigation Lateral Installation

 

Irrigation and Drain Main Line Installation

Field 14 & Field 17 Construction Begins!

Removal of Field 17 Begins

The re-construction of SoccerPlex Fields 14 & 17 start today, July 8.  The fields, originally built out of clay native soil, are being re-built with sand as the soil base.  The fields are scheduled to re-open for the August Cup soccer tournament on August 23.

Why Are They Being Re-constructed?
Fields 14 & 17 are having a sand soil installed for the grass to grow in.  SoccerPlex Stadium is only other of SoccerPlex’s 22 fields that has sand as the soil.

Sand allows water to soak in quickly so that there are never puddles on the field, causing the field to become unplayable during rain.  Sand also does not compact like native soils, so Field 14 & 17 will be able to host more play.

What  Difference Will This Make For SoccerPlex Patrons?
With the sand soil, Fields 14 & 17 will be nearly rain-out proof.  The sand soil and the lights installed in August of 2012 will combine to allow week day train sessions, more matches during tournaments, and even play during the winter because the fields can sustain more events without the grass starting to wear out.

What Will You See?
During construction from July 8 until mid-August, Fields 14 & 17 will be completely dug up.  The existing grass is being removed.  High efficiency irrigation will be installed.  Drain lines will be laid and 6″ of sand will be spread across the fields.  Bermudagrass sod will then be laid on the sand in mid-August with 7-14 days to root down and establish in time for the August Cup tournament.

Removal of Field 17