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.

 

UPDATED: IMPRESSIVE RESULTS: Fraze Mowing Bermudagrass

The impact of fraze mowing bermudagrass is beginning to show.  Fields that were “cleaned off” at Maryland SoccerPlex and at FC Dallas Park are all setting themselves apart.

Maryland SoccerPlex fields that were “cleaned off” are illustrating improved wear tolerance, even just 6 weeks after fraze mowing.  During a lacrosse tournament last weekend, SoccerPlex Patriot bermudagrass fields hosted 34 lacrosse matches per bermudagrass field in rainy, humid conditions.  The durability from the fraze mowed fields was far superior.  The treatments have been the same; no fertilizer and 1 pass w/ 3/8″ hollow coring tines on 1″ centers; accept that the non-fraze mowed fields were scarified to promote recovery. The results follow….

Fields Not Fraze Mowed:

Day 1: Bermudagrass Field That was Not Fraze Mowed

Day 7 of Recovery on Fields Not Fraze Mowed

UPDATED

Non Fraze Mowed: Day 14 of Recovery From 34 Lacrosse Matches

Because bermudagrass is so quick to recover, it is accepted before such a lacrosse event that the bermudagrass will nearly be completely worn away.  The bermuda is able to recover completely within 2-3 weeks even at this pace.

Then that is compared to the fields that were fraze mowed 6 week prior to hosting 34 lacrosse matches in 4 days.  Results:

Day 1:  Field That Was Fraze Mowed

Day 7 of Recovery on Fraze Mowed Field

UPDATED

Day 14 of Recovery: Fraze Mowed Field from 34 Lacrosse Matches (W/ Soccer Camps/ Clinics All 14 Days)

The results speak for themselves.  Yes, in both pictures the field is extremely worn initially on Day 1.  However, look closer and compare the amount of green tissue remaining on the ground in the fraze mowed picture compared to the field not fraze mowed.  The field not fraze mowed is nearly all dirt where new bermuda will need to push back up through the soil or have sprigs added to the area.  The fraze mowed field still has nearly 75% cover, so the plants can quickly grow back in the worn area.

Keep in mind that fraze mowing took place only 6 weeks prior on 3 fields:

Fraze Mowing w/ KORO Universe Field Topmaker

Field Comparisons In 6 Weeks Before 34 Lacrosse Games

Because of the increase in durability of the fraze mowed bermudagrass, it is recovering in only 1 week.  Not only does this allow the field to recover faster, but it can allow for the fields to sustain even more play.  Win. Win.

So WHY is the difference so vast already?

1)  Re-growth is more durable:  Just 6 weeks after the field was cleaned off completely, the re-growth back up through the soil is much stronger.  The number of growing points has multiplied and the cleats go into the soil instead of thatch to reduce shearing/ tearing/ increasing traction.

2) Organic removal reduces moisture and compaction potential:  During the 4 day lacrosse tournament, wet and rainy conditions prevailed.  The drying speed of the fraze mowed fields was much faster than the non-fraze mowed fields, and the 3 fields that were “cleaned off” historically hold water the longest.  WHY?  The organic layer was removed, so water was not held in the organic layer as long and allowed to soak into the native soil faster.  The organic removal also reduced the compaction potential at the soil surface.

The FC Dallas Training Field is also experiencing similar superior wear tolerance:

FC Dallas 1st Team Training Field:

Organic/ Thatch Build Up in 2012

Thatch/ Organic Build Up AFTER Fraze Mowing in 2013

The pictures also illustrate the difference in the quality of the bermudagrass re-growth.  Without having to grow up through thatch and having more growing points, the picture illustrates how much stronger the bermudagrass is after fraze mowing.  Additionally, the poa is removed as well.

The FC Dallas Training field has been in use daily for nearly 3 months and is illustrating superior wear tolerance, especially through the high traffic areas:

 

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