I work in an industry allied to the grounds keeping profession and have done so for many years. After keeping track of this thread for a while I can't let it go without input. My comments relate to sporting fields in general, though aimed in particular at the countries major sports stadiums, including BTS.
Autumn maintenance includes the over sowing (seeding) with a particular winter 'annual' cold/cool weather rye grass to give assistance in cover, colour & to a limited extent, damage recovery not provided by the dormant primary turf.
This must be eradicated in spring before the summer heat begins as it cannot cope, become patchy, clumpy/uneven and very unsightly.
Maintenance and it's timing, is a slave to our temperate climatic seasons.
Unless of course one has the budget for annual major refurbishment costing a minimum of low to medium six figure amounts.
In fact, all perennial turf grasses suitable for temperate climates grow poor in temperate winters, though some hybrids cope better.
In a nutshell, life is a bitch for groundsmen. More often than not your budget is grossly inadequate and the most important aspect governing the quality and timing of your work, the weather, is obviously out of your control. To the average ill informed layperson with a knowledge limited to the upkeep of the family yard, you can often be unfairly perceived as an incompetent fool.
Do CCM need to relocate games to secure a suitable time frame to complete & establish the maintenance they speak of? I can only suggest a period of 6weeks or thereabouts during the warmer months should be enough time for a major surface refurbishment to be ready for play. 'If' the weather cooperates.
If you can develop a hybrid perennial turf grass that allows anything more than minor maintenance during the winter months of a temperate climate, what you want can be done. Until then, it cannot. The 'primary' turf, as in all primary turf used on playing surfaces, has a growing season limited to the warmer months and lays in varying degrees of dormancy at other times.
Autumn maintenance includes the over sowing (seeding) with a particular winter 'annual' cold/cool weather rye grass to give assistance in cover, colour & to a limited extent, damage recovery not provided by the dormant primary turf.
This must be eradicated in spring before the summer heat begins as it cannot cope, become patchy, clumpy/uneven and very unsightly.
Maintenance and it's timing, is a slave to our temperate climatic seasons.
Unless of course one has the budget for annual major refurbishment costing a minimum of low to medium six figure amounts.
Someone is thinking outside the square.
In fact, all perennial turf grasses suitable for temperate climates grow poor in temperate winters, though some hybrids cope better.
In a nutshell, life is a bitch for groundsmen. More often than not your budget is grossly inadequate and the most important aspect governing the quality and timing of your work, the weather, is obviously out of your control. To the average ill informed layperson with a knowledge limited to the upkeep of the family yard, you can often be unfairly perceived as an incompetent fool.
Do CCM need to relocate games to secure a suitable time frame to complete & establish the maintenance they speak of? I can only suggest a period of 6weeks or thereabouts during the warmer months should be enough time for a major surface refurbishment to be ready for play. 'If' the weather cooperates.
