As any good turf management professional or athletic field manager knows, using a commercial-grade top dresser and turf aerator on your fields in the warmer months keeps them in tip top shape. And, the winter months can be a welcome respite from time consuming athletic field maintenance. But every spring when the ground begins to thaw, you find yourself faced with the sometimes-daunting task of field recovery.
Even though Mother Nature often dictates how quickly turfgrasses grow, there are steps you can take to maintain your turf athletic fields over the colder months. Read on to learn more.
- Begin planning for recovery in the fall
Putting forth the time and effort to improve and restore playing conditions after the fall playing season ends ensures that you will begin the spring season ahead of the game for field recovery. Because late winter and early spring growing conditions are often unsatisfactory for the standard turf management practices of aerifying, seeding, fertilizing and top dressing, it is critical to schedule this maintenance around fall use schedules to preserve and improve turf quality.
- Aerate during the turf’s primary growing season whenever possible
Cooler season fields are often aerated in the late summer/early fall and sometimes in early to mid-spring if the weather permits. If working around fall use schedules isn’t a possibility, you may have to wait until after the last scheduled fall event to aerate, but it will still go a long way in preserving the turf for the following season. Core aerating heavily trafficked athletic fields is necessary upon completion of fall sports to relieve soil compaction and aid in turf recuperation.
Our simple, rugged turf core aerators make aerating turf easier than ever. Made with all steel construction, our turf aerators are designed to be easily compatible with the way you work and the equipment you already have.
- Topdress with sand, compost, or a mixture of the two
You know that topdressing is necessary in season to level the playing surface and fill in divots. But, did you know that topdressing at the end of the fall season also insulates the turfgrass crown from extreme winter temperatures? Applying a .25” to .38” layer of medium to coarse sand or compost extends the effectiveness of core aeration holes to provide better drainage and resistance to compaction. Compost also improves the soil structure as well as its holding capacity.
Millcreek Turf Tiger Top Dressers are ideal for spreading material on sports fields. From top soil to sand to compost to infield mixes, our Turf Tiger 3100 and 3200 models are designed to spread a variety of wet or dry materials twice as fast without compromising precision. Our mid-sized top dressers also are affordable and budget-friendly, keeping schools and parks and recreation departments in mind. For athletic field managers working for professional sports teams or at large universities, our Turf Tiger 4300, with a 7,500 lb. capacity, are designed for maximum efficiency allowing you to spread larger loads of material in fewer trips around the field.
Ready to Learn More?
Our turf aerators and commercial-grade top dressers are designed to save you time and money. So if you are looking for a turf aerator or top dresser to help your athletic fields look their very best, contact us today to learn more. Our experienced team is available to answer your questions and help you choose the right equipment for your situation. We look forward to hearing from you!
