Summer is approaching fast and sports field managers across South Florida will be faced with the challenge of keeping their grass healthy and green during the triple-digit temperatures that can sometimes occur in sunny Florida. In this blog, we will explore 5 do’s and 5 don’t that will help keep your south Florida athletic turf looking and performing at its best during summer.
Do Remove Unwanted Organic and Inorganic Matter
Unwanted broadleaf and grassy weeds not only detract from the appearance and safety of your fields, but they also compete with your grass for valuable water and nutrients. Reducing weed populations in the spring will increase the moisture and nutrients for the desired turf plants in the summer. Removing rocks, pebbles and other debris will also save your field from being damaged
Do Fertilize Your Field
One of the best ways to help your field fight through the hot, dry conditions of summer is to make sure it is properly fertilized. Follow recommendations based on a soil test to meet the needs of the grass on your fields.
Do Watch Out For Flying and Crawling Insects
The summer heat and dormant grass will also mask insect damage to your turf. Scout the thatch layer of your fields for insects and treat accordingly. Look out for anthills and insects that graze on grass. Applying appropriate insect control vectors will save your South Florida field from the damages that insects can cause.
Do Manage The Height and Frequency of Mowing
Longer grass blades mean deeper roots. Deeper roots mean more water and nutrients are available. However, this needs to be done before the stress of heat causes the plant to stop growing.
Do Manage Foot Traffic On Your Turf
Overuse is a problem during any season of the year. However, when cool season grass is under stress from the dry conditions, damage to the crown of the plant is more likely because the plant is not actively growing to recover from the wear. Give your grass enough time to recover between games and practice sessions. This will keep your South Florida athletic field in top shape.
Don’t
Don’t Overwork Your Turf
When cool-season grasses are dormant, reduce the amount of foot and machinery traffic. Don’t drive your mowers on the field just to stay busy. Resume cultivation and mowing when the turf has started to regrow and recover from the stress of summer.
Don’t Forget To Water But Also Don’t Over Water
Turf needs an inch of water a week to stay healthy and continue to grow. During the heat of the summer, you may need to increase the irrigation frequency and volume to offset the high evaporation rate that is caused by extreme conditions.
Don’t Stress Summer Dormancy
The development of cool-season turfgrass is temperature-dependent. During extended periods of heat and moisture stress, cool-season grasses stop growing and the leaves turn brown. Summer dormancy is reversible, so when cooler temperatures and moisture return, the grass will re-grow from the crown.
Don’t Forget To Monitor Disease
Summer conditions will mask the symptoms of the disease on your fields. Pay attention to the plants and the weather conditions to help anticipate diseases.
Don’t Forget To Plan For Fall Renovations
The hot and dry time of the year is a perfect time to start planning your renovation plans for fall. Aerification, topdressing, overseeding, fertilization, and pest control plans for the fall will make your fields healthier and more wear-resistant going into the next hot and dry season.
CHOOSE HAVERLAND AG FOR YOUR SPORTS FIELD MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
By putting together a team of the top sports field maintenance experts in the industry, we are able to provide better sports field maintenance programs than any of the other companies in Florida. Because we also have extensive experience in designing and constructing sports fields of all kinds, we know what it takes to maintain them while saving on costs and extending the lifespan of the field. For any inquiries about our services, you may call us at (561) 369.7994 or visit our contact page.