How To Keep Your Plano, Texas Athletic Field Looking Great

No matter what sport is being played on your Texas athletic field, all that activity can do a lot of damage to the grass and the surface beneath it. It takes a lot of work to maintain an athletic field in top shape, and to keep it mowed, adequately irrigated, well-fertilized, and free of holes is important for more than just aesthetic purposes. A healthy athletic field can help reduce player injuries, while a poorly drained, uneven, compacted, or waterlogged field can be disastrous for players, coaches, and fans. Keep reading to find out a few key tips for taking care of any athletic field.

Mow Regularly And Often

Like any lawn, athletic fields in Plano, Texas need to be mowed regularly. Mowing not only helps keep the grass looking nice but can also keep grass plants healthy. Frequent, routine mowing makes grass plants send out new shoots and grow more densely, filling in uneven or bare patches that could potentially be tripping hazards for players on the field. This repeated mowing will also help your field be more resistant to damage and wear. Mower blades should be kept sharp, and you should never mow grass that has been stressed by drought, frost, or flood. Depending on what type of grass you have, you may need to mow two or even three times a week to keep your field looking sharp and in top shape health-wise. 

Invest in Aeration

Aeration is extremely important because it gives grass plants access to air, water, and other nutrients that can become stuck on the surface of the soil because of compacted soil or thick layers of thatch. This problem occurs over time with use from events like games, band practices, concerts, etc., and can become especially problematic if a field experiences foot traffic while the soil is wet. Additionally, fields with compacted soil or thick thatch can be very hard, creating poor playing conditions for any sport. Aeration helps break up the soil, softening the surface, allowing the roots to better access the nutrients they need, and encouraging better, healthier, and thicker grass growth. 

Fertilize The Grass

Another crucial step in athletic field maintenance is adequate fertilization. Over time, nutrients in the soil are depleted and need to be replenished. Fertilizing with nutrients like nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium can boost a field’s growth, its ability to recover from damage and heavy wear, and even it’s color and vibrancy. An expert from Lawn Lab can assess the quality of your field’s soil to see what nutrients it needs and create an application schedule to make sure your field receives the right amount and type of nutrients. 

Schedule Watering Around Field Use

The grass in your athletic field does need water, but not too much. Overwatering can lead to water sitting on top of your field, potentially causing damage and preventing games or other activities from occurring. You should also coordinate your field’s watering schedule with the activities being played on it so that the field is completely dry when in use. 

Overseed Every Year And Spot Seed As Needed

Applying grass seed over the entire field once every year will help keep your field’s grass looking dense and full. This can be difficult to do during the playing season, but the experts at Lawn Lab can coordinate a time for overseeding that works for you. Additionally, spot seeding any time you see thin areas or bare patches during the season can make sure these spaces don’t hinder gameplay. 

A Few Common Issues Athletic Fields in Plano, Texas Experience

• Diseases: Keep an eye out for signs of disease like dollar spot and brown patch, two fungal diseases that cause grass discoloration and sunken areas that can seriously harm the health of your field and players. Prompt treatment can help eradicate these issues and keep your field healthy. 

• Pests: Grubs, ticks, and fleas make playing on an athletic field frustrating and even deadly because of the diseases these pests can spread. Professional control methods from Lawn Lab can keep your field free of these nuisances so players and fans can enjoy their time at your facility without worrying about pesky bites or dangerous diseases. 
• Heavy Use And Wear: Lots of heavy foot traffic can cause heavy damage to a field if not properly regulated. Make sure you rotate where heavy traffic occurs on the field by moving the goalposts, warm-up areas, and practice zones. Avoid using the field if the grass has been stressed by conditions like drought, frost, or rain, closely regulate unscheduled or unofficial use, and give the field a rest period in between events, so the grass has time to recover. 

For All Your Athletic Field Care Needs in Plano, Call Lawn Lab

If you have an athletic field in the Plano, Texas area that is looking lackluster, or you want to make sure that next season’s games aren’t affected by the state of your field, call the professionals at Lawn Lab. We offer a variety of comprehensive commercial lawn care services, including treatments for common issues like brown spots and weeds, fertilization, liquid aeration, pest control, and ryegrass overseeding. Our goal is to keep athletic fields and other business properties looking their best.

Visit our website to see more information on our commercial services as well as all of our other lawn and landscaping services for personal properties and homes. Feel free to fill out our contact form for more details, request a free quote online, or give us a call at 866-LAWNLAB. And don’t forget to keep reading our monthly blog for more helpful articles on caring for your personal and commercial properties!

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