Pictures from an athletic field contractor

[sixdogs]

I don't understand sand to add to grass. I've never used it and just graded and worked the ground smooth on larger-size new home lawns. It seemed to me that sand doesn't grow grass that well and would be easily dislodged from where you put it? That has been my understanding.

How does the sand stay where you put it and how is sand a good growth substitute for good dirt?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

More laser grading. If you listen closely to the tractor, I think I have a head gasket going out. This has happened twice before on this tractor.

Also, if you notice I backed up a few feet. This is because the soil is still a little wet/sticky, and there is still a lot of dead grass in it. This causes the soil to build up in front of the blade and not allow the soil to 'flow' or dump, even if the blade is an inch or two above grade. By backing up, it releases the buildup and allows the blade to dump.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I don't understand sand to add to grass. I've never used it and just graded and worked the ground smooth on larger-size new home lawns. It seemed to me that sand doesn't grow grass that well and would be easily dislodged from where you put it? That has been my understanding.

How does the sand stay where you put it and how is sand a good growth substitute for good dirt?

The sand serves several purposes.

It will smooth out some of the rough spots that tend to build on athletic fields.
It will help the surface to be softer, therefore possibly preventing head injuries
When we aerate and punch holes, the sand will fall into those holes, allowing better percolation of water, and allowing better root growth. This is especially true on heavy clay soils that tend to get compacted.

Sometimes we will put a 'sand cap' on the field of up to 6", if the budget allows, and plant on top of that. This provides excellent drainage and playability after a heavy rain. Again, this makes it softer to help prevent concussions and other injuries. LSU's Tiger stadium has 6" of sand with 12" of limestone below that. This does require a lot more 'spoon feeding' of fertilizer and watering of the grass but provides an excellent playing surface. Much better than fake grass.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Current situation at the field renovation project. My rainfall app says about 1.25" today.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is that the old fashion way of checking for level? Water Level!!!!

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Up close and slow motion video of the exhaust leak on my Kubota L5740. I thought it might be a head gasket, but after checking my maintenance records, we have changed this exhaust gasket twice already.

 

[2manyrocks]

Skimming through this entire thread, my impression is that a big chunk of your time with these jobs is spent hauling equipment. How far do you travel to do this work?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Skimming through this entire thread, my impression is that a big chunk of your time with these jobs is spent hauling equipment. How far do you travel to do this work?

We have traveled up to about 250 miles which is about 5 hours. We have been to all corners of the state. We've done jobs way below New Orleans on the southeast end of the state, south of Lake Charles, near the Texas line within a mile of the Gulf of America, up near Arkansas near the Mississippi line, and across the state near Shreveport.
I do add a 'travel fee' for some of the farther jobs.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sure seems odd that your exhaust gasket keeps failing. Is it flat with the cylinder head? I'm sure you checked that, but I can't think of any other reason for it to fail that main times.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

This is after the sand is spread. It's probably a little more than we needed. And they mowed it as short as he could yesterday. If we get the rain that is predicted for the next few days, it won't look so much like a beach.
View attachment 3318582

Went by this field today. We spread the sand on April 22 which is about 16 days ago. We've had probably 12-15" of rain since then and it has not been mowed. I'm very happy with how it looks.