Casey Reynolds
NCSU Turfgrass Research Associate
NC Certified Turfgrass Professional
Managing fields on a budget
What do the terms „manage‟ and
„maintain‟ mean?
Managing fields on a budget

Dictionary.com defines „manage‟ as:
 To take charge or care of.
 To continue to function, progress, or
succeed in accomplishing despite difficulty
or hardship.
Managing fields on a budget

Dictionary.com defines „maintain‟ as:
 To keep in an appropriate condition or
operation.
 To keep unimpaired
Managing fields on a budget
One important point to remember:
Managing/maintaining fields on a low budget and
managing/maintaining fields on no budget are
NOT the same thing.
Managing fields on a budget

As the saying goes;
 Garbage in, Garbage out…
 (There’s also one about
making chicken salad…
… but I forget the rest)
Managing fields on a budget

Topics to be covered:
 Developing a basic management plan
 Basic budgeting
 Funding sources and volunteer help
Managing fields on a budget

Develop a basic management plan

Basic turfgrass management practices include:
 Mowing
 Fertilization
 Irrigation
 Secondary Cultural Practices
○ Aerification, weed control, insect control, etc..
What is mowing ?
•Mowing
The process of regularly
removing leaf tissue from a
turfgrass plant.
Grazing/Mowing
Meristem (Growing
Point)
Impacts of Mowing on Plant Growth
Increases uniformity
 Results in finer (thinner) textured leaf blades
 Greater plant density per unit area
 Increased traffic tolerance

 Increased rhizome and stolon production
Mowing Patterns
Reduces grain and stimulates a more
upright growth habit
 Aesthetic value (striping)
 Minimizes compaction

Managing fields on a budget
Mowing Cost:
Mowing (in addition to being one of the most important cultural practices)
is also one the most expensive!
Combine:
Equipment
Fuel
Labor
Cleanup
Equipment Maintenance
Etc…
Fertilization
When is the optimum time to fertilize?
Time your fertilization when the plant is actively
growing.
 Warm-season grasses

 Summer months

Cool-season grasses
 Spring and fall
Nitrogen Fertilizer Sources

Quickly Available
 Ammonium Nitrate,
Ammonium Sulfate,
Urea

Slowly Available
 Slowly Soluble (SCU,
PCU, UF, IBDU)
 Organic Fertilizers
(Milorganite,
Manures)
Types of Slow-Release N
Fertilizers
Ureaformaldehyde, UF
 Methylene Urea, MU
 Isobutylidinediurea, IBDU
 Sulfur coated urea, SCU
 Polymer coated urea,

Nutrient Management Programs
Fertilization rates

Example:
 Using a 16-4-8 fertilizer to supply 1 lb of N per
1000 ft2 gives:
○ Area (ft2) x Rate (lbs N) x Analysis (lbs fert)
(1000 ft2)
(lbs N)
○ Area (1000 ft2) x Rate (1 lb N) x Analysis (1 lb fert)
(1000 ft2)
(0.16 lbs N)
= 6.25 lbs of fertilizer per 1000 ft2
Managing fields on a budget

How much fertilizer does a field need?
 Depends largely on use…

General guidelines call for 1 lb N/1000 ft2 every 4 to
6 weeks.
Managing fields on a budget

Fertilizer Program Cost
Timing
Product
2 wks after
greenup (MidMay)
Late June
Cost/bag
Total Cost*
17-17-17 with 50% 1 lb N/1000 ft2
SCU
$11.50
$115
30-6-10 with
50%SCU
1 lb N/1000 ft2
$11.25
$67.50
Mid-August
30-6-10 with
50%SCU
1 lb N/1000 ft2
$11.25
$67.50
Mid-Sept
5-10-15
1 lb K/1000 ft2
$6.25
$68.75
* Total cost based on 2 acre football field.
Rate
Total Yearly Cost: $318.75
Irrigation
Plant/Water Relations
Approximately 90% of plant tissue is comprised of
water.
 Water is a major component of germination,
photosynthesis, nutrient transport, plant turgidity, and
transpiration.

Irrigation
Determining Water Use
Water use rates are usually expressed in inches or
centimeters of water lost per day.
 In general, warm-season grasses use less water
than cool-season grasses.
 Bermudagrass has been documented to use
between 0.15 to 0.35 inches/day while tall fescue
ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 inches/day.


So,,,,How much water do you use ????
Irrigation

The answer to this question depends on several
factors including:
 Environment
○ Temperature
○ Relative humidity
○ Wind speed
○ Sunlight
 Turf species
 Management practices
 Soil moisture
Managing fields on a budget
Example

Five year old „Tifway‟ Bermudagrass football field
 The field is irrigated 42 times per year (May – Nov) with
0.5” of water per event.
 This is about 756,000 gallons of water annually.
 Water cost $1.60 per 750 gallons for an annual total cost of
$1,162.80.
Managing fields on a budget
Water wisely




http://www2.turffiles.ncsu.edu/tims
Irrigate in early morning
Within current restrictions
Calibrate irrigation system
Change controller run
times at least monthly
Too MUCH Water can be just as big of a
problem as too little!
Weed Control

First and Foremost
 The best way to control pests, especially weeds, is to
produce dense, healthy turf through proper
maintenance.
Weeds in Athletic Turf

Weeds are generally placed into one of three
categories based on their growth characteristics.
 Grassy weeds
○ Crabgrass, Goosegrass, Dallisgrass, etc.
 Sedges
○ Yellow nutsedge, purple nutsedge
 Broadleaves
○ Dandelions, chickweed, henbit, clover, etc.
Grassy Weeds
Goosegrass
Crabgrass
Dallisgrass
Bahiagrass
Broadleaf Weeds
Dandelion
Common chickweed
White clover
Sedges
Annual Sedge
Yellow Nutsedge
Cylindric Sedge
Globe Sedge
Managing fields on a budget

In addition to knowing the type of wee,
you need to know its life cycle as well.
 Summer annual, winter annual, perennial,
biennial.

This is important for treatment timing
and successful control.
Weeds in Turf
Control of Summer Annuals (crabgrass, goosegrass)
Common pre-emergent herbicides include:
Common name
dithiopyr
oxadiazon
pendimethilin
prodiamine
Trade name
Dimension
Ronstar
Pendulum
Barricade
*There are also generic products now available for many of these products.
Managing fields on a budget
Product
Price
lbs ai/acre
Cost/acre
Field Cost
Barricade 65WG
$38.95/lb
1 lb ai/acre
$59.68
$119.36
Dimension EC
$116.50/gallon
0.5 lbsai/acre
$58.25
$116.5
Pendulum 60
WDG
$9.51/lb
3 lbs ai/acre
$47.55
$95.10
Ronstar 2G
$1.50/lb
3 lbs ai/acre
$300
$600
* Total cost based on 2 acre football field.
Weeds in Turf
Control of Broadleaves and Perennials
 Common post-emergent herbicides include:
Trade name
Chemical Name
Cool-Power (Ester formulation)
Horsepower (Amine formulation)
Trimec Classic
Lesco Three-Way
MCPA, Triclopyr, Dicamba
MCPA, Triclopyr, Dicamba
2,4-D, Mecoprop, Dicamba
2,4-D, Mecoprop, Dicamba
or MCPA, Triclopyr, Dicamba
*All of these products are labeled for use in both warm and cool-season turf.
Managing fields on a budget
Product
Price
oz/1000 sq ft
Cost/acre
Field Cost
Trimec Classic
$29.77/gallon
1.25
$12.63
$25.26
Coolpower
$47.75/gallon
1.25
$20.04
$40.08
Speedzone
$55.19/gallon
1.25
$23.09
$46.18
Escalade 2
$46.82/gallon
1.25
$15.00
$30.00
* Total cost based on 2 acre football field.
Managing fields on a budget

Compaction Relief
 Fields can often become compacted due to
excessive use.
Managing fields on a budget

Tips to prevent this include:
 Open communication between field staff and
field users (coaches, parents, etc.)
 Field rotation
 Aerification
Control Traffic Flow




Cost nothing and is effective way to reduce
dangerously worn areas on game and practice
fields.
Requires frank and open communication
Work with coaches to have drills off the field or
rotate areas.
Limit field use and field users.
Aerification

Core fields regularly
 Low traffic – once or twice per year
 High traffic – two to five times per year

Use hollow tines when possible.
 Drum-Type aerator: cost around $500
Managing fields on a budget

Heavily compacted areas may require
deep tine or shatter tine aerification.
 Will likely need to be contracted out
 Expensive
Even when funds may be available, Communication is KEY!
Funding
Join groups/associations that allow you to
interact with your peers and find out how
they handle situations similar to yours.
 This works not only with funding but also
maintenance issues.

NC Sports Turf Managers
Association
www.ncsportsturf.org
Funding (cont.)

Form “strategic partnerships” that may be
interested in using your facilities, sharing
cost, volunteering services, etc.





Parks Maintenance Department
Local Sports Clubs (Youth and Adult)
Churches
Businesses
Local School Districts
Resources

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

Local Golf Course Superintendents
Master Gardeners
County Extension Service
High School Agriculture classes (FFA)
Booster Clubs
Parents (of athletes) with a green thumb,
strong back, and/or checkbook
When Using Volunteers
Always acknowledge their work –
publicly in newsprint if possible
 Keep files on volunteers (name,
address, phone numbers, etc.)


Make sure you are confident in who you
allow to „work‟ on your field!
“Volunteer” spraying
Inversely, volunteer help combined with proper guidance
can sometimes produce immaculate results!
Managing fields on a budget

An old saying goes
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

The same idea applies to managing fields.

Remind your booster, parents, athletic
directors, etc of this BEFORE your field fails.
“If you think maintaining a field is expensive,
try replacing it.”
Managing fields on a budget
Managing fields on a budget
Managing fields on a budget
Managing fields on a budget