Sports Field Management
Our expertise comes from many years of experience in delivering the consistent high-quality turf that top athletic fields demand.
North Carolina State University in Raleigh, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and many public and private high schools throughout eastern North Carolina all trust our expertise in sports field management.
Every aspect is tailored to your exact soil/ turf type, conditions/ climate, and usage. Preparation, renovation, and repair – whether it’s during the playing season or out of it – our work never interferes with the game.
We have the experience to plan, create and maintain sports fields of the highest caliber. This is supported by the logistics, equipment and skilled workers to make the whole process stress-free. You’re not just getting a great field for your team to walk out on with pride, you will experience additional benefits as well, including:
- Reduced compaction-related player injuries
- Less wear due to greater turf density
- Smoother, more predictable playing surface
- Improved drainage
Our sports field management services
offer the complete package:
Fertilization
Deep-tine Aeration
Weed Control
Top-dressing
Field Renovation
Laser Grading
Synthetic Field Cleaning and Grooming
Verticutting
G Max Testing
Athletic Field Renovation
Whether you’re looking to completely strip a field or just Fraise Mowing, our GKB Combinator can handle it.
The Combinator can remove existing sod and soil to a depth of two inches while precisely following the same grade. This will allow for immediate re-sodding. Fraise mowing will remove the top layer of clumpy grass, thatch, or any other unwanted material such as rock or glass. The Fraise process will not remove the existing root system so you can add seed or sprig, and the old and new turf will grow back together. The result is a smooth and healthy playing surface that looks great.
Additional information on some of our services include the following:
Core Aeration
Core aeration is similar to deep tine aeration except the depth is three to four inches deep. Hollow tines remove small plugs of thatch and soil. It is sometimes necessary to remove this buildup of material. If thatch accumulation is left unmanaged it will impede the effectiveness of herbicides, fertilizers and water infiltration. Core aeration should be done twice a year.
Top Dressing
Top dressing is done immediately after core arification. It is useful in controlling thatch and leveling out low spots on playing surfaces. It also aides in irrigation and the playability of fields. Top dressing is usually done with sand at a ¼ inch in depth per application.
Gmax Testing
Gmax testing is impact testing. Impact testing measures the shock attenuation performance of sports surfaces. Tests can be performed on natural and synthetic fields. This test determines the shock absorbing properties of synthetic sports surfaces and natural grass fields. This test helps you understand the playability of your athletic fields. Hard surfaces are harder on athletes, resulting in more injuries. More professional, college and high school programs are getting their fields tested. We can test the hardness of your field using our Glegg Impact Tester.
Deep Tine Aeration
Deep tine aeration is done with a machine called a soil reliever. A soil reliever does, just what it sounds like it does. It relieves the compaction in the soil profile. Compaction occurs over time in all soils. It becomes a real problem for the root system of plants. Deep tine aerators use 7/8 inch tines spaced six inches apart, penetrating the soil to a depth of up to sixteen inches, depending on conditions. These tines create many small holes that maximize water percolation, allow the necessary oxygen to penetrate the soil, and aide in getting fertilizer to the root zone. The exchange helps the plant to establish a deep and expansive root system creating a hardier plant that is durable enough to with stand the pounding that occurs on athletic fields. Deep tine aeration also creates a surface with more cushioning. This cushioning is a tremendous advantage to athletes protecting them from numerous injuries. Deep tine aeration should be performed annually on most fields.
Synthetic Field Sweeping
Synthetic fields need regular maintenance also. We can get this done with our Verti Top 1500. The sweeper removes debris and the top layer infill from the turf, sifting the debris out and redistributing the infill back onto the field. This redistribution of infill will level out the field and get the fibers to stand back up. The end result is a cleaner, safer and better looking surface. If you have not done it in a while remember that neglecting this routine maintenance may void your warranty.
Verticutting
Veticutting is the process that thins and cleans the turf, it also removes excessive thatch and top growth. It should be done yearly on Bermuda turf, during the summer so the turf can recover quickly. Verticutting is a cultural practice that uses vertical blades, just like a circular saw blade, to cut lateral leaf tissue and organic matter accumulation. Verticutting is great for infields, putting greens and tee boxes. The blades can be set to various depths depending on field conditions.