BDS Turf?

[Bama4Runner30]

I was just at Bamamag.com and they had a pictorial of the new expansion of the stadium. A couple pictures were from the new upper deck and sky boxes. Upon viewing this pictues, I noticed our field looks awful! Dead spots all over the field and not a great deal of green. I know the field looked pretty good for A-Day game and that T-Town heat is ridiculous plus lack of rain, but good lord. I would think they would keep the field healthy even though there is no activities on it. As long as they have it looking perfect for the season I am ok with it. Just made me wonder what they do with it during the Spring/Summer. Any thoughts?

ROL TIDE!!!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

We don't...

seem to do grass well. We used to have a member who worked on the grounds crew and could give some insight, but I haven't noticed him post in a long time - unless he's changed his username, which used to be "Squirming Coil...."

 

[Bama22185]

I was in the stadium the other day looking at the expansion and the crew was cutting the grass. I'll tell you why it looks like crap, its because they freaking cut it down to the dirt. It was looking amazing for A-day, too. I told some of my friends, "wow they must be doing something different to the turf". I think they just slack off in the summer cause they don't want to have to cut it as much.

 

[Capstone46]

The grass at BDS is 419 Bermuda. The same type of Bermuda often used for fairways on golf courses to withstand heavy traffic. It is common for the grass to be cut down and top dressed as the growing season begins. The top dressing is mostly sand. The grass is dormant in the winter and turns brown. I have the same grass in my side yard. It takes a week or so with the low night time temperature to be at least 60 degrees for the grass to "awake" and begin actively growing.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Until the field looks remotely decent halfway through the season, I'll remain convinced our ground crew knows about as much about taking care of the field as the neighborhood kid that mows my yard...

 

[IHateUT]

I like grass fields and I may have a few "traditionalists" jump me for this but...I was hoping that field turf was in the renovations/expansion plans. It might have been at some point and later scrapped.

Something similar to Ole Miss, Nebraska, Washington, etc.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

46...

I would have thought T-Town would have been above 60 at night by now. The local (H'ville) golf courses' bermuda is starting to look good.

 

[Capstone46]

Earle,
I don't know much about fairways. I spend most of my time out in Marlboro Country when I am playing golf.
The 419 is in good shape here too but the same grass in my yard is getting too much shade. Those temperature figures came from Rick Tibbet who is responsible for all University grounds, but not the athletic fields. The baseball field looks the best I have ever seen it. I have a hunch BD field was cut down and top dressed with the sand mix. I will swing by later today and take a look. It is a gorgeous day here and I am having trouble staying inside.

 

[CrimsonDollar]

HSV,

You're right, it's been well above 60 for the last couple weeks, except for last night when it went down to 51. Tonight it's supposed to go down to 46. Little bit of a cold snap but it is welcome for me. Walking to class for presentations in a shirt and tie when it's 85+ is just not my forte!

-W$

 

[TurningTide]

Until the field looks remotely decent halfway through the season, I'll remain convinced our ground crew knows about as much about taking care of the field as the neighborhood kid that mows my yard...

I couldn't agree more. Our field NEVER looks half as good as most college fields.

 

[Alanbama27]

I've noticed that the staff doesn't care what happens to the Turf after A-Day and before July. They cut it and make certain that it's weed free, but they don't keep in in "game" shape in the off season. I don't know why as it seems easier to keep it in good shape year round, but if you've noticed they almost always have to replace a large section of turf every summer. I would assume that replacing the turf that often is much more expensive than keeping it up to par year round, but I am not a turf expert.

 

[Capstone46]

I took a look at the stadium turf a little while ago. They were actually cutting it down with a Jacobsen tri-plex. It was so short (even before they cut it) it was hard to tell where grass had been cut. They were cutting it diagonally. There were a couple of thin/worn spots down in front of the goal posts that looked like they had been top dressed with the sand mix. There were a couple of even bare spot near the west fence that looked like where crab grass had been killed. No spot was more than a square yard. The grass was fully green.
I didn't go up in the press box so I only saw the grass at field level. Overall it looked pretty good.
Alan, you are right that the maintenance people come over from Tifton, Ga. and do some patch up work every summer. I think that is part of their contract.