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Summertime can present a unique set of obstacles for turf and playing fields. Particularly for public parks and recreational areas, summer is the time when these fields experience the most wear, use and stress. If you’ve waited until now to do field maintenance, I’m sorry to inform you that the best defense is a good offense. The best way to combat summer stress is proper maintenance year-round. The summer months should be a time to step back and analyze your practices--determine what’s working, what’s not, and what impact those practices are having on the environment.
Environmental impact is a huge aspect of my job, especially since I work for Virginia Tech University, a state-funded organization. Oftentimes government officials, boards, committees and concerned citizens are watching my practices to ensure they are in the best interest of the institution and the environment. There is an added level of scrutiny that goes into what I do, and I am sure a similar level of oversight plays on your work as well. All eyes are on you--not only to consider environmental issues in the area, but to serve as a model for the rest of the community.
Let me give you two examples.