Adopted by Level Specific BMPs for Athletic Fields and School Grounds Level 1 Highest Care Level 2 High Care Level 3 Moderate Care Level 4 Lowest Care – – – – High impact athletic game fields, Low impact athletic game fields, High visibility lawns Utility areas, slopes, ditches    e.g. varsity football, soccer, e.g. baseball, softball Moderate use areas Natural areas   hockey fields Multipurpose fields  Playground fields  Fence lines/property edges  Athletic practice fields   Field Use Restrictions  Whenever possible restrict fiel d use when soils are saturated and surface water is present  If field size allows, move goal a reas regularly Soil Test At establishment and before At establishment and before At establishment and bef ore renovation and every renovation or repair and every 1- renovation test for nutrient levels s to be adjusted 1-3 years when pH need 3 years when pH needs to be and pH Every 2 5 years otherw ise – adjusted Every 3 5 years other wise Soil test should determin e: – test for nutrient levels and pH  Nutrient levels  pH  of compaction  Soil texture and structu re (Level 1 only)  Percent organic matter   Thatch depth  Rooting depth Irrigation for Maintenance of Supplement rainfall when As needed to promote active   Established Turf needed to provide a total of 1” turf growth and prevent summer of water per week when grass dormancy Only required during ren ovation or repair, is actively growing (April Water turf early in the morning otherwise allow summer dormancy  – November) Water turf early in the morning  Aeration Never 2-6 times/year at a depth of 3- 1-2 times/year as needed Once two years or as    12 inches using a combination needed Use a combination of hollow  of hollow core, solid tine, or core, solid tine, or shatter Avoid spring aeration when  shatter aeration aeration at a depth of 3 8 seeding of crabgrass or other – At least one of the aerations inches summer annuals is a threat  should be deep tine or shatter Avoid spring aeration when  to a depth of at least 8 inches seeding of crabgrass or other Intense use areas require the summer annuals is a threat  most aeration Avoid spring aeration when  seeding of crabgrass or other summer annuals is a threat
Adopted by Level Specific BMPs for Athletic Fields and School Grounds Level 1 – Highest Care Level 2 – High Care Level 3 – Moderate Care Level 4 – Lowest Care High impact athletic game fields, e.g. varsity football, soccer, hockey fields  Low impact athletic game fields, e.g. baseball, softball  Multipurpose fields  Athletic practice fields  High visibility lawns  Moderate use areas  Playground fields  Utility areas, slopes, ditches  Natural areas  Fence lines/property edges  Field Use Restrictions  Whenever possible restrict fiel and surface water is present  If field size allows, move goal a d use when soils are saturated reas regularly Soil Test At establishment and bef 1-3 years when pH need Every 2 – 5 years otherw Soil test should determin  Nutrient levels  pH  of compaction  Soil texture and structu  Percent organic matter  Thatch depth  Rooting depth ore renovation and every s to be adjusted ise e: re (Level 1 only) At establishment and before renovation or repair and every 1- 3 years when pH needs to be adjusted Every 3 – 5 years other wise  test for nutrient levels and pH At establishment and before renovation test for nutrient levels and pH Irrigation for Maintenance of Established Turf  Supplement rainfall when needed to provide a total of 1” of water per week when grass is actively growing (April – November)  Water turf early in the morning  As needed to promote active turf growth and prevent summer dormancy  Water turf early in the morning Only required during ren otherwise allow summer ovation or repair, dormancy Aeration  2-6 times/year at a depth of 3- 12 inches using a combination of hollow core, solid tine, or shatter aeration  At least one of the aerations should be deep tine or shatter to a depth of at least 8 inches  Intense use areas require the most aeration  Avoid spring aeration when seeding of crabgrass or other summer annuals is a threat  1-2 times/year as needed  Use a combination of hollow core, solid tine, or shatter aeration at a depth of 3 – 8 inches  Avoid spring aeration when seeding of crabgrass or other summer annuals is a threat  Once two years or as needed  Avoid spring aeration when seeding of crabgrass or other summer annuals is a threat Never
School-Grounds-BMPs.docx