Sports are a big deal in our culture – from Little League baseball to the Super Bowl and all the way to the Olympics. Often times, players and fans overlook the field on which the game is played. Maintaining an athletic field requires time, effort, and precision that most people don’t even consider. The next time you’re at a game, take a closer look and appreciate all the work that went into growing that perfectly consistent green grass.
Sod Characteristics for Athletic Fields
There are a number of factors to consider when selecting the best type of grass for outdoor sports. Different sports have different requirements of the grass for optimal performance. In order to meet those requirements, one will need to consider common concerns such as durability, recovery, consistency, resistance to pests and disease, and even how well it performs in shady areas.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Sod for Athletic Fields
Durability
Recovery
Consistency
Drought Resistance
Resistance to Pests and Disease
Shade Tolerance
Best Grass Type by Sport
Each sport is unique, utilizing the playing field in different ways, so it is important to understand which type of grass works best for each sport.
Football
In football, there is less contact between the ball and the grass than in other sports, so grass consistency is less important. However, due to players’ cleats and the roughness of the sport, the grass can take a beating, making traffic tolerance and recovery extremely important.
In the northern United States and the transition zone, the primary types of cool-season grasses used for football fields include Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass.
In the South, Bermudagrass is most commonly used for football fields. If the athletic field or stadium gets full sun, Bermuda stands up to the rough sport better than any other grass species.
Bluegrass for the South
New varieties of bluegrass have been developed specifically for use in the South, such as Sunbelt Blue™ and Southern Blue™. These varieties are a cool season cross between Texas and Kentucky bluegrass. They keep their green color year-round, have superior resistance to disease, and their rhizomatous root system provides heat and drought resistance and also allows it recover from stress and damage.
Golf
No sport demands more from grass than golf, relying heavily on the quality of its grass playing surface. In fact, golf uses more different types of grass than any other sport. Every aspect of the game, from the club you use to the way you swing, is heavily influenced by the type and quality of the grass on the course.
Golf course grass species and varieties also affect a player’s golfing experience. A number of grass types are used on golf courses, each with its own pros and cons. The species differ from region to region in their ability to withstand both cold and heat.
In the Southern United States, Bermudagrass, zoysia, and fescue are commonly used on golf courses. Of these three, Bermuda is most often used due to its ability to withstand wear and tear. You can commonly find Bermuda on putting greens due to its fast recovery rate and tolerance for close mowing.
Golf courses require varying lengths of grass in different areas of the course. Bermuda is very receptive to being mowed at a variety of heights, making it a top choice.
In the North, bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are commonly used for fairways and tees.
Multi-Sport
Let’s face it, many recreational fields are multi-sport fields, where football, soccer, lacrosse, and rugby are all played on the same surface. Luckily, most sports have similar requirements where traffic tolerance and damage recovery rates are the most important factors.
Bermudagrass is one of the best grass types for multi-sport athletic fields, growing well in the South and the transition zone. Bermuda is dense, fast-growing, and repairs itself quickly. Not only is Bermudagrass durable, and tolerant of the intense wear of sports, it also offers a faster spring green-up.
During winter months when Bermuda turns brown and dormant, athletic fields can be overseeded with perennial ryegrass to provide year-round use.
Baseball
When walking into a ballpark one of the first things that catches your eye is the lush, green, perfectly maintained grass spreading across the field.
Bermudagrass is perfect for ballparks in hotter, drier areas providing a dense surface, excellent traffic tolerance, and quickly recovery from injury. The most commonly used type of Bermudagrass for ballparks is Tifway 419.
At NG Turf we offer a wide range of sod for sale, including many different grass varieties. Whether you are looking for bluegrass for a football field or Bermudagrass for a golf course our Certified Turfgrass Professionals can help you evaluate your unique athletic field needs and choose the best grass variety to suit your specific sport. Give us a call at 770-832-8608 or email info@NGTurf.com.
