THIS WEEK’S FIELD THOUGHTS

It’s August and daylight is on the wane. The sun is coming up later and setting earlier. We are beginning to see a cool night make an appearance on occasion. And many baseball and softball seasons have wrapped up for the year. There will be some fall ball seasons played but football season will take the lead by the end of the month. That means many ball fields are done for the season so it’s time to get to it and get those fields ready for next spring.
Previously we talked about getting the grass back into shape after the season as well as dealing with any lip issues that may have developed during the season. Now, we move to the infield skin itself. This time of year is the best time to do any renovation on the infield skin whether it is minor or major. You have plenty of time to work on it without the threat of an opening day deadline and still plenty of favorable weather and soil moisture conditions.
A season can take a toll on an infield resulting in ragged turf edges and high and low spots in the infield skin. Reestablish your turf edges by running string lines and…. Click to continue reading about renovating your infield skin from Beacon’s head groundskeeper, Paul Zwaska:  Post-Season Renovation Part 2: The Infield Skin
Visit Ballfields.com frequently for tips & articles andGroundskeeperU.com for online training.

Pro Cord String Winder
SAVE $4

In stock! Typically ships the next business day. Straight field lines can be a real challenge — unless you’re using our Pro Cord String Winder. It’s strong, but still stretchy enough to really snap a straight line. The 500 ft of high-strength, braided cotton string line is thicker (see comparison photo) for higher visibility and will stretch, meaning you can pull your line extremely tight and when you “snap” the cord, you get the straightest line as possible. (Discount thru Friday, August 31 applied automatically)

Beacon Level Board
SAVE $14

In stock! Typically ships the next business day. Your best option for hand-grading or leveling an entire infield or fixing issues around the bases, player positions, home plate, and pitcher’s mound. Stainless steel cutting edge, reinforced aluminum handle. (Discount thru Friday, August 31 applied automatically)

OPEN BOX ITEM OF THE WEEK

OPEN BOX Item — Wheel Wand Painter — SAVE $19!  – Gives you easy upright marking with good control. Holds one can of aerosol paint. Like-new condition. (Reg. $49) NOW ONLY $30

FEATURED PROJECT

In-Line Backstop Netting, Sunset Park, Kimberly, WI.
With a planned renovation of the high school baseball complex at Sunset Park in Kimberly, Wisconsin, facility planners were looking for a backstop solution to work with their block wall. The new wall would serve as the base of the backstop, but they really wanted something to enhance the viewing experience for spectators over the old chainlink solution they had previously… click to learn more about this project.

By Groundskeepers, For Groundskeepers.

The time and effort necessary to train new staff each year can become overwhelming, and that’s exactly why we developed Groundskeeper U. GU is the perfect online tool for teaching new staff, summer help, and volunteers. Through videos, photos, audio, and written material your staff will learn the right way with the tried and true practices taught by Paul Zwaska.
Enjoy this by-groundskeepers-for-groundskeepers resource and, when you find a lesson or technique you know others will benefit from, be sure to share it on social media and with your colleagues!

Find what you need, it’s all here.

If you there’s something your field needs, you’ll find it in our catalog. Request your copy of The Ultimate Ballfield Resource. Our catalog features a complete listing of products to keep you rolling with everything you need all season long. This is your go-to must-have resource.