They say that a dog-eared page is a sign of a good and well-loved book. By the same concept, people might say that pitted and disheveled fields are signs of a solid and rip-roaring season. The bad news is that some owners, players, and fans will see it this way. 

A deep approach to mid-season field maintenance can make sure that the diamond stays in its best and pristine condition until the last pitch of the season is thrown. If you are committed to keeping the field in professional league shape, listed below are some tips you will want to include in your field maintenance schedule.

Aeration of the field

Most people who overlooked mid-season turf upkeep practices are those groundskeepers who only do it once a year. There is nothing wrong with aerating the greens once a year, but groundskeepers can probably double their effectiveness if they throw in more sessions in the summer. 

Grounds that are used regularly are going to succumb to the inevitable and gradual turf thinning. Keepers can strike back against the thinning process by aerating at least twice a year. Regular core aeration can increase soil oxygenation, increase the grass’s capability to withstand drought, or allow better use of nutrients. 

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Water the ground

Watering the ground after every game will help relieve stress on the soil and grass. Check weather reports and schedule the watering according to the report. Watering should be done two to three times a week during warm weather or summer months. Watering the turf daily can promote the growth of unnecessary organisms like fungus or unwanted weeds. Watering should be done at dawn or early in the morning.

Dry the puddles

If the ground is in areas with constant rain, there is a good chance that it will have tons of puddles of mid-summer. There is something iconic about good players muddying their baseball uniforms during hard-fought games, but that is no excuse for leaving pitted baseball grounds the way it is. With these maintenance checklist items, use the off-season to ensure the skin of the ground is not a haven for holes and pits. 

While re-leveling is best done during the fall months, groundskeepers can drag field areas that are not affected by pits and holes to achieve an efficient and effective equilibrium. Do not sweep excess water into the outfield. It can worsen the problem over time. To help limit the number of pits and holes while doing infield maintenance, you need to consider adding rain tarp covers, especially during the rainy months.

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Mow the field

Mowing the ground at least twice a week during the playing season is very beneficial to help maintain its pristine condition. Make sure to avoid cutting the greens too short during the summer months, or it can cause stress on the roots. Keep the blade of the mower sharp so that it can be more effective when cutting grass. 

Groundskeepers should sharpen their mower blades at least once every six months during the playing season. They should not use large riding grass cutters in infields, as they can create big ruts. Spend a couple of minutes every week edging lines. It will make it a lot easier to prevent the accumulation of dirt under lumps that can cause injuries to infield players. It will also prevent the turf from growing into the mound or baselines.

Smooth batter’s boxes

Batter’s boxes are the most overlooked and problematic sections of baseball fields. If maintenance crews inspect fields with inadequate field maintenance programs, they will usually find bare spots, outright holes, and lumps in these boxes. 

It can lead to poor performance and unnecessary injuries to players. A common error that inexperienced maintenance crews make is raking boxes with the toothed part of the rake. It is a huge mistake that can cause damage to the integrity of the clay. Use the flat side of the rake for better results in both the short and long term.

Outfield distance markers maintenance

Make sure that outfield distance markers are adequately maintained and secured. These things are also essential features of any baseball or softball turf. Clean these things with soap and water to make sure their markings are still evident even at long distances

Get covered

Turf protectors and rain covers are very important tools in the mid-season maintenance toolbox. Use these things to protect the entire infield or home plates, bases, or mounts. They will help to protect the turf from rain, which can damage playing surfaces and cause game delays. These protectors are very effective at defending infields from full ball force during games and batting practices. 

Take out weeds

To prepare the baseball turf for the games, consider taking out weeds before these things become a bigger problem. Weeds are a significant problem on any sports grounds, and they can also be a danger to good plays when these things grow out of control. 

While one treatment of weed remover may be enough for grounds in places with cold winters, diamonds in places with year-round warm climates will need a mid-season look. Pre- and post-emergent weed products can help, but do not overlook the possibility of more significant problems. Excessive growth is usually a sign of soil issues that should be addressed immediately.