The commercial applications of professional lawn care maintenance can save your turf this summer.

Commercial applications for lawn care maintenance keep turfgrass fresh and green through the grueling summer months. If you have big responsibilities, you need big solutions for yellow, dry, and brittle grass, weeds, bare spots, fungus, and other common growing problems. Let WP Law, Inc., help you keep your playing field in tip-top shape. Try these three steps for a start:

1. Inspect Once a Week

Even in the off-season, someone should be inspecting the field once a week or more. The sooner you notice a problem, the sooner you can get started on the solution. Look for yellow or bare spots, but also mowing issues. If you see jagged blades of grass, you should sharpen your mower blades. If there are noticeable clippings on the grass, you probably are mowing too much at one time.

2. Watch the Height

During the summer, it’s important to shave off as little grass as possible. Anytime you trim away more than one-third the height of your grass, it’s going to struggle. The hottest months will already place your turf under stress, so shift your blade higher and mow more often. It will be a little extra work, but by the time fall rolls around, your field will be thanking you for it.

3. Water Less Frequently

Instead of watering your field every day, use an irrigation schedule suitable to your grass type and location. Many grass types will do best with a combined inch of water a week.

Need more guidance? Reach out to the experts at WP Law, Inc., whenever you need commercial applicationsfor turf or field maintenance.

Redesign Your Sprinkler System with True Value in Mind

Sports facilities have different sprinkler system needs based on the sports they host. In some cases, many different activities take place in one area. Whether you run a football stadium or a public park, cost factors in on which setup in best for your fields.

What is best doesn't boil down to one brand versus another; it's about function. Function is dictated by the needs of your field, and it should include aspects of cost, maintenance, expansion, and versatility.

The following is a list of brands that you may want to consider:

• Rain Bird is well known within the industry for producing quality, precision products.
• MP Rotator is an efficient, cost-saving brand. It's the go-to choice for facilities with a need to save water.
• Weathermatic is also water conscious, and they offer a huge assortment of water saving and remote control systems that can not only save water, but can save you time.

Technology plays a huge part in choosing the best system for your sports facility as well. We offer a long list of brands, and can help you choose the best one for your budget.

If you would like more information about designing a new sprinkler system for your sport facility, please contact us today.

The facts about an irrigation controller and your Sports Facilities

Irrigation controllers are a pivotal part of your grounds maintenance system. They allow you a great deal of flexibility when it comes to managing your entire facility and grounds. A key aspect is the fact that many systems can be controlled remotely. This means that you can inspect a portion of your grounds and make system adjustments right on the spot. It also means that you can monitor key data on the site and make system adjustments that support your plan of action.

A good example of this is when you must diagnose problems that occur on the grounds of your sports facilities. You can begin your investigation by identifying the problem and then accessing the data from your irrigation controller system before trying to make a correction plan. That data helps you make better informed decisions about how to correct problems.

A good irrigation controller also allows you to control different aspects of your maintenance system independently of other functions. Add liquid fertilizers, pesticides, or change the watering frequency – all without permanently adjusting your overall system.

Excellent controllers give you the power to manage issues, costs, and efficiency. These factors all lead to better controlled conditions, which in the long run, produce healthy soil, healthy plants, and better quality grounds within your sports facilities. It does not matter if your operation is large or small – a great controller will help you do your job better.

For more information on how an irrigation controller can help you with the maintenance of your sports facilities, visit W. P. Law, Inc. at www.wplawinc.com/corporate-contact.

Things to consider for your sports facilities’ irrigation system

When selecting an irrigation system for your sports facility, it is important to understand what challenges your facility faces and how an irrigation system can impact those challenges.

For natural grass facilities, the frequency of use plays a large role in properly managing that facility. Most municipal sports facilities are multi-use, meaning that a variety of sports are played on the same fields.

This year-round use means that sports field managers must make the most out of the growing season to ensure a durable, healthy turf for sports teams to play on. The quality of the playing surface can go a long way in preventing injuries as well. Here are some considerations that need to be taken into account when selecting an irrigation system for my sports facility.

• What is my water window? How much time do I have to water during the week when the fields are not being used? (Don’t forget about practice times.)
• What special application capabilities will my irrigation system need to have? Syringing the infield for example.
• What off-site management capabilities will I need? Remote access, etc.
• What water conservation measures should be incorporated? On-site weather stations, etc.

Your goals should include reduction of labor and long-term mitigation of damage to the field from use. Special consideration should also be given to player safety and the responsible use of our natural resources.

We know from watching superintendents of golf courses how much work can go into keeping a field green and healthy. That is also true of the labor involved in the upkeep a sports facility. The irrigation system that you choose can go a long way in helping you reduce labor and improve the maintenance and care of your field.

Contact the irrigation system experts at W. P. Law, Inc. at www.wplawinc.com/corporate-contact for more information.

Irrigation design makes or breaks the season on your field.

The right irrigation design for your facility keeps your soil in optimal health, your grass green, and your field playable. Interestingly enough, the erratic weather of late is really putting irrigation systems to the test. There is an art to designing an excellent multi-use sports field, and the number one part of that plan is the irrigation system.

When choosing the correct irrigation system for your field, your system should include a design to use the least amount of water possible, which means that water efficiency must be higher than normal. We can take a lesson from some of the hottest areas of the nations. In an article published in Athletic Business, there are illustrated cases where the correct irrigation could have prevented long-term field damage.

For example, in Texas, a severe drought coupled with an extreme heat wave caused the playing surface to crack. The cracks, according to the article, measured up to 1 foot in diameter and some were reported to be three feet deep. That is a lot of damage – damage that efficient watering might have prevented. We say might have because the decision of how much to water is often left up to city magistrates, and the effect of the irrigation system is found in irrigation design. This is a clear case where the cost of saving water did not outweigh the cost of repairing the Texas fields.

One of the key points of the article is that upfront decisions of how to care for sports facilities are in order. You need water to have grass, and without grass, you don't have a field. Installing the right irrigation system can lessen the burden associated with the cost of watering, but those decisions need to be based on the situations like what happened in Texas. The cost of repair far outweighed the cost of water.

If you’re looking for guidance on irrigation design for sports facilities, contact the experts at WP Law.

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A variety of irrigation tools are available to help sports turf managers keep the facility looking great

American’s love their sports and packing the family up for a day at their favorite sports venue makes for a memorable weekend. The sports turf managers at these facilities work hard all season keeping the turf green, lush and healthy. Their job is made just a little bit easier with the use of irrigation tools to help them keep the grounds watered.

In addition to keeping the turf looking attractive, the sports turf manager strives to keep the turf healthy and create a durable playing field to help prevent injury to the athletes.

There are a variety of tools available to help the sports turf manager maximize his productivity. Most sports fields utilize an automatic sprinkler system. New advances in “smart controller” technology allow the irrigation controller to self-adjust watering times based on the current weather conditions. These smart controllers help the sports turf manager create the ideal moisture conditions to grow healthy turf that is capable of handling the rigors of a sports season.

In addition to the playing field there are many additional areas of the facility that need irrigation as well. These areas can use either drip irrigation or conventional pop-up sprinklers to help keep the landscaping attractive and healthy.

For all of your irrigation tool supplies visit the irrigation specialists at W.P. Law Inc.

An automatic watering system helps to maintain an attractive and durable playing field for sports facilities.

Automatic watering systems are a vital part of maintaining the health and appearance of turf at sports facilities. Watering is required to help keep the turf in the best possible condition. A sports arena’s turf needs to be attractive, durable and functional. Here’s why:

• Durability: No matter what sport is being played on the turf, it has to be able to withstand the constant trampling of athletes. Watering needs to be done on a regular schedule to help maintain the durability. An automatic watering system will ensure it gets the right amount of water at the right time.
• Functional: The turf has got to be functional to allow for all of the activities. If it is a golfing facility, the turf can affect the performance of the golfers. A poorly maintained course will keep golfers away.
• Appearance: An attractive facility is necessary to help keep patrons coming back for games. Good turf helps to add to the overall appearance of the facility. A facility with dried up turf will drive patrons away rather than pull them in.

For more information and pricing on automatic watering systems contact us today!

Controlling Bahiagrass in Warm-Season Turf

Bahiagrass is often considered a nuisance grass or weed when growing among more desirable grasses such as Centipede, St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bermuda.  Bahiagrass is actively growing during the warmer months of the year and competes with other grasses for nutrients and sunlight.  Bahiagrass is considered unsightly due to its seed head that grows quickly and sticks out above other turf.  The seed head is "V" shaped at the end and contains numerous seeds that can spread quickly and invade other parts of Centipede, St. Augustine, Zoysia and Bermuda lawns. 

Bahiagrass is often found along highways and roadsides and works well for controlling erosion and is very drought tolerant.  In the Southeast, bahiagrass is often referred to as "highway grass" for this very reason.  It is usually not considered a highly desirable grass for lawns due to its lack of density and less than appealing seed head production. 

Lawns that contain other warm-season grasses such as Centipede, St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bermuda often become infested with bahiagrass due to ability to quickly generate seeds.  The best control option to remove bahiagrass from Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia is a selective herbicide known as Manor.  Manor selective herbicide can be sprayed over the top of existing Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia grass to remove bahiagrass.  Manor is a low-use selective herbicide available in a 2 ounce bottle.  Rates for controlling bahiagrass range from 0.25-0.75 ounces per acre.  In addition to controlling bahiagrass, Manor also controls a large number of broadleaf weeds. 

When applying Manor herbicide to control bahiagrass, mix a non-ionic surfactant (spreader/sticker) agent to help bind the herbicide and spread it out evenly across the leaves of the grass.  Non-ionic surfactant is available in a liquid form and is mixed with the herbicide solution to yield better results.  Manor selective herbicide will normally take around three weeks before results are noticeable.  Most users are able to control bahiagrass with one application, but in situations of severe infestation, two applications may be necessary. 

Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia may show some signs of of slight yellowing following application while their growth may be temporarily  stunted.  Mixing a chelated liquid iron with Manor selective herbicide will help mask any slight yellowing of Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia following application.  Please remember to follow label directions.  Manor selective herbicide is available at your nearest W.P. Law Inc. location.  Click here for directions on store locations.  W.P. Law Inc. does ship anywhere in the U.S.  Please contact one of our offices for any additional questions you may have.

Weed Guide

How can I  control my Mosquito problem?

As the weather warms, this is the time of year people find themselves spending more time outdoors.  With an increase in temperatures, also come an increase in the mosquito population.  When getting ready for your outdoor activities, you don’t want mosquitoes to be a part of the festivities.

Mosquito control can be as easy as applying bifenthrin insecticide.   Bifenthrin insecticide is available in both a granular and liquid form and can be used in conjunction with one another for best control.  Mosquitoes prefer to hang out in cooler damp areas most of the day and are most active during evening and morning hours when temperatures are cooler. 

The sprayable liquid form of bifenthrin can be applied to shrubs and lower tree limbs where mosquitoes prefer to hang out.  Underneath decks and other damp shaded areas are targeted areas where bifenthrin can be applied as a liquid to reduce mosquito populations.

The granular version of bifenthrin can be applied in mulch or pine straw areas where mosquitoes seek refuge from hot summer temperatures.  These areas can be sprayed, but depending on size, the granular version may be less time consuming to apply.

Mosquito control with bifenthrin causes the mosquito’s central nervous system to become paralyzed when ingested or contacted. Bifenthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid. It’s a man-made pesticide that is very similar to the natural pesticide pyrethrum which is made out of chrysanthemum flowers.  Bifenthrin is considered a newer generation insecticide that replace older chemistries such as Diazanon and Dursban. 

Users should know that bifenthrin is highly toxic to fish, so make sure you don’t get any form of the product near your ponds. Bifenthrin is not harmful to your pets when it is dry.  Bifenthrin is safe to use in your yard, because it cannot be absorbed by plant foliage.  In addition to controlling mosquitoes, bifenthrin controls almost 100 other pests, including spiders, cockroaches, ticks, fleas, and termites.   See the product label to get the full list of pests, application rates and directions on how to apply.  Click below to see product labels for bifenthrin.

Bifenthrin Granular Label

Bifenthrin Liquid Label