Synthetic Turf For Baseball Fields
Posted by Matt Garrabrants on
Baseball fields are increasingly turning to synthetic turf. Field managers have found many benefits of installing fake turf such as low installation and maintenance costs. Baseball turf no longer comprises of different varieties of natural grass. Although some fields prefer to use natural grass, others have installed fake turf to enhance playing conditions.
There are many reasons behind the growing popularity of synthetic turf for baseball fields. It is however the economy of installation and maintenance that remains the commonly cited reason for installing fake grass in baseball fields.
Economy
There are two aspects of economy when it comes to synthetic turf for baseball fields. First is the installation cost, which may run into thousands of dollars for an average field. Baseball fields need a very finely cropped layer of grass that does not impede the players from performing at their optimum best. Baseball field managers thus often have to replace the natural grass as it tends to wear down after every play.
The installation costs are thus a continuous expenditure that put great strain on the finances. It is also common for baseball fields to replace the entire grass after every season. This does not come at minimal spending.
The second aspect involves the maintenance costs. Natural grass needs gallons of water to be poured on it on a daily basis. The grass may otherwise wilt and need replacement, which is a major financial undertaking in itself. Along with watering, natural grass needs regular cropping and removal of debris. Pests love natural grass and this puts further strain on the finances as managers need to deploy pesticides to address the problem.
Why Synthetic Turf is Better
These problems are virtually non-existent in fake turf. You can install synthetic grass in the baseball field without any worries about costs. There is a one-off spending where you need to remove the natural grass and level out the surface. A bed of fine gravel may be the only thing you need to add before placing the baseball field turf. The next step will be of spreading the rolls of field turf and stitching them together. Once in place, you can use a roller to iron out any creases. The baseball field turf will be ready to use within a few days.
There is little maintenance required if you have installed synthetic turf in your baseball field. Some varieties of synthetic grass do not even need watering. These varieties help in conserving water and manpower as you do not need to hire professionals to do the job. Debris from the grass can be removed with the help of industrial vacuum cleaners. Fake grass does not grow and this removes the need to use cropping tools.
The only cost involved in the installation of baseball field turf is that of installation. Once in place, the synthetic grass will continue providing excellent playing conditions for many months and years to come. No wonder baseball field turf has been embraced by professional and semi-professional leagues around the world.
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