Humps and Bumps

scl · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2003, 10:15 AM

Had a friend call the other daty who is the coach for the HS soccer team. Says the practice field is full of bumps and holes and wants to know if thee's a way that I could fix it short of total renovation. I replied that we could aereate the crap out of it but that will just tear it up. Also said it could be topdressed and raked but for a whole soccer field that would take a ton of labor. Anybody got any ideas that they could still be using the field with?

Stonehenge · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2003, 10:24 AM

You could roll it to take care of the bumps. For the holes, just some quickie divot mix (sand and seed, like at the tee boxes of your finer golf courses).

Nebraska · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2003, 11:28 AM

What's the cause of them...

In our area we find that quite often nightcrawlers cause them. Being that you do not want to eliminate the cause in this type of scenerio you are left with the option of yearly maintenance of rolling and top dressing.. I like the divot mix idea especially if your dealing with clay soils.

You could also use a large tine rake like you find with jrco that attatches to the front of riding mowers that will break up the bumps with a couple of passes. Yet your left to deal with the resulting thatch that will be brought up.

Slimber · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 02:25 PM

Are we talking about the infield or the outer turf field? Sounds like it may be some kind of pocket gophers or moles infestation to have this field hazard. Find out first from your friend what's causing these bumps and depressions as that would be the first logical step to take for field preparation.

Stonehenge · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 08:10 PM

If I were a betting man, I'd say the cause was rats. Rugrats, that is...

scl · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 11:38 AM

On target Jeff. We are going to wait till the end of the season and regrade and hydro it then. Just filling in what we see now and trying to avoid injuries. After all its only soccer and not a real sport.

I'll catch

for that one

Slimber · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 12:42 PM

I'm pretty sure you've got a gopher infestation if bumps and humps is what you got out there, (moles creates wedge length depressions) it's not going to be a very wise thing to grade the field if you don't eliminate the problem cuz gophers are six feet underground in a complex network or tunnels and they will come right back out. If gophers are indeed the problem, you may want to start an eradication program as soon as possible cuz it's going to take more then one season to eradicate'em, this way, when you do grade the field at the end of the season, it won't me much trapping as before and less of a safety hazard to worry about.

Tim · #8 (**permalink**) 09-16-2003, 09:03 AM

I prefer the Caddy Shack method for dealing with gophers!

Really though, it is not legal, but my grand father used to pour gas down in their tunnels. They never stuck around after that, but the EPA sure did!

Tim

Nebraska · #9 (**permalink**) 09-16-2003, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Had a friend call

After reviewing your post again that statement seems stick out ..

It could be fun

What size are the holes....? If they are around an inch or larger then I would bet Slimber called it right. In that case it will be Caddyshack all over again

If you have the time and knowledge help your friend out; otherwise be a good friend and refer them to a pest control company.

Slimber · #10 (**permalink**) 09-16-2003, 05:46 PM

Because of the complex network of tunnels of these solitary rodents, you could put a water hose and run it all day and won't reach them cuz their tunnels are design so the water runs downward and off to an unused underground area. Their birth, food, breeding and nesting chambers are situated more like in a sideway and upward setting as to prevent flooding. Also, mechanically trapping will be the most effective control.

Nek · #11 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 07:59 AM

Assuming you first fix whatever is causing these 'bumps and humps', we found a harley rake works the best. We would h. rake out the entire prop., then spread out piles of topsoil, filling in low spots, etc. Then drag the rake again. This will fill in the low spots, at the same time knocking down the high ones. Wallah.....seed, fert and water.

Slimber · #12 (**permalink**) 09-19-2003, 06:33 PM

First go after the cause of the problem but yes, you can break those crested mounds with the pointer's end of a scruff or Harley rake then flip it over, fill in, add topsoil and level the depressions. If you've got those dried mounds all over, you could take a wheel burrow with you to make it easy to spot and fix the depressions, low grade or holes as you go along. Also, if the problem are gophers, removing the dried mounds first will give you the advantage to spotting fresh mounds and to initiate your trapping setup since you're ridding the dried ones and it'll give you an idea where they these earth movers are moving.
Point of comment:
Gophers never use the same mounds very long and will plug it up and tunnel out to fresh areas, If you see a fresh mound in the morning or evening, it's a gopher, one gopher can create several mounds in one day in 2000 sq. ft of turf or non-turf ground so watch for this activity.

scl · #13 (**permalink**) 09-20-2003, 10:08 AM

No holes, just hard bumps and digouts, no tunnels. Would have been fun varmint hunting. "and who are Mr. Gopher's friends? Mr Rabbit and Mr. Squirrel!"

Tim · #14 (**permalink**) 09-21-2003, 04:35 PM

Maybe it is time to swap out the word Gophers, enter in either moles, or shrews. Similar culprits, but different habits.

Tim

Slimber · #15 (**permalink**) 09-21-2003, 05:59 PM

Couldn't be moles cuz their tunneling methods are not consistence with humps and bumps as they tunnel slightly below ground surface crosswise, not downward. Not sure what shrews would be out there but we have ground squirrels that creates mounds also but they pretty much stay in one area and anyone would know what they are cuz they venture out doing the day to feed.