Mesmerizing time-lapse video shows grounds crew restoring soccer field
Beware of the poa annua.
The native grass grows greedily in Ohio. That's no big deal in most lawns, but on a soccer field, poa annua's shallow roots can unsteady a firmly planted foot—even in dry weather—leading to slips and slides, or worse, injuries.
"If it gets really bad, it's like playing soccer on ice or glass," says Andrew Henry, director of building services, grounds and special services in Physical Facilities.
So before it got bad in FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, home of our men's and women's soccer teams, Henry and his team renovated the field to root out poa annua, which had claimed about 35 percent of the pitch.
To save green, Physical Facilities did the work in-house. Team members studied the problem and a technique called fraze mowing, a recommended way to remove poa annua. Over five days, the crew went to work, and Steve Allen from University Communications and Marketing captured the work in the video above.
Today, a month later, Kentucky bluegrass is taking root. The field is expected to be playable within a few months, well in advance of the start of soccer season.
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