Proper water management on infields is critical during the hot, dry conditions of summer. High temperatures and intense sunlight can make it nearly impossible to retain enough moisture in the infield skin, leading to hard, dusty play surfaces. That’s why I recommend In-Flow.
In-Flow is a granular soil conditioner and surfactant that influences water’s ability to flow into and throughout the profile of infield skins. It’s a blended chemistry (infiltration and hydration properties), which means it pushes water into the profile while maintaining moisture deeper in the profile. This helps you strike a balance between water retention and movement, providing a steadier water content and a better-performing infield.
I hate the cliché, but it’s another great tool to have in your toolbox, especially this year here in the Midwest. We’ve had a record amount of rainfall, so a lot of teams, especially the high schools, were using this product and were able to get out on the field a little bit quicker than usual, especially compared to teams that didn’t use it. The primary benefit in my mind is that when you have to water between games to maintain the correct amount of moisture, In-Flow helps reduce the amount of water needed to reach that level, saving time and minimizing hard surfaces during dry periods.
It’s a great aid to have, and I try to educate my customers about it, especially in early spring. If they aren’t able to apply it in the spring, applying it in the late fall is a great way to jumpstart the season come springtime, especially since we’re looking at a lot of moisture at that time of year.
The customers I have that use In-Flow also use it quite a bit for dust control on warning tracks. It’s allowed them to cut down on watering time and keep dust out of seats, especially important for some of the larger, professional fields. It also aids moisture at the top level. Once In-Flow is watered in, the moisture stays in the profile and can work itself back out within three to four hours.
One of my customers, Ben Hartman, is the director of field operations for the Wichita Wind Surge. We chatted about some problems they were having with their warning track, and I recommended In-Flow.
“He gave us five bags, we tried it, and we noticed a difference right away,” said Hartman. “I highly suggest it for anyone who might be having trouble keeping moisture in their profile or is having issues with dust.”
Hartman continued.
“The two biggest things for us are that [InFlow] is helping us hold moisture in the warning track better, and it’s also keeping the dust down,” said Hartman. “Before we were using it, our warning track got so dusty, and it wasn’t fun for anybody.”
Another takeaway for In-Flow is that it’s a simple product to put down. One bag should take care of your infield skin on a baseball field, and two bags will take care of a softball field. All you need is a rotary spreader. You just put it out, work it in a little bit, and let it do its job. I recommend putting it out at least once a month throughout your playing season for prolonged moisture control.
For more information on In-Flow and other field management tips, please reach out to your ATS rep.
