Sod runway construction

[RCharles]

I need some advice on building a sod runway. The plan is place a grass landing surface next to an existing hard surface strip , It will be between 1200 and 1500 ft in length , 50 ft wide and at a privately owned field near Atlanta . It will have a slight slope from one end to the other but will need to be sloped in width to allow for drainage . What degree of slope from side to side would be best that would provide for runoff but not present a problem for directional control on landing ? Also , What would be the best type of grass to plant here in the SE .? I do not believe that crowning the surface will work because of the proximity to the existing runway . It will have to be sloped away from that surface..... Thanks ... RC

[Speedo]

There are circulars about building grass runways - can't recall if they are from the FAA, a state, or some by like EAA, but they are out there on the web.

As for grass, in your area Kentucky 31 (K31) does well. You can get more advice from your county extension agent and from the John Deere Landscaping (formerly Lesco) dealer nearest you. Choosing a drought tolerant grass will be important. For best results you are going to want to test the soil first to see if it needs lime (it probably does, in your location), and you want to sow the seed when you can be assured of enough consistent moisture that will get germination. The extension agent may recommend sowing a mix of fast germinating grass, like perennial rye, along with the K31, as the fast germinating grass will help hold the soil.

[Nathan K. Hammond]

1.5-2% crown is normal for South East/ATL area, so I'd stick with that all the way across. 2% = 2-1/2" per 10' At dad's strip we run a Bermuda Blend put together by the local Feed/Seed company in the summer and winter rye in late fall. That keeps the runway from turning into a dead grass bowl through winter. The Bermuda makes a really soft surface, but has to be mowed every 3 days, and kept short or scrub/crab grass will pop up in clumps and ruin the nice smooth feel. Basically; it grows quick and easy, but takes more effort to maintain it.

K31, red fescue, or Centepede work just as good, if not better in high traffic use, don't require as much maintenance, but take more effort to get started and coverage. Water is the absolute key. At Peachstate we had a pond pump running 24/7 and it was still a battle.

Get someone to seed-drill the runway, it's the most reliable way to have the seed germinate. (it was the only way we had success at Peachstate) Otherwise the seed will die if left on the surface and/or covered with straw.

For continued maintenance; rent a coring machine and then spread several tons of sand, and roll it. Do that once a year and it will feel like a fairway.

Good luck.

nkh

[Patrol Guy]

Like Eric and Nate say, I used K-31. It starts green early and lasts all season. November here in Ohio and I need to go and mow again. It works great in droughts and monsoons. It is a popular turf for football fields and areas where they park cars at events, etc. jg

PS: Cows don't like it (in case you were going to mow that way), so maybe deers don't either?? Which would be good as far as keeping them at bay.

[behindpropellers]

I need some advice on building a sod runway. The plan is place a grass landing surface next to an existing hard surface strip , It will be between 1200 and 1500 ft in length , 50 ft wide and at a privately owned field near Atlanta . It will have a slight slope from one end to the other but will need to be sloped in width to allow for drainage . What degree of slope from side to side would be best that would provide for runoff but not present a problem for directional control on landing ? Also , What would be the best type of grass to plant here in the SE .? I do not believe that crowning the surface will work because of the proximity to the existing runway . It will have to be sloped away from that surface..... Thanks ... RC

Probably easier to just buy some bushwheels and land on that spot

[OLDCROWE]

K31 in Georgia??? You northern boys need to adjust your thinking as the only place that stuff lives this far south is as shade grass unless you let it stay 8” high!

For Georgia take a look at one of the Bermuda hybrids. For us "sod" means transplanted already growing grass. If that is what you are looking for in today’s (Tulsa) market at that quantity it will be about $.12sf for rolled sod (ton rolls) plus trucking plus $.03 for installation, then hire a side shooter water truck to douse it a couple of times from the runway and all you have to do is enjoy it. All up I bet you could get it for .18 with fertilizer and the first weeks water and easily be useable in 2-3 weeks during the growing season.

Go find a sod supplier or better yeat a public golf course greens keeper in the area and talk to them especially about the shorter/denser growing varieties of Bermuda to prevent weeds like crab grass (blends are worse at allowing it to get going, especially if you run a shade grass with it and they tend to attract more geese if that is an issue in your area) and to reduce mowing cycles.

You can also sprig sod in the spring for a faster grown-in than seed but longer than rolled sod. There are also some deals out there on mowing equipment (most private golf courses and many publics lease their equipment on a 3 year cycle then turn it and you can get great deals on a well maintained grounds master mower) so if you are in need find out who the Toro and JD Golf reps. are and contact them to get on the list. If you have a good tractor find a good drag behind reel mower and you can mow WAY fast! Also if you are a high use or will have some heavy users you'll want a light steel wheel roller to give it a polish every now and then (retired asphalt rollers work great!) to smooth out any ruts.

If $ are of little concern look at "baby bermuda" or zoysia (what I would use if I had the $$ and was doing a runway here).

If you're ready it's likely not too late to sod and as soon as it knits down good presto you'll have a great runway that you can't tear up with a Citation!

Let us know when we need to come break it in!

[WhiskeyMike]

http://eaa1246.org/docs/farm_ranch_airstrips.pdf

[FdxLou]

K31 in Georgia??? You northern boys need to adjust your thinking as the only place that stuff lives this far south is as shade grass unless you let it stay 8” high!

For Georgia take a look at one of the Bermuda hybrids. For us "sod" means transplanted already growing grass. If that is what you are looking for in today’s (Tulsa) market at that quantity it will be about $.12sf for rolled sod (ton rolls) plus trucking plus $.03 for installation, then hire a side shooter water truck to douse it a couple of times from the runway and all you have to do is enjoy it. All up I bet you could get it for .18 with fertilizer and the first weeks water and easily be useable in 2-3 weeks during the growing season.

Go find a sod supplier or better yeat a public golf course greens keeper in the area and talk to them especially about the shorter/denser growing varieties of Bermuda to prevent weeds like crab grass (blends are worse at allowing it to get going, especially if you run a shade grass with it and they tend to attract more geese if that is an issue in your area) and to reduce mowing cycles.

You can also sprig sod in the spring for a faster grown-in than seed but longer than rolled sod. There are also some deals out there on mowing equipment (most private golf courses and many publics lease their equipment on a 3 year cycle then turn it and you can get great deals on a well maintained grounds master mower) so if you are in need find out who the Toro and JD Golf reps. are and contact them to get on the list. If you have a good tractor find a good drag behind reel mower and you can mow WAY fast! Also if you are a high use or will have some heavy users you'll want a light steel wheel roller to give it a polish every now and then (retired asphalt rollers work great!) to smooth out any ruts.

If $ are of little concern look at "baby bermuda" or zoysia (what I would use if I had the $$ and was doing a runway here).

If you're ready it's likely not too late to sod and as soon as it knits down good presto you'll have a great runway that you can't tear up with a Citation!

Let us know when we need to come break it in!

Kirby

That comes to $10,800.00 for Bermuda Sod at 1200' long and 50' wide!
K31 looks more appealing!

Lou

[OLDCROWE]

Lou,

You assume your neighbor is as cheep as you are... In reality you can drill-seed a hybrid Bermuda for the same cost as clump grass and have a much tougher turff. I addressed sod because the orig question was for sod and that is how we bid the last sports complex I managed. A really good cost alternate is to hydro seed a combination of hulled and unhulled Bermuda (with newsprint and fertilizer in the mix) takes about 6 weeks to have a useable stand if done in the growing season and the combination seed will give you multiple germinations with the same effort, this runs about half the cost of sod but requires more watering.

The best deal about sod is it is only a couple weeks to being tough as nails and in case of big rains it won't wash out before it grows in.

Kirby

[Snert]

green side up

[OLDCROWE]

green side up

LOL...there used to be a sod crew around here that had that printed on tee shirts!

[RCharles]

Trying to convince the airport owner that it would be a good thing to do . We have about 10 taildragers on the field . Many more close by ,,,,,,, I do not have a high degree of confidence at this point that they are going to want to bear the expense ...! Thanks much for all the replies ...greatly appreciated ...... RC

[Clay Hammond]

It will have a slight slope from one end to the other but will need to be sloped in width to allow for drainage . What degree of slope from side to side would be best that would provide for runoff but not present a problem for directional control on landing

This is almost exactly the set-up they have at Cedar Ridge down in Spalding County, just west of Griffin. Sloped, paved runway. Grass alongside. Suggest getting in touch with them.