Lubbock-Created Product Keeps Lawns Green During the Drought
By: Rachel Spangenthal
Updated: July 10, 2012
Deep in the middle of the west Texas drought, sits a diamond of emerald green, where the Lubbock Christian Eagles play baseball. And the secret to the field, can be found underneath each blade of grass.
"This absorbs water, but what we're trying to do is create a soil that is a good environment for the plant tissue," said Hendrickson.
It looks like sand but it has the ability to hold 12 times its weight in water.
It's quickly becoming a useful weapon for the groundskeepers of Major League Baseball stadiums across the country.
"The technology basically saves them a lot of time and money and water, keeping the playability the way they want it, and the greenness, with less time."
It's called "Ready Play" and was created right here in Lubbock. Calder Hendrickson, the President of Aqua Smart, played baseball LCU and he said his product can be used on grass or turf, at home or on the farm.
"What you're doing, is you're increasing the holding capacity of your soils where when it does rain, you're not losing to leeching or evaporation," said Hendrickson.
Dustin Simmons, the owner of Simmons Landscaping, started using "Ready Play" on the Eagles outfield and has seen continuous results.
"I mowed this 3 days ago and I did it again a little while ago, and I mowed off half an inch," said Simmons.
Creating a healthier lawn, that Simmons says can withstand the drought.
"I used this product on residents lawn this year and with our water restrictions once a week, they still have green grass."
For more information, their website is readyplaysports.com and you buy "Ready Play" and other Aqua Smart at Ewing Irrigation on 66th Street between Frankford and Milwaukee.
"This absorbs water, but what we're trying to do is create a soil that is a good environment for the plant tissue," said Hendrickson.
It looks like sand but it has the ability to hold 12 times its weight in water.
It's quickly becoming a useful weapon for the groundskeepers of Major League Baseball stadiums across the country.
"The technology basically saves them a lot of time and money and water, keeping the playability the way they want it, and the greenness, with less time."
It's called "Ready Play" and was created right here in Lubbock. Calder Hendrickson, the President of Aqua Smart, played baseball LCU and he said his product can be used on grass or turf, at home or on the farm.
"What you're doing, is you're increasing the holding capacity of your soils where when it does rain, you're not losing to leeching or evaporation," said Hendrickson.
Dustin Simmons, the owner of Simmons Landscaping, started using "Ready Play" on the Eagles outfield and has seen continuous results.
"I mowed this 3 days ago and I did it again a little while ago, and I mowed off half an inch," said Simmons.
Creating a healthier lawn, that Simmons says can withstand the drought.
"I used this product on residents lawn this year and with our water restrictions once a week, they still have green grass."
For more information, their website is readyplaysports.com and you buy "Ready Play" and other Aqua Smart at Ewing Irrigation on 66th Street between Frankford and Milwaukee.
