Area Tarps… They’re Not Just For Rain Protection

When the average observer sees a ballfield with tarps on the mound and home plate area, they assume groundskeepers put those in place to protect those areas from getting too wet from rain or irrigation. Little do they know that mound and plate tarps are critical tools to assist in maintaining moisture in these two high-wear areas of the ballfield. Protection from rain is actually a secondary benefit of using area tarps.

Mound and plate areas frequently use a high clay content soil for extra binding power in these high-wear areas. Depending on the brand and the level of play the clay is designed for, high quality mound clay soils will have clay content anywhere between 30% and 70%. The higher the content, the better the holding power. But it is not just the clay content that dictates holding power — the other ingredient is equally important: water. Water is part of the glue that holds a soil together, and maintaining good moisture content in the clay wear areas is critical. The more moisture in the clay, the less wear you will see from the activity of a game. Anytime we played through a rain — whether during time with the Orioles or more recently at a nearby Little League complex — there was very little, if any, clay repair needed on the mound or plate afterwards. That demonstrates just how important keeping moisture in your clay areas really is.

The number one enemy of moisture is evaporation, and this is where area tarps play their most important role. When games and practices are taking place, mound and plate areas are open to the elements and evaporation is happening constantly. Whatever moisture is lost, it must be replaced and protected from further evaporation. Mound and home plate areas should be covered at all times when not in use.

Protect the investment you've made in labor and materials around home plate and the pitching mound — cover them with area tarps.