Target Field's Grass Is Coming Out Of Hibernation
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As the weather starts to warm up and the snow starts to melt, we're starting to see some real signs of spring.
One of the biggest might be over at Target Field. The Twins grounds crew has shoveled away the snow, taken off the tarp, and are now starting to work on making sure the grass stays green.
And it's not an easy job.
"They spent all week getting the foot and a half of snow off the field," said Chris Iles, a Twins spokesman. "They unveiled the infield section this morning."
The next step in the process is letting the grass breathe, until the weekend. Then, when temperatures drop again, a tarp will be placed over the grass so it doesn't freeze.
Iles said this winter was a tough one.
"Just because of the amount of snow and the fact that none of it melted throughout the course of the winter," he said.
During the winter, the grass stays green but it does not keep growing.
"It goes dormant," Iles said. "There's a field heating system...that keeps the temperature just above freezing, so we don't freeze the roots out of the grass."
He said the Twins hope to have all the grass at Target Field soaking up sunlight next week.
"But," Iles said, "it really depends on what Mother Nature is going to allow us to do."
Opening day at Target Field is on April 7, when the Twins play the Oakland A's.
