SQUARE BASHING! “
Karl’s end of season renovation
The first job is to cut the square down and clean it out. I double cut it
down to a 4mm throughout, after that I start with the scarification process. I only scarify in the direction of play and at a slight angle to the direction of play. The first time is not as low as I will finish on as I find it easier to take a little out at first then go a touch deeper. I scarify in the direction of play then slightly deeper at a slight angle then finish in the direction of play again. After I finish with the scarifier I run
over the square with a cylinder mower, cutting it again at 4mm, then finally with the rotary mower ‘hoovering’ up any stray bits. Before I start topdressing I make sure the ends of pitches are levelled out first. I sprinkle then spike any foot holes/low areas with a fork.
Then I put the seed down on the whole square with a rotary type spreader, the seed I use is 50% cadix perennial ryegrass, 20% barcrown, 25% bargreen chewings fescue, 5% highland browntop. I have been using this seed for a number of seasons now and find it very good. I then spread my topsoil. I use kaloam and put 8 bags out per pitch, each bag is 25kg. I spread it then lute the soil making sure its all even. I topdress one pitch at a time.
After the whole square is topdressed I dragmat the area, again to level the dressing, then fertilise with Scotts Greenmaster Prolite Autumn fertiliser, 6- 5-10+6%Fe.
When that's all done I fence the square off so as to keep any dogs, foxes and children off the area. I keep a close eye on the weather forecast and, if there’s no rain expected, I water the square regularly and lightly, ensuring there’s no flooding.
Work around the ground
Apart from the square there are various other jobs done when the season shuts down. The boundary rope is stored on a concrete area by the nets. I cover it with the mobile covers. The hoses are taken off the mobile covers. The nets area is fenced off and the
netting is removed. Any repair work needed on the netting is noted and addressed before it comes down. The run ups are reseeded and topdressed. The spectator benches around the
ground are removed and put in storage. The groundsheets are folded up and put away in storage. The outfield is closely inspected and any divot holes or other damage is top dressed and seeded.
”
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