It is important to keep artificial wickets and net practice mats areas clean and free of algae and weeds
regular basis. Regular brushing to keep the surface clean and free of debris is essential, especially if mature trees surround your ground. Leaf debris will encourage worm activity.
The moist mild weather this year has encouraged a lot of worm activity which, in turn, has increased the incidence of worm casting on playing surfaces. Regular brushing will help remove these casts, however, there will be a need to control the worm population by applying a worm suppressant. An application of Carbendazim at 6-8 week intervals will help reduce the worm activity. Apply at recommended rates. Please remember to ask yourself why worms are present. Ph level, organic matter and your cultural practices on the square need to be assessed. Many grounds suffer from moss invasion. The incidence of low light, wet surfaces and poor drainage promotes moss growth. In the main it can only be effectively controlled by spraying, however, there are a number of other tasks that can be undertaken to control moss growth. Improve surface drainage by aeration, and verticutting to thin it out and increase airflow around the grass
plant. Reduce shade by tree pruning; crown lifting and thinning of tree canopies will help bring some much-needed
light back. As well as increasing air flow across your ground.
The winter months also offer an ideal time for getting many repairs completed. Scoreboards, practice net posts and fences around the cricket ground can be repaired, painted or stained. Depending on ground conditions, some clubs may be able to complete drainage or reconstruction works during the winter months. Existing drainage systems can be overhauled and cleaned out, and additional drainage systems may be added.
It is important to keep artificial wickets and net practice mats areas clean and free of algae and weeds. Too often they are neglected. Brushing and treating with an algicide should do the trick. As for machinery maintenance it is important you keep your key machinery in tip top order. Your mowers should be sent away for servicing and repair. Do
not wait until the spring to get them serviced. You may even get a better deal sending them in early.
The winter months give you some time to evaluate how well this year’s maintenance regime has gone which, in turn, will help you plan the works for next season. You may need to seek quotations for machinery and materials. Be prepared for next season. It is important to keep records and diaries of the activities carried out, and how well the facility has performed. The digital camera is a great tool for recording information.
It is important to remember nature waits for no one; we need to be in tune with it and work with it, especially through the winter months. You will reap the rewards come the springtime when you facility is in a prime condition for the onslaught of another new season.
EACH issue we catch up with a leading turfgrass professional and ask him or her what’s going on in...
READERSLives
work on projects in New Zealand, the pacific islands and Asia. I’ve been at STRI for nearly two years now.
What car do you drive? A Toyota Prius.
Personal status? Engaged to Tommy, who is a golf course architect and former greenkeeper (two grass geeks together…..)
Hobbies and Pastimes? I spend a scary amount of my spare time on golf courses. As a typical kiwi, I love to play and watch sport whenever I can. I really enjoy boating too (I used to be in the NZ Coastguard - their equivalent of the RNLI) but, unfortunately don’t get many deep- sea boating opportunities now I’m in Yorkshire!
Favourite radio programme? Drive Time on Radio Two.
Who are you? Megan Hood, Regional Agronomist at STRI, based in Bingley, West Yorkshire.
How long have you been working in the industry? I started my career in Melbourne, Australia where I worked for SportsTurf Consultants for almost four years. I then moved home to New Zealand to take up an agronomist position with the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute. While there I was lucky enough to
Favourite places, here and abroad? With my hectic lifestyle I really like quiet places. My favourite place in the UK would have to be lovely Co. Tyrone in Northern Ireland - you’ve got to love all that moss! Tommy and I got engaged there so it is a special place for me. I also like being at sea - I'm not picky about where!
Favourite TV programme? The Chase. Tastes in music? Everything except rap.
What was the first record you ever bought? Queen’s Greatest Hits (not a bad start!) Favourite film? Blazing Saddles.
Favourite comedian? Billy Connelly.
Favourite food? I love Vietnamese food and icecream (not together).
Favourite sport? That’s too hard. I can narrow it down to golf, rugby and cricket (sad, I know). Pet hates? Traffic.
Most memorable event in your life? Getting engaged to Tommy. We were standing in a bog at the time (and I still said yes).
What is the funniest thing to have happened to you at work? Watching a colleague in Melbourne burst an old water pipe while digging a hole at a historic house (Captain Cook’s Cottage). We were quickly surrounded by a swarm of Japanese tourists snapping photos of the fountain of water and our frantic efforts to prevent the water from flooding into the building.
Who would you like most to meet? The person who invented high heels (they’d get a good slapping).
What changes would you like to see in our industry? More respect for greenkeepers and groundsmen at all levels. I encounter many situations where clubs think of the greenkeeper or groundsman as someone that ‘sits on a mower’. It would also be nice to see some more women in the industry here.
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