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DATE 20th June


STADIUM PITCH MAINTENANCE REGIME


Began fertiliser programme to increase wear toleranceof the goalmouths by using Aitkens Terralift TX10 @10kg per goalmouth area covering 200m2


26th June 4th July


Start of overfeed programme 375kg of Scotts 12:0:9 plus Fe


Fertilised with base feed using 400kg of Terralift 6:2:8 to harden leaf also overseeded pitch with 60kg of Advanta MM25


16th July 31st July


Fed pitch using a granular 9:7:7 fertiliser


Fertilised goalmouths, again Terralift TX10 @ 10kg per goalmouth area 200m2


,


Overseeded pitch, again with 100kg of Advanta MM25


1st August 20th August


Fertilised 360kg Scotts 12:6:6


Sprayed with Mascot Magnet Rapid 20 ltrs turf conditioner


9th September Fertilised Scotts 12:0:9 plus Fe 9th October


10th October Base fed with 400kg Terralift 6:2:8


13th October Fertilised with 360kg Aitkens 4:0:24 plus Mg and Fe


30th October Sprayed with 40 ltrs of Terralift 0:0:15 and 10 litres of Rocastem to help through the wet periods


6th November Fertilised goalmouths, again Terralift TX10 @ 10kg per goalmouth area 200m2


13th November Another light dusting of Mansfield MM35 sand to keep surface clean and level


20th November Due to high number of games expected (seven in total) overseeded the pitch with 160kg of Advanta MM25


1st December Applied 360kg Aitkens 4:0:24 plus Mg and Fe


5th January


Sprayed with 40 ltrs 0:0:15 Terralift Liquid and 10 ltrs of Terralift Rocastem


12th January Base feed to pitch 400kg of Terralift 6:2:8


Late January Look to put another light early February dressing of MM35 sand


9th February Spray with 10 ltrs Terralift Rocastem and apply another dose of TX10 to goalmouths


Mid February Overseed with 120kg Advanta MM25


23rd February Apply another dose of NPK fertiliser low N


Mid March March/April 66


Overseed with 120kg of Advanta MM25


Begin to apply fertilisers with a higher N content as soils begin to warm up


Applied a light dusting of Mansfield MM35 sand to help clean surface and top up levels


aeration practices. Care is taken not to over aerate as this can destabilise the pitch. The pitch is aerated, roughly every three weeks, using a SISIS drum spiker. Deep aeration is carried out as required with the SISIS Javelin AerAid.


During the season the pitch is cut at 25mm, slightly higher during December and January at 27mm, using Dennis Premier mowers. After each game Honda HRD 535 rear roller rotary mowers are used to pick up the debris and give a gentle roll. Divoting is then started and, if required, the pitch will be brushed. Ed spends a lot of time monitoring the weather and keeping any eye on the soil and air temperatures inside the ground, especially during December and January. The combination of the shade and weather can soon reduce soil temperature, dramatically affecting the growth of the grass.


The pitch is high in phosphate and low in potassium, so little or no phosphate will be added during the winter months, an application of sulphate of potash will be applied to bring up potassium levels. Ed will also apply a little magnesium to help keep the potash to magnesium levels around the correct ratio of between 3:1 and 4:1.


At the start of November the pitch temperature was averaging 6.5O


of 6.1O C with an average surface temp


C. Because of the freezing weather over the new year period, and because the pitch had been overseeded due to a heavy fixture list of nine games in five weeks, Ed kept the undersoil heating on low and raised the pitch temp to an average of 11.4O


C. This significantly reduced the risk


of fixture cancellations whilst, at the same time, kept temperatures favourable for growth.


Clegg Hammer testing


The club’s physio, Dave Rennie, works very closely with Ed taking particularly interest in the hardness of the pitch. He has instigated a survey on the hardness of the pitch during games and training. Not only does he measure the stadium and training pitches at Leicester he also measures the condition of the pitches at opposition clubs. A Clegg hammer measures


ground hardness and works on the principle of dropping a known weight a known distance and measuring the resistance of the impact.


A 2.5kg Clegg hammer is used, taking readings from fifteen


locations on the pitch (see plan) Five measurements are taken at each location and the average result recorded. Readings at the ground have been measured between 60-110 gravities, however the average reading taken over long periods of time tend to be between 75-100 gravities. Ed tries to keep the pitch performing in the high 90s .


Both the pyhsio and Ed believe the pitch plays better, and safer, when maintained at between 85-105 gravities.


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