End of season maintenance The Pitfalls - a practical view
ECB Pitch Advisor for Hampshire, Chris Westwood, outlines the pitfalls of incorrect end of season maintenance
1) Not planning ahead
2) Not examining the square to determine the conditions that currently exist
3) Not having sufficient expertise available - or failing to seek advice
4) Not ordering materials in time
It ‘has’ to be done!
ECB Pitch Advisor for Warwickshire, Geoff Calcott, on the perils of not scarifying
ON my travels around cricket grounds in my home county of Warwickshire, whether it be as part of the ECB funded PQS scheme,in conjunction with the local Cotswold Hills League, or as part of the Warkwickshire Groundsman Association PQS scheme, it soon became obvious that there were clubs whose cricket squares had received little or no attention in the crucial autumnal period. The major problem, as is nearly
always the case, was one of thatch and buried fibre, often many millimetres thick, which, of course, is usually the sign of little or no deep scarification having taken place at the end of the playing season.
average, only 70% of grass clippings actually go into the box, there will always be thatch - it’s a fact of life. Regular verticutting and power brushing throughout the playing season will help reduce the thatch content, but the autumn period is absolutely crucial in controlling what was missed. I would recommend that a soil
profile is taken to a depth of say 125/150mm to find the depth of thatch/fibre and, depending on the findings, deep scarify vigorously in three or four directions, using heavy duty scarifiers such as the Graden or Sisis to the depth of the offending layer. More often than not, cricket
clubs tend either to ignore the thatch problem or simply are not vigorous enough in their approach. Don’t forget, this will have to be done every season.
When one considers that, on
5) Not arranging a suitable contractor in sufficient time to coincide with your programme, or, if ‘in house’, not arranging for sufficient members to be available
6) Not ensuring all the equipment required is in good working order
7) Not commencing as soon as the playing season is over
8) Not continuing to monitor the square and maintain it during the winter months
The autumn repair and renovation of the square, combined with ongoing regular examination and routine winter maintenance, will be a major factor in how the square and pitches perform in the following cricket season.
It is important to plan ahead, have specific dates for the work (with contingency plans in case of inclement weather conditions) and programme the operations to suit the resources available. Examination of the current condition of the square will indicate any initial problems, such as weed infestation, pest damage and disease. All of which can be treated, controlled and monitored as part of the end of season maintenance regime. Core samples, taken from the square in advance, will establish the on-site conditions, show the level of thatch/fibre that has built up throughout the season, and
the current root development. Identifying the levels of thatch/fibre at the surface at an early stage will determine the depth of scarification required, and the type of equipment necessary to clean the surface. Root development is important for the health of the grass plant and, again, inspection of the core will provide a guide to the requirement/frequency/type of aeration and equipment required throughout the autumn and early winter months.
If in doubt, ask! Expertise and advice is available through the ECB appointed County Pitch Advisors and Pitchcare and IOG courses, specific to the maintenance of cricket facilities.
Advice can save time and money, and ultimately improve the facility. Once the requirements are known, materials should be ordered to ensure that the supplier has sufficient time to resource these and deliver to suit your programme. Early orders may attract discounts from some suppliers, and combining with other
In cases where clubs have not dealt with this problem (and there are many), the costs of recovering the square to an acceptable level are going to be high, particularly if the last resort is to employ the use of a Koro Field Topmaker.
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