required an innovative programme of end of season renovations, and Paul chose to combine deep scarifying, deep drilling and drill and fill, using Ecosolve’s tried and tested methods. The drills used have been designed and developed by Ecosolve and the ECB Pitches Consultant, Chris Wood, for specific use on cricket wickets. A number of different designs and dimensions were tried before reaching these bespoke items. There was, says Paul, no real alternative, other than digging up several tracks and starting again. They have been drilling four wickets a year since 2004, and identify which pitches need to be done, either because they are next in line for the ongoing programme or perhaps have not performed as well as they would have
liked that year. The drilling programme usually consists of drilling at 165mm (6.5”) centres using a 25mm (1”) diameter drill bit to a depth of 250mm (10”). This equates to over 1700 holes per wicket. The holes are then back filled with the desired loam, either Boughton County or Ongar depending on which wickets are being worked on. It usually takes three to four days to complete the whole process. They have perfected a good method of working. As soon has the holes have been drilled, a metal rod is hammered into each one to smooth the sides, ready to ensure the new loam material can be worked to the bottom of the holes. The same rod is used to consolidate the back filling material.
Once the drilling has been completed,
the whole square is then scarified in several passes, using a Graden scarifier, to remove thatch and debris, with all the arisings cleaned up using brushes, rotary mowers and blowers. The square is then soaked, using a couple of oscillating sprinklers, ready for sowing with R9, a dwarf perennial rye grass mix, sowing in several directions. Paul may use germination sheets to help force the seed to germinate but, in most cases, the seed is up within seven days. Grass is left to mature before cutting with a pedestrian rotary mower. An autumn granular feed is applied to help promote growth, followed by applications of liquid iron, amino and bio stimulants once aeration takes place; the aim is to promote microbial activity in the soil profile, which helps improve
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