“I have been truly amazed, and somewhat humbled, by the response from members on the Pitchcare message board ”
Soil sample showed all sorts of horrors!
drainage. We soon discovered that this was a method commonly used during the 1980s and 90s in order to cut costs. Ken continues: “Like any other turf manager, I would be concerned about the way in which it had been constructed, since the perched water table system relies on a number of factors, including the sand particle size, distribution, organic matter content, the depth of rootzone, and the choker or intermediate layer which will affect the water retention. If all calculations are correct, water is held over the drainage system until it reaches field capacity, then, once the rootzone reaches field capacity, it will release any other excess water through to the drainage until it reaches field capacity again.” “Exactly how efficient a semi-permeable
membrane is, is hard to tell. In all probability, it will gradually clog up with fine particles that naturally migrate down through the rootzone over time. This will only increase its water-retention capabilities and create black layer or other anaerobic conditions. There is no easy solution to a green built in this way, other than to punch holes through the membrane using a verti-drain or similar deep aeration tool, and hope that it won’t cause rootzone migration into the stone drainage in later years.”
It was quickly decided that severe dry- patches, which covered around 30% of the green, had been caused by an excessive thatch layer and grass roots predominating the upper rootzone. “Dry patch is the stressing of the grass plant due to the lack of water intake. This can be caused by any one or a combination of reasons - a general lack of available moisture, humps and ridges preventing surface entry of moisture, excessive nutrients in the surface rootzone and spells of long, hot, dry weather.” “However, in most situations where fine turf is involved, dry-patch is normally associated with a hydrophobic condition.
Some say that it’s caused by soil fungi, others say it’s due to the decomposition of organic matter coating each individual soil particle with waxy substances, preventing each particle from re-wetting. Once it occurs, it’s quite difficult to reverse, and rectifying it often involves the use of high quality wetting agents and the introduction of beneficial micro- organisms which will break it down.” Armed with this information, Ken and I discussed a way forward, a plan that would eventually see the green return to its former glory. First off, it needed cutting from its current 20mm to a height of 10mm, so we could get a closer look at what we were dealing with. A friend and cricket groundsman, Paul Shrimpton, and I worked late into the evening going over the green twice.
Still monitoring the Pitchcare message
board, I was contacted by Andy Johnson, Head Groundsman at the Blue Coat School in Edgbaston. Much to my amazement he offered to drive the fifty or so miles on a Saturday morning, sacrificing an afternoon of beer and England’s first Six Nations match, trailing his verti-drain and mini-tractor behind
Chemsol (Global) Ltd supply fine turf chemistry as well as industrial grade cleaning and maintenance type products, and have some of the best known and reliable products within your marketplace. Your Chemsol representative will always be happy to take an order from you and at the same time give knowledge support. Make an appointment to discuss your needs, and we will provide the solution, available to you by phone, e-mail and skype.
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