GreenkeepingCorner The must-read section for greenkeepers and gardeners
There’s no time to rest during winter Even though it’s the ‘off-season’, there are still many vital tasks to be done
T
hough temperatures are low, early morning frosts more likely, and grass growth has slowed down dramatically, there is no such thing as putting the green to bed for winter and forgetting about it until spring. To ensure your green is in top condition next season it’s essential that the surface is kept free of debris and is well aerated. In terms of aeration, the use of a sarrel roller will be sufficient to keep the surface open and free-draining. Given the right conditions a dose of liquid iron would not go amiss. This helps to harden the grass plant and maintain some colour through the chillier times. Remember, you must keep off your bowling green during frosty conditions, it will cause long-term damage which will be difficult to repair come spring time (see panel on right). Other tasks to be undertaken: Continue to clean up any leaf debris. Leaves, when wet, can be a slip hazard. Keep walkways and paths clean and tidy. Drainage ditches can be cleaned out, and you can also inspect the condition of your ditch materials - they may need cleaned, replaced or topped up. Many greens are surrounded by fences or hedges - these will need some maintenance to keep them tidy and manageable. If weather conditions allow, it would be helpful to undertake some frequent surface and deep aeration on the green. It improves the gaseous exchange in the soil profile whilst, at the same time, increasing the
Pitchcare Website Don’t forget, you can get up to
date information on weather for your area, advice on how to maintain your bowling green and monthly bowls diaries by visiting the Pitchcare website
www.pitchcare.com
The website is free and is used by professional and volunteer groundsmen and greenkeepers from across the UK and overseas.
The footfall of players and greenkeepers is particularly damaging to frozen turf
NationwideBowler 73
capacity of the green to drain more efficiently. Ideally, you should be using a range of tines at different depths within the range of your soil profile. Regular aeration to keep the surface open will aid drying. A drier surface will help towards reducing the effects of the earthworm activity near the surface.
Regular brushing in the mornings to remove the moisture from the leaf is an important part of the
maintenance regime to deter an attack of disease. Outbreaks of disease, particularly Fusarium, are mainly down to the heavy dews and changing air temperatures. Moisture on the leaf will allow diseases to move and spread easily.
What happens to turf in frosty conditions? Though greens may be covered in frost over winter, there
is still a host of essential maintenance work to be done
Frost tells us the water inside the leaves is frozen. More than 80% of plant tissue is made up of water. When this water freezes, foot traffic on the turf causes the ice in the cells to puncture the plant’s cell walls, thus killing plant tissue.
When frozen, leaves are easily bruised by the footfall of players and greenkeepers. After thawing, the affected turf turns dark and sparse. It can often remain thin for long periods if damage occurs early in the winter. Fine turf is more susceptible to disease and the
surface becomes uneven. More long-term damage can be caused when play takes place as the turf is thawing after a prolonged freeze. Under these
conditions, the top surface of the turf may be soft, but the underlying soil can still be frozen.
Root damage occurs easily from a shearing action as players’ feet move the soft top surface against the frozen sub soil. While on the subject of frosts, don’t forget to drain down your irrigation system to protect it from frost damage.
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