Summer Sports - Bowls
deeper, tined aeration to relieve compaction to the base of the rootzone layer. Care should be taken not to go too deep. Some bowling greens have been constructed with shallow rootzones, often less than 200mm in depth. You could do untold damage or begin to bring up base debris. Even worse, you could damage the sub-surface drainage systems if aerating too deep.
Mowing and Brushing
Grass growth will be influenced by soil and air temperatures. Once we begin to see temperatures rising above 8O
C, grass
growth will be stimulated. Regular mowing will be required to maintain sward at between 10-12mm, before lowering the height of cut for the playing season.
Brushing/switching of the playing surface will keep the green clean and remove any dew or surface water. Keeping the surface dry will aid resistance to disease.
Disease
Keep an eye on fungal disease attack. Fusarium has been quite prolific recently, with some surfaces getting severely scarred. Use an appropriate, approved fungicides to control any further outbreaks. With the grass now beginning to grow, it shouldn’t take long for these scars to grow out. Fairy rings are also quite prominent on greens at the moment. A dose of feed or liquid iron will stimulate grass growth and this will help mask these patches.
Other work
Machinery and sundries: Keep machines overhauled and clean. Arrange the servicing of your machines ready for the new season. Keep an eye on your material stocks (seed, topdressing, petrol, oil), remembering to replenish as required.
Perimeter fences and hedges: Most bowling green facilities are enclosed by fences or hedges. Now is a good time to complete any tidying up of these features. Hedges should be pruned and cut to maintain their shape and form.
Repairs: Carry out any repairs to ditches, paths, gates and other building features. If you have floodlights, these should be serviced on an annual basis to check that they are safe and operating to the correct lux values. Also, check they are correctly positioned to prevent light pollution.
Irrigation systems: After the recent frosts, it will pay to inspect your watering systems and check for any leaks or damaged pipework. Also remember to organise the recommissioning of your automated watering systems with the aim to have it ready before the end of March.
That list alone should convince the committee and members that being a bowls greenkeeper is not just about ‘cutting grass’. Rather, as many golf greenkeepers do, it is time that their bowls counterparts kept the members informed about the science and methods required to provide that pristine playing surface they all long for. Maybe then, their £2 a week subs won’t seem so extortionate!
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Spend time on presentation
Bowls greenkeeping is not just about cutting grass
World class turf maintenance equipment DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 PC 81
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