Winter Sports - Rugby Union
What’s in the shed? Dennis G860 mowers x 2
John Deere R54RKB peestrian roller rotary mowers x 5
John Deere JX90 pedestrian wheeled rotary mowers x 2
John Deere 3520 tractor John Deere Gator
John Deere 2653B ride-on triple mower
John Deere X155R ride-on mid deck mower with rear collector
Wiedenmann TerraSpike Gxi 8 HD Sisis Javelin Aer-Aid 1500
Hardi 200 litre tractor-mounted sprayer
Vicon oscillating spout fertiliser spreader
Transfer wheel and spray line markers Scotts SR2000 pedestrian spreader Stihl grass trimmer
Stihl hand-held debris blower
“Many people I speak with outside work have little idea of the knowledge, skill and effort needed all
Regular tine aeration helps keep the pitch and rootzone open and free-draining, alleviating compaction and potential drainage issues
vertical-action air injector, which fissures the soil profile with minimal surface disturbance down to a maximum depth of 130mm. Winter pitch aeration, says Luke, is
through the year to create and maintain first- class playing surfaces”
carried out according to level of use. “On average, I will be aiming to aerate every two to three weeks using the TerraSpike fitted with 19mm solid tines,” he explained. “I don’t want to overdo it, but need to ensure there is no re-occurrence of the black layer episode of late 2011.” “For that reason, aeration depths are varied across a range between 80mm and 200mm each time I do it. Results have been successful, keeping the pitch in consistently good shape despite the high rainfall experienced in this part of the world.”
Main pitch remedial work commenced in late May 2013 with fraise-mowing, cultivations and topdressing with Fibresand and a 14:3:8+TE pre-seeding fertiliser prior to sowing with a perennial ryegrass sports mixture. Luke applied a post-emergence 16:16:16 granular fertiliser in June to give turf growth a “massive kick”, and has tailored granular and liquid nutrient applications during the summer and winter months according to the weather and the health, colour and vigour of the grass - assisted by an annual soil test. “Having achieved the required winter grass colour, a 12:0:11 fertiliser will be used towards the end of every second or third week so that nutrients become available to the turf when it needs them most, immediately following a match,” explained Luke. John Deere walk-behind professional
Founded in 2003, the Scarlets are affiliated to a number of semi-professional and amateur clubs throughout the area, whilst being the official regional rugby union representative for the west and north of Wales, working closely with the local community
24 PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
roller rotary mowers are employed to clean-up the pitch’s surface after games, whilst conventional walk-behind and ride- on rotary mowers are dedicated to maintaining formal and amenity grass areas outside the stadium and for mowing of the training pitch.
Grass height within the stadium is maintained at between 30-32mm for rugby, a little shorter for football, achieved by a pair of Dennis G860 cylinder mowers. “We normally cut on the morning of a match to produce a precise cylinder finish, plus a good roll of the turf and smart striping,” commented Luke, who says he likes to have in his mind a two- week forward plan of jobs that need to be done or completed. “When I first started as a groundsman, I quickly learned that key to the job is taking pride in one’s work and the results achieved,” he commented. “I get quite annoyed when asked what I do with myself during the summer when there’s no rugby. It’s by far my busiest period, but many people I speak with outside work have little idea of the knowledge, skill and effort needed all through the year to create and maintain first-class playing surfaces.” Improving that knowledge is something
that Luke remains very keen to achieve for himself, despite the responsibility of looking after a high-profile winter sports pitch and training ground.
Putting aspirations into action, he is now attending a Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture (Sports Turf) course, travelling to Bridgend College of Further Education every Thursday for a total of sixty-six weeks, spread over two years.
The eighty mile round-trip does, however, give him plenty of time to make plans for the coming two weeks. Although the plans may need to be changed due to poor weather, a sudden disease threat or an unannounced training session, one thing of which Luke is absolutely certain is that a groundsman’s job is never done.
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