Technical
Situated on the damp western slopes of
the Pennines, Todmarden CC is a successful Lancashire county focus club. It has to work within a strict budget, but head groundsman Neville Sutcliffe thinks deep drilling is a highly cost-effective and beneficial process to use each year. They missed one year, he reported, and really noticed the difference, with more retained moisture on the surface. Previously, the club used to spike the square with 4in tines. “Unfortunately, that resulted in heaves and a ‘plywood’ effect of separating loam layers which was seriously detrimental to bounce,” said Neville. He decided that deep drill was the
answer. “That 225mm duct relieved compaction without heave and the soil was extracted so grass could root deeper.” He also noticed that winter drainage was better as a result of the process, with less standing water on the square and less moss. In the following spring, pre-season rolling was quicker due to the more stable surface. “It’s all about the bounce for us,” Neville concluded, “If the top six inches of the square is solid, the ball bounces higher - it’s been brilliant and the players are very happy.”
Optimum time in the season to make the best use of the process can vary, but is
“ 136 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
generally governed by soil moisture levels and maturity of the sward following renovations. “It’s usually the end of October, into November,” said Laurence, “but some clubs in drier parts of the country can get away with it later.” Karl Hibbert at Moulton Harrox likes to use it mid-end of season renovation, after scarifying and before applying loam and seed. “You get a good peg effect then, with loams held together by the drill ducts, and the soil exchange works well with the roots following the holes.” It is now part of his five year plan for the club which has a 100 year old square. Previously, there was a severe panning problem 2-3in down. “There was no rooting going on, spikes bounced out and we were left with a sparsely grassed square with standing water during the season.” Karl took advice from Howard Swain at Cleethorpes Cricket Club, who’d also used the system, adding “It worked a treat - the improved water movement means we sometimes have to irrigate the square during the season, but I prefer having to do that rather than facing a waterlogging issue after summer rainfall. We have more pace and bounce, especially during the second half of the season when the grass rooting is established. We know it’s the Deep Drill that
has had this effect because, as we near the end of the five year cycle, we start to lose pace and bounce. By having it done again, we expect to see this pick up again.” At Wantage Road, Northamptonshire
County Cricket Club’s Paul Taylor is another fan of the machine’s abilities. Eight years ago his wickets were bare and lifeless, with hard pans. “The ball was turning and deviating and there was no pace to the wicket,” said Paul. “Every game took its toll on the grass and the wickets always looked brown and dusty.” He reasoned that water was flowing straight off the square and didn’t get into the soil profile. Nothing had helped, so Paul enlisted Ecosol to puncture the impervious pans and allow water to percolate deeper into the soil profile. This also improved the balance of oxygen and microorganisms in the profile to encourage healthy root extension, hardier plants and grass with greater vigour. Northamptonshire first used drilling
techniques when they started a regular programme of Drill n Fill to stabilise the square’s profile, which involved using custom-built, ECB approved 25mm diameter drills running to a depth of 200mm. This is a very different operation compared to Deep Drill and should not be confused with it. Drill n Fill involves duct creation followed by
You get a good peg effect then, with loams held together by the drill ducts, and the soil exchange works well with the roots following the holes
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