SUMMER SPORTS
This year, we’ve had our renovations done with outside contracting help for the first time in five years. I knew there were benefits, but I had no idea that the operation would be so smooth
Rotorake helps greatly, allowing me to verti-cut, sarrel-roll and brush. I probably use the brush attachment more than anything and the inter-changeable reels mean you need so much less machinery in the shed. As I’m a bit old school, I tend not to use the mechanical brush in wicket preparation as it tends to leave tyre marks, which I don’t like. Therefore, everything is done long hand with the SISIS Lawnman and rake attachment to achieve the best result.”
outside contractors. About eighteen months ago, I convinced the club that we should invest in spray equipment and my training, so I’ve now got my spraying certificates and it’s proven really invaluable from a time and cost perspective.”
“I like the good all-round fertilisers and use Maxwell Premier throughout each season to keep good levels of nitrogen and promote healthy plant growth. Obviously, we don’t want to be stimulating a huge amount of leaf growth over the winter months and it’s important to keep the sward healthy and disease free.”
“I use Maxwell Advanced Generate along with a liquid fertiliser in the summer months which is well balanced for the growing season; the iron and magnesium in this provide good colour and healthy turf.” “We focus our first team cricket in the middle of the square and carry out preparations over a two-week period. The square is cut three or four times a week and is verti-cut fortnightly to keep on top of the sideways growth and to keep the thatch out of the square. I like to think the square is reasonably clear of rubbish and the SISIS
“Starting with play from the first team and then moving to the second team and seniors or youths, a normal wicket would be used three of four times before laying it to bed so we probably get in the region of 350-400 overs of cricket from each wicket.” Historically, Gary explained that the pitch has played quite slow and low. That’s as a result of some work that was done twelve to fifteen years ago. “I know there is 2 inches of Kaloam that sits on 5 or 6 inches of another loam and, having spoken to people that were involved in the club around that time, the square was relayed to a depth of 2 inches. At that time, it seemed Kaloam was the product everyone wanted to use, however, I guess they weren’t aware that Kaloam won’t knit readily with other products. It shrinks at a faster rate than the others so, when the weather dries, we end up with a slab effect and a break between the two layers. I definitely think that’s the reason we have experienced issues with bounce and carry.” “This year, we’ve experimented a little by leaving the sward slightly longer which has helped but, short of removing the 2 inches off the top, we probably need to verti-drain to a depth of 6 inches and then heavily
topdress with the loam to get the material down into the base layer.”
“In an ideal world, where money isn’t an issue, we would dig it up and start from scratch. But, like most clubs, we’re not in a position to do that.”
“Infiltration rates on the square are pretty good. I toyed with the idea of using a wetting agent, but I haven’t gone down that road yet. And, to be honest, I would need to know a little more about them before even considering it as I’m not that clued up. It isn’t something I would want to do based on someone suggesting I should. I need to satisfy in my own mind that it’s the right thing to do on this surface. If there was ever a year to do it, this would have been it, but I wasn’t
SPPS - World Class Ground Care
Ultra low ground pressure
echneat PC October/November 2018 101
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