Bowls Green Maintenance For December , as we enter the festive period the mild and damper conditions continue. Starting the month with a cold snap and now we are back in double figures with high rainfall making things a bit trickier.
Tasks for December
· Continue to remove the morning dew from the green
· Cutting
· Slitting/ Spiking
· Fertiliser/ moss control
· Disease control
· Worm Cast
· High Rainfall
· Frost
· General Maintenance
Dew
Throughout December, continue with brushing off the morning dew at your earliest convenience to reduce disease risk. If you have a sprayer then applying a dew disperser can help with keeping the dew at bay if you’re unable to get to the club daily to remove the dew.
Cutting
Cutting height should now be at your preferred winter height (8-10mm) to protect the grass going through autumn/winter. The frequency of cutting can now be reduced to once every 10 – 14 days depending on the rate of growth.
Slitting/ Spiking
If you have a slitter or spiker continue with this to relieve compaction and encourage water and air movement.
Fertiliser/ Moss control
During the winter months we want to reduce the nitrogen inputs and increase the P (phosphorus) and K (Potassium). These will help with stronger root development and improve disease resistance. Adding iron to the mix will also help harden the plant and help to keep the leaf drier which will help prevent disease. This will also help to keep moss from encroaching into the green. Apply these monthly throughout the winter to help with overall plant health.
Disease Control
Continue to monitor for any signs of disease. It’s still warm and wet so we need to be on guard and keep an eye out for Fusarium (Microdochium Patch) which is common in damp conditions. Applying a preventative fungicide or having a fungicide on the shelf is a good idea for this time of year. This way if you do have an outbreak then you’re ready to act fast.
Worm Cast
As we continue with the wet spell the worm cast are still going to be a problem. If possible allow them to dry and then use a cane switch to break the worm cast up. If you try to clear them with a brush in the morning when they’re wet then they are going to smear and leave a mess.
High Rainfall
As we are experiencing a high amount of rainfall we want to make sure any drains that are around your green are kept clear from debris and are free flowing.
Frost
If we get any more frost as we did early on then we want to protect the green. Try and stay off the green until the white frost has gone to reduce any risk of damaging the leaf.
General Maintenance
· Remove leaves and debris that may have fallen onto the green.
· Clear any drains that may be blocked.
· Maintain any hedges/ trees.
· Carry out any maintenance works to surrounding paths/ steps
· Check ditches and edges, ensure they are kept clean and carry out any repair works if necessary.
Ensure any machinery that is being put away for the winter is clean and dry before being left for months.
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I hope you found my Bowls Green Maintenance For December of some help by MWTurfcare
