Cricket Square Tasks for December is a guide of key tasks for the month ahead including cutting, brushing and more . There is video content, top tips and top blogs for the month in question.
Cutting
Cylinder or rotary mow at around 18-22 mm in HOC (Height of Cut), keeping the squares within this range will help prevent turf disease and also help maintain a dense grass canopy.
If the square is much longer take your time to get to this HOC range, avoid hacking the square down and the risk of stressing the plant.
Whatever mower you use, ensure the blades are sharp and cutting well to prevent tearing of the grass leaf of which disease can enter torn leaf tissue.
Avoid cutting in periods of very cold weather, cutting is only generally needed if the plant is growing. It is said shoot growth stops at around 5c.
Nutrition
Apply autumn /winter fertiliser if required, a touch of Iron (Fe) included will help keep a moss at bay .Feeding will also help hold off diseases such as red thread along with helping to encourage root growth and a healthy plant.
Avoid application in cold conditions, you need a actively growing plant to take in the nutrients from a granular feed. Liquid fertiliser do work at lower temperature, but you still needs growth for the plant to uptake nutrients.
Brushing
Brush off the dew whenever you can to prevent turf disease forming, brushing also improves presentation, stand the leaf up and is a highly recommended task, as and when you can.
Cartridge brushing can be done monthly to keep a debris free surface, match aggression when setting to the level of growth. Personally l would not use to remove surface dew though.
Keep off if the grass is frozen, as this will only create leaf tissue damage.
Worm Caste Management
Manage by cultural management techniques such as drag matting’s and brushing when the castes are at there driest, on dry windy afternoons.
More information- https://turfcareblog.com/how-to-control-worms-on-sports-pitches/
Aeration
Aeration of the outfield and squares, if conditions allow solid tine aerate the square this month , if you get a opportunity to do more than once vary depths.
Generally aeration on the square needs to be completed by mid-January at the latest, to ensure the spike holes don’t reopen in Spring/Summer.
Fence Lines
Cut under fence lines to control length of grass and the collection of leaf’s and debris that accumulates under fence lines.
Machinery Servicing
Machinery servicing, absolutely vital along with monthly start ups of machines, get those machines serviced to avoid a spring rush.
Others
Remark the corners, to maintain the position of the square.
Winter projects around the grounds.
Outfields keep topping as growth dictates, height of cut depending on which winter sport is played on them. A rough guide 25-30 mm (no rugby) to encourage good airflow and prevention of disease. Aeration by whatever form either vertdrain, linear , solid tine is also advisable.
Top Blogs for December
Aerating a Cricket Square- https://turfcareblog.com/a-need-to-breathe-aeration/
Vertidraining a Cricket Square- https://turfcareblog.com/a-guide-to-vertidraining-a-cricket-square/
Video of the Month
Top Tips
The use /addition of Iron (Fe) in fertiliser at this time of year to keep the plant strong.
Vary direction of cutting, brushing which will help keep a upright plant, less chance of a nap forming and will help towards keeping a healthier plant.
If you are reading this in the middle or regular frosts and cold weather back your own instinct and keep off the grass till the cold spell passes.
Brian
What are you doing this month, leave comments below, be great to have some input. Any comments will go into a prize draw for a Free eBook 💥
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2 comments
Another top blog. Great help for all cricket groundies. Well done Brian
Thank you Chris , hard to write such blogs but appreciate your comments here ..