Cricket Square Tasks for July, includes cutting, rolling, watering, verticutting and more in what is a busy month with plenty of pre and post work required in cricket pitch preparation.
Cutting
Cylinder mow at around 12-15 mm in hoc, keeping the squares within this range will help prevent turf drought stress, especially during the hotter months of the year. Keeping the HOC in and around this range will also ensure a dense sward cover and assist in the ball travelling off the square to the boundary that bit quicker.
Pitch preparation should now be in full swing with cutting heights ranging from 6-10mm.
The more heat stressed the grass plants are under theirs more likely be reduced growth, this does mean the HOC can higher and a higher HOC makes for a less stressed grass plant.
Nutrition
Grass growth now should be consistent in growth so an application of a Spring /Summer fertiliser, every 4-6 weeks as guided by the product you are using, ensures thorough washing in of the product as during the warmer months risk of scorching the leaf increases.
If the plant is barely growing and under heat stress, avoid fertilisation till after rain when the grass is green and healthy.
As grass growth slows and fixture increase liquid fertiliser could be a better option, it can applied directly to the leaf and starts working in minutes, always do at the coolest part of the day.
Verticutting
Verticutting is designed to work just a couple of millimetres off the soil surface, to prevent soil interference/scaring.
Verticutting should be only carried out when the grass plant is actively growing and is able to respond, if the grass is barely growing due to heat stress it maybe wise to avoid.
The above text is in relation to the square, not the thinning out of pitches in preparation, which maybe needed for the grass canopy thinning.
Irrigation
Whether pitch or square, watering it is vital to keep water levels up this will ensure the grass recovers quicker after usage and prevent the square becoming hydrophobic.
Once a square becomes hydrophobic, water will just puddle and struggle to infiltrate into the soil profile, this tends to happen during the hotter times of the year. Watering thoroughly during pitch preparation, will ensure the soil compacts well and the plants and root stays alive. This will also prevent soil crumbling excessively, which in turn would limit the life of the pitch and inhibit its recovery after.
Time spent watering alone can consist of many man hours and the use of perforated hoses and travelling sprinklers can assist in getting water on effectively.
General guide to watering is to apply heavily , as shallow watering can encourage a lazy shallow rooted grass plant.
Overseeding-Areas on The Square
Autumn and Spring and renovations are the main overseeding periods, along with seeding after pitch usages to restore grass coverage.
Cutting down of the existing sward , scarification (renovations only) then creating holes 10-15 mm deep to seed into, all contribute to creating contact between the seed and the soil.
Avoid applications of Fe (iron) or iron contained within fertiliser, around the time the plant is at it’s youngest (one leaf stage).
In Season Post Game Pitch Repairs
Once a pitch has been used there is the option you deem fit within your resources, this includes, brushing up, watering heavily, overseed, top-dress where areas are low only. There’s also the option of an application of a pre-seed fertiliser and possibly covering using a germination sheet/fleece and keeping damp till the new seed is apparent.
Sometimes if the pitch is well grassed and has not been overly warn, just a brush up and heavy water will do for recovery. The use of a cassette mower with fitted brush attachment or an old rotary mower, set low can be used to clean up the pitch post play.
Footholes
During innings or between matches foothole need brushing out, gently damp of the walls of foothole and infilling of the low area with pre mixed loam (add moisture till binds but doesn’t stick to hand much).
Using your foot and heel, gently firm down, prior to tamping down with a tamper. Once firm, sprinkle with dry dust, rub in and gently brush up any excess dust.
Pitch Preparation
This involves the identification of the pitch you’re going to use, the cutting, thinning and watering followed by rolling. This can be over a period of 1-3 weeks depending on the time of year. As we come into the hotter months of the year, you may be able to reduce the pitch preparation window from a couple of weeks to 7-12 days.
See this eBook- How to Prepare a Cricket Pitch
Marking Out
Whether using string line and a straight edge or a marking out frame, ensure whatever you use is straight and looks right and within ECB recommendations on measurements, also note a marking/dash of 1 ft either side of middle stump, which is not on the diagram.
Renovation Materials
Mid/Late July is the best time to get in quotations in regards to end of season works and materials with the aim of getting deliveries to site for mid to late August , ahead of September renovations. Seed and loam are the bread and butter of a cricket square, so if funds allow don’t skimp on what’s needed.
Top Blogs
Brian
2 comments
Seed slotter or ferret – which is best? Use both. Never sure which gets seed to germinate and grow best. Any preference?
I am about to buy a seed slotter , ferret block up with soil , so I am going for a slotter in the hope it will block up with soil and like the look of them….