How Much Bags of Cricket Loam to Apply During Renovations is a blog that looks into questions like, how many bags do we need. What’s the aim of cricket loam, and listed techniques for applying and levelling.
Aim of Cricket Loam
The aim of cricket loam is to restore the levels of the square back to what it was or better prior to the cricket season before player wear and renovations scarification. The aim is to apply loam evenly and or distributes it from any high areas, into any low areas that may have formed.
How Much Loam to Use During Renovations
How much is dependent on how much wear and how poor your surface levels and ends are, you also need to factor in how hard you are going to scarify as by nature this will remove a small percentage of loam.
As the poll image below shows you the range of 6-10 bags and for squares that may have been planed off (kored) more could be added. The thicker the grass canopy is the less loam should be applied, but the aim of renovations is also to thin out the grass canopy and remove any thatch.
6-8 bags is a good general rule, but if your ends are especially low at the end of season you could well end up using another 2-4 bags per pitch. The good thing if you over order, is if you keep the loam dry over winter, it can easily be used for pitch repairs and footholes in the following season.
I always believe cricket loam and seed, are the bread and milk of our job, so l don’t skimp.
Purchasing your loam bagged or loose (ton bags)
One ton bags are always the cheaper way to bulk buy loam, the only negatives are if that loam gets wet it is more than likely going to be unusable to use. Another negative with bulk ton bags is that they have to be shovelled from the bag, so can be more labour intensive.
25 kg seal bags are less likely to get wet but you do end up paying more, in my experience most people go with the small bag options. Unless they are doing a large project where they can get the 1-ton bags to the project with ease.
How to Apply Topdressing
On a basic level a shovel and a wheelbarrow application, which will take time but with volunteers this is an option. Others hire a tractor and a mounted topdresser and others hire a contractor to apply and level the loam. You can also buy small self-propelled topdressing machines; they take some time but they work well.
How to Work in the Topdressing
This is dependent on what you want to achieve, as in the below guide.
Poor levels
Straight edge
Old wooden ladder
With the aim of removing loam from any high areas and disposing them into any low areas, for this your need tools and equipment that don’t just follow the contours. Whatever you use the equipment ideally needs to be wider than the low itself.
Good levels
Drag Matt- maybe ok with minor level issues.
Brush and or Lutes
Any tips or tricks or thoughts then why not place in the comments area below. Also any thought on the next blog to write ?
How Much Bags of Cricket Loam to Apply During Renovations- Brian
Another timely blog with renovations incoming-https://turfcareblog.com/three-reasons-renovations-fail-cricket/
Also take a look at this helpful website – https://resources.thegma.org.uk/your-sport/cricket/maintaining-your-cricket-ground/cricket-season/reparing-pitches-re-use-later-4
2 comments
If there is an almighty downpour during the season, which leaves puddles on the square, take a few pics so you know where the low areas are to gradually attend to in the EOS renovations
Yes good idea – they do say don’t bury too much grass or you can end up creating a root break, so make sure if low you hit those lows with the scarfier that bit more .thanks good tip 👍🏻