Spring Renovations of a Cricket Square

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Spring Renovations of a Cricket Square is a blog of observations to the pros and cons of carrying out renovations for those unable to do during standard end of season renovations at the end of the season.

Why Renovations are done at the end of the cricket season and aims of each task?

Let’s break down the tasks of renovations, this may help you see what each one does and what is needed.

Scarification– Removal of litter/thatch accumulation that has occurred during the last season. Those who have been forced into spring renovation appear to have gone for scarifying at half the depth they would during renovations or opted for just overseeding in spring. I would seriously link up with your local pitch advisor to see what is suitable for your situation.

Loam- Restoration of surface levels, as required. During a spring mini renovation, those who have undertaken this have top-dressed much lighter than they would during standard renovations.

Seed– Restoring the grass canopy, no problem going with what is required whatever time of year, in comparison to loam and aggression of scarification.

Aeration– Only a few spike during renovation, as often its too dry and hard. Those who do spike there looking to create a channel for the seed, loam and roots, which will also key in everything with the rest of the square. Most would rely on just using a sarel roller during renovations. Aeration other than a sarel roller is one thing l would definitely not recommend during spring renovation.

Last resort- Spring renovation should be deemed just that, a last result but also bare in mind only doing what is really needed. If levels are pretty good, then pick that up during autumn renovations. If Grass coverage is poor then maybe all is required is a very thorough overseed.

A Few Pros/Cons of Spring Renovation

Pro-s good germination period, but brings other challenges.

Cons- little or no preseason rolling or could be tricky to navigate round.

Cons- Heavy overnight dews can make scarification messy and topdressing, even trickier during cloudy damp days, so ideally need to find some afternoon sun and or windy days.

Cons- less scarification, as season a matter of weeks off

Cons- Only one growing window, if compared to renovation carried out in autumn

Cons-Issue could mean may you may not start to mid may- loam not keyed in, delays in weather carrying out the spring renovation.

Con- Pre season rolling could be a challenge around mini renovations and delicate new seed and possible topdressing that will struggle to integrate.

Top tips if you feel a mini spring renovation is needed

• Germ sheets could really help
• Possibly cut down the square and heavy verticut and an overseed- deeper scarification and heavy topdressings, ideally left for renovations
• Possible options for part renovations- will an overseed only do?
• If you do feel you need to scarify (take advise first) or aggressively renovate, you could exclude your first match pitch, while the rest of the square has time to grow and integrate (loam)
• If doing any form of spiking during spring/mini renovation only use a shallow sarel roller, spiking with anything deeper than that would only create major issues going into the season.

Timing

Our friend the weather allows, based on the last couple of wet periods.

You could look to carry out a mini renovation mid/late march, this gives you 4-5 weeks before your first league game, just note need to avoid frosts as new seed is susceptible to frost damage. The barer the square is the more this becomes an issue of concern.

If doing a full or mini renovation, you may have to live with not being able to carry out pre-season rolling this year.

If you feel all you need to do is an overseed of the square, you could look at earlier pre-season rolling or later depending on when you feel is the best time to overseed but also remember if you seeding big areas and its vital, they come through, don’t overly stress the new plant and risk its survival.

Ends Could be a challenge

Ends- even if you can’t do the middle of the square in autumn try and get the ends done, this will give the soil time to integrate, you will struggle in spring with soil integration and working around them during PSR, the rest of the square your probably get away with not needing to top-dress, PSR will sort out any minor surface level issues.

Summary

One missed autumn renovation probably less of an issue if done thoroughly yearly, l would say grass coverage and ends and pre-season rolling could be the priority over scarification and topdressing, some challenge in timing though in seeding and preseason rolling, to ensure the new seed is not stressed too much.

Last resort– Spring renovation should be deemed just that, as a last result but if that’s your aim for spring bare in mind only doing what is really needed. If levels are pretty good, then pick that up during autumn renovations. If Grass coverage is poor then maybe all is required is a very thorough overseed.

I ‘d take it on a case-by-case basis, get peer advice, seek help and information from your pitch advisor, this blog is just to open up the conversation and get those thinking who could not carry out end of season renovations.

Take a look at this interesting blog by one of our community, which inspired the writing of this blog- When Renovations don’t go to Plan

What are your experiences of doing renovation in Spring?

Brian

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