Winter sports pitches tasks for April/May tasks include cutting and pre and post renovations works however big or small. Grass cutting will be in full swing now and along with pre and post renovations planning and works is a busy period for the winter sports groundsperson.
Cutting
Cylinder or rotary mow at between 25-30mm in HOC, but if working towards renovations try and get that down to 15-20mm, this will assist in renovations works and give the new seed a head start.
Rugby-HOC range – spring/summer 40mm- post renovations 50 mm. Hoc may vary on the site location and if at a multi sports complex where lap over with a cricket outfield.
Nutrition
Application of a Spring/Summer fertiliser if renovations are way off or maybe better holding off on nutrition and instead apply a pre seed fertiliser or feed after renovations.
The more vigorously the grass is growing the more fertiliser inputs will be required, the grass will start to yellow which will be an indicator it’s in need of nutrients, specifically nitrogen.
A fertiliser requirement of a pitch, ideally should be based on annual soil nutrient testing results, something with the analysis of 9-7-7 (spring/summer) and a 4-12-12 (autumn/winter) is common but not exclusive. Application rates are usually 35 grams per square metre. If applied as part of renovations, then a 6.9.6 pre-seed fertiliser is common.
Verticutting
Less common at recreational levels, grooming or raking is more likely.
This is a good month to start a bi-weekly or monthly verticutting, the aim is to thin out horizontal growth, which in turn creates a more densely packed grass sward.
Verticutting should be only carried out when the grass plant is actively growing and able to respond. Verti cutting units or cassettes are common for such a task.
Winter sports pitches at recreational level often rely on a rake fitted to a tractor mounted multi tool, like a quadraplay avoid heavy raking till any young grass seed is well established.
Post Match Repairs
Post match ASAP hand repair any divots by lifting and prising back into position, any left over bare or low areas can be top dressed and seeded, although maybe better to hold off till renovations.
The use of a tractor mounted multi tool such as a quadraplay once hand divotting work is complete could also be helpful in gently brushing, raking, rolling (polish roller) the pitch level back to pre-match conditions.
What level of Renovations do you expect to undertake??
Overseeding
Spring or/and renovations are the most product overseeding periods, ideally creating holes or grooves 10-15 mm deep
As we near renovations we are possibly creeping towards the renovations window, if so, it may be unproductive seeding now and holding back that seed for renovations.
Avoid applications of Fe (iron) or iron contained within fertiliser around time when the plant is at its youngest, i.e. once renovations complete and young grass coming up.
Renovations
This can be very budget and pitch specific in requirements, but the elements below usually make up renovations or a combination of them.
- Scarification- as thatch or surface debris requires
- Seeding – 35 grams a square metre would need around 9 bags to seed a full-size pitch. Drill seed in 2-3 directions and consider 1 direction of dimple seeding. In the vast majority of cases a 100% ryegrass mix is used.
- Topdressing – with a suitable medium coarse sports sand root-zone, see the below blog for more specific guidance-
- Decompaction- If soil hardness isn’t an issue and allows penetration.
- Application of pre-seed fertiliser, an analysis of 6.9.6 NPK is common for pre-seed fertilisers.
- Germination flee/sheets for smaller high wear areas would be of benefit, ensuring daily checking underneath to ensure disease doesn’t start to form.
- Volume of topdressing is often based on budget, but a common range of 50-100 tons for a full-size pitch.
Turf Tip!
Where funds are limited, renovations of just the high wear areas can take place.
How to Renovate a Winter Sports Pitch
How to pre germinate grass seed
Worm Casts
If the grass is growing well, castes can be managed by cultural management techniques, such as drag matting and brushing when the castes are at their driest, often in the afternoon.
Goalmouth Repair- End of Season
- In areas void of grass, cultivate by whatever means (rotavator-hand fork – other) with the aim of creating a tilth that will relieve compaction, before incorporating a sand/soil rootzone.
- Using pure sand would increase drainage rates, but would also dry and possibly kick out too easily and be a struggle to keep some moisture present for those on limited irrigation.
- Once the area is firmed gently down and levels restored a further light raking and seeding can take place. Barer the area the more seed will be required, could easily double the seed rate applied during general overseeding.
- Cover with germination/protection netting (scaffold debris) and irrigate frequently to keep soil moist, the first two weeks after sowing are the most vital.
How to Renovate a Goalmouth in 3 steps (Ben Kay) –Read Here!!!!
Aeration
Aeration of pitches if conditions allow via in-house solid tines, slit tines, linear with the possible addition of a deeper form of aeration such as verti-draining when or if required once/twice a season. With renovations now in site, it maybe more effective to hold off on any deep form of aeration and instigate that into renovations.
Consider?
Don’t have a tractor, possible hire or borrow a pedestrian type aerator and just do high wear areas.
Weed Control/Management
Weeds can be a sign of a lack of nutrients, compaction and other deficiencies, control methods include the prising out of shallow rooted weeds such as daisies and plantains Deeper rooted established weeds such as dandelion may need chemical application by some certified to apply herbicides, between April and September ahead of seeding windows so if going to spray apply prior to renovations, based on product label recommendations.
If only a few in numbers then hand weeding of those easy to prise out daisies and plantains, maybe a fruitful task.
Line Marking
Regular straightening/string line to keep the straight and weekly overmarking of lines.
Keep up stock levels of marking fluid, to ensure you don’t run short
External Funding options by the Football Foundation!!
Brian
