Tools & guidance YOUR HANDY MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CALENDAR
JANUARY OPERATIONS CRICKET SQUARE
Continue to check for disease activity and, if identified, spray with a proprietary fungicide. Continue to brush as regularly as possible to allow sward to remain upright and to remove excess moisture/dew, and if any earthworm activity is noticed try not to smear the casts. If possible aerate using solid tines to a depth of 125mm. If climatic and ground conditions allow, mow sward, by ‘topping off’.
CRICKET OUTFIELD
Continue to check for damage regularly, especially if the outfield is also used for winter sports. If climatic and ground conditions allow, mow sward by ‘topping off’. If possible, aerate outfield to 125mm.
BOWLING GREENS
During this period of snow and cold weather, very little will be undertaken on the green. Watch out for any Fusarium/snow mould that might develop.
GOLF COURSES
If the weather is very cold or it snows, temporary (or winter) greens should be the order of the day to help protect the condition of the main greens. Watch out for any Fusarium/ snow mould developing beneath any snow cover. Now is an ideal time to carry KEEP IN TOUCH
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out machinery maintenance or scrub land clearance. This year’s maintenance budget and work programme should also be completed, if they haven’t already been done, as this will also help to identify optimum times for the taking of annual leave and will help to avoid holidays clashing with peak workloads. Now is also a good time to attend training courses and to read up on current trade literature to see what is available or what new products might be launched for spring. No doubt games will still be played, unless the pitch is frozen and unsafe. Where undersoil heating is provided, games will still be played and the rootzone will no doubt provide a relatively soft surface. This will make divoting a priority after each game. The need for additional turfing in goalmouths and possibly the centre circle areas may also be required this month. Be careful not to dry the soil too much if using underground heating as the grass plant will dry out and may die.
42 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019
RUGBY LEAGUE
Continue to avoid the use of relatively heavy machinery over the winter months when ground conditions are generally unsuitable. Aeration can be carried out during dry periods, assuming the soil moisture content is not high. A light topping of the sward might be required by the end of the winter period. Continue to divot and repair after each meeting. Look ahead to planning/ ordering materials ready for the April renovation work.
HORSE RACECOURSES
TENNIS
Little work will typically be required except for the essential removal of dew and earthworm casts, and watching for signs of disease attack. Aeration can be considered, if ground conditions permit and if the machinery is not being serviced.
BOOST YOUR SKILLSET
Most work this month will concentrate on pitch presentation, for example: – ensure line markings have good www.facebook.com/theIOG
year could send the surface backwards until the growing season. Handforking would be useful to aid drainage.
The frosts and inclement weather might have arrived, so remedial jobs such as machinery maintenance or store maintenance may be required. Switching and drag-brushing to be completed when conditions allow. Drag-brushing can be used to create striping effect. Aeration would be useful, if pitch conditions allow, to aid drainage. Make sure the pitch is still secure so no damage from footmarks occurs. Complete remedial jobs around the stores or to machinery. On the amateur side, constant divoting is of the highest importance to repair the surface. Drag-brushing or chainharrowing could be used to aid playability and presentation. Communication is vital as one bad game at this time of
FOOTBALL
RUGBY UNION
consistency - drag-brush the pitch to produce a striping effect - divot as required - fork and sand worn / bare areas.
As the year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to think about improving your groundscare skills. The IOG offers a range of courses to suit different sports and surfaces; visit www.iog.org for more information.
Institute of Groundsmanship
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