December Bowls Diary 2004

Laurence Gale MScDec 06, 2004in Bowls

December Bowls Diary

By Laurence Gale MSc

With temperatures falling and early morning frosts now becoming more regular, grass growth will have slowed down dramatically. The need to cut the grass on a regular basis will have diminished. You should use this spare time to carry out some other works in and around the greens, clearing out ditches, pruning and cutting hedges to keep them tidy and manageable. It is essential to keep the surface free of debris and aerated. The use of a sarel roller will be sufficient to keep the surface open and free draining.

Diseases have been widely reported, particularly Fusarium. These outbreaks have been mainly due to the heavy dews and changing climatic air temperatures we have recently experienced. Moisture on the leaf will allow diseases to move and spread easily. Regular brushing in the mornings to remove the moisture from the leaf is an important maintenance regime to deter an attack of disease.

Most of the tasks detailed can be undertaken within a limited budget. Local conditions and circumstances will need to be taken into account. If any members are undertaking any specific work not detailed, please let us know by adding a comment in the section below the diary.

Task	Frequency	Reason
Aeration	When conditions allow	Aeration should be continued throughout the autumn when conditions allow, the use of a sarel roller will be beneficial in keeping the surface open.
Brushing/switching	Daily or as required	Brushing/switching of the playing surface keeps the green clean and removes any dew or surface water. Keeping the surface dry will aid resistance to disease.
Disease	Daily	Diseases are fairly prominent at this time of the year. Keep an eye on fungal disease attack and use approved fungicides to treat infected areas. Fusarium can be very prominent at this time of the season. Good cultural practices generally reduces the likelihood of disease outbreaks. See article on diseases for further information. Pest & Diseases
Fertilising	When required	Generally, no fertiliser applications are made during the winter months, as plant growth has slowed down. However, some groundstaff may apply a dose of liquid iron to colour up and provide some strength to the grass plant during the winter months.
Litter pick	Weekly or as required	Inspect and clear away litter or debris.
Machinery	Daily/Weekly	Keep machines overhauled and clean. Arrange the servicing of your machines ready for the new season.
Materials	Monthly	Keep an eye on your material stocks, (seed, top dressing, petrol, oil )remembering to replenish as required.
Mowing	As required	With the season finished and the green closed down for the winter, mowing will only be required to maintain a winter height of cut at 10-12mm.
Perimeter fences and hedges	As required	Most bowling green facilities are enclosed by fences or hedges. December is a good time to complete any tidying up of these features. Hedges can be pruned and cut to maintain their shape and form.
Pests	As required	Increased soil moisture can often lead to an increase in worm activity. Regular brushing of the greens will help disperse their casts. However, if the infestation is large, you may need to apply some Carbendazim to control the worm populations.
Repairs	As required	Carry out any repairs to ditches, paths, gates, floodlights and other building features.
Soil tests	Ideally once or twice a year, or as required.	Soil sampling is an important part of groundmanship. The results will enable the manager to have a better understanding of the current status of his soil and turf. There are many tests that can be undertaken, but usually the main tests to consider are: Particle Size Distribution (PSD) this will give you accurate information on the soil type and it's particle make up, enabling you to match up with appropriate top dressing materials and ensuring you are able to maintain a consistent hydraulic conductivity (drainage rate) of your soil profile. Soil pH, it is important to keep the soil at a pH of 5.5-6.5, a suitable level for most grass plants. Organic matter content, it is important to keep a balanced level of organic matter content in the soil profile. Nutrient Levels. Keeping a balance of N P K nutrients within the soil profile is essential for healthy plant growth. Once you have this information you will be in a better position to plan your season's feeding and maintenance programmes.

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