December Tennis Diary 2010

The current spell of wintery weather will have certainly curtailed the opportunity to get on to your courts to carry out any maintenance work. All outdoor courts, both grass and artificial, will be affected by the recent snowfalls and below freezing conditions.

Many parts of the country have received in excess of 25mm of snow, and many sand filled carpet surfaces will be frozen. It is a case of keeping off them until the snow and ice melts.

If you are lucky enough to have missed the deluge of snow, and you are able to get on your courts, it will be a case of getting on and keeping the surfaces free of debris and carrying out some routine work.

With your end of season renovations successfully completed you will, hopefully, be going into the winter period with some new growth on the courts.

The mowing height on the courts should be raised and maintained at a winter height of between 12-18mm.

Mowing frequency will be dependent on a number of factors - grass growth, sward type, level or standard of facility, resources (staff and machinery) but, generally, it may only need mowing on a fortnightly/monthly basis to keep tidy during these cold, dark months.

Useful Information for Mowing

Articles		Products
	Facts about mowing		Mowers

The winter months are ideal for getting any odd jobs or repairs completed - repairing and painting structures around the club, fences, signs and furniture. It's also usually a good time to send your machinery away for repairs and servicing.

Soil and air temperatures are now dropping, early morning frosts are appearing on grass surfaces, it's important not to walk / traffic across frozen ground, as this will lead to turf damage.

Depending on ground conditions, some clubs may be able to complete drainage or reconstruction works during the winter months, existing drainage systems can be overhauled and cleaned out, or additional drainage systems may be added.

Useful Information for Winter Works

Articles		Products
	Machinery Maintenance		Tools

Keep an eye on fungal disease attack, and use approved fungicides to treat infected areas. The recent mild and wet weather will certainly have provided the ideal climatic conditions for diseases.

Regular brushing or switching off the dew in the mornings will reduce the chance of fungal attack.

Worm treatments can be carried out if needed, but please remember to ask yourself why worms are present. Ph level, organic matter and your cultural practices on the square need to be assessed. Carbendazim is the only permitted/approved active ingredient available left to control worms. Comply to all safety data sheets when using this pesticide product.

Useful Information for Pest & Disease

Articles		Products
	Red Thread Disease		Disease Controls

Inspect and clean machinery after use; service and repair damaged machinery.

Remember to protect your sprayer's spray lines, pump and pressure regulator by leaving anti-freeze in it during cold weather over winter. This saves split junctions and writing off pump or pressure regulator housings, and nozzle holders damaged by expanding ice. Check that your vehicle cooling systems are up to strength too.

Maintain material stocks and order any other consumables required.

Useful Information for Machinery/ Materials

Articles		Products
	Blade sharpening with Bernhard's		Materials

Soil tests - Ideally, once or twice a year, or as required.

Soil sampling is an important part of Groundsmanship. 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.

Useful Information for Soil testing

Articles		Products
	Soil Sampling		Top dressings