February Bowls Diary 2005
February Bowls Diary
By Laurence Gale Msc
We should begin to see a bit more activity down at the bowls clubs in February. The recent mild weather will have encouraged some spurts of grass growth, you may need to get the mower out early to tidy up the greens. It will pay dividends if you can aerate with a sarrel roller to keep the surface open. Allowing good air movement around the grass plant and some regular brushing to keep the sward upright is essential to help to ward off potential disease attacks.
Depending on the weather and the surface conditions you may be able to increase the frequency of mowing operations, this not only keeps the sward tidy but will begin to firm up playing surfaces.
Soil temperatures should be steadily rising towards the end of February early March enabling the grass plant to make use of any fertilisers being applied. The grass plant's transpiration/respiration rates need to be active to initiate movement of soluble solutions from the soil into and through plants tissues. To ensure you are applying the correct amount and balance of fertilisers for your turf, it would be useful to have a soil analysis undertaken, which will give you a full nutrient analysis of your soil's requirements. Based on these results an appropriate fertiliser programme can be initiated for your facility.
Spring renovations are less than four weeks away, ensure you have ordered your topdressing and seed requirements, along with any specialist machinery you may need to hire in for the tasks ahead. Get your orders in early to avoid disappointment.
February is also a good time begin any spring cleaning programmes around the ground, painting/cleaning structures, fences and gates.
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 winter when conditions allow, the use of a sarrel roller will be beneficial in keeping the surface open. February is a good month to carry out some deeper aeration to open up the green and allow some gaseous exchange deeper down the soil profile. There are a number of pedestrian/ride on aerators designed for fine turf situations. Ideally we should be looking to get good aeration depths between 100-200 mm using a variety of aerating tines and slitters now available.
|
|
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 have been fairly prominent in recent months due to the mild wet weather. Keep an eye on fungal disease attack and use approved fungicides to treat infected areas. Fusarium has been quite prolific, with some surfaces getting severely scarred. Use appropriate fungicides to control any further outbreaks, however, with the grass beginning to grow now,it won't take long for these scars to grow out. See link on Fusarium |
|
Fertilising |
When required |
With the soil beginning to warm up and some active sporadic grass growth being seen on the greens an application of appropriate fertilisers will help stimulate and improve the colour of your turf. February is an ideal time to take soil samples for soil analysis. Test for nutrient, organic matter and soil pH levels. This will enable you to input the correct management programme for any deficiencies found in your soil profile. A liquid preparation of sulphate of ammonia (NH4SO4) can be applied in February at a rate of 0.08g/m2N to help colour up and increase plant strength. |
|
Flood lights |
As required |
It is important to have your floodlights serviced annually by a competent approved electrician or floodlight company. You will need to check for any broken or damaged lamps, remember to keep the lamps clean and adjusted. Light levels can be affected by dirt and wrong alignment. |
|
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. Do not forget to order your spring renovation materials (topdressings/seed). |
|
Mowing
|
As required |
Continue to cut the green at its winter height 10-12mm to keep the sward tidy. However, grass will be beginning to grow now, requiring more frequent cutting. |
|
Perimeter fences and hedges
|
As required |
Most bowling green facilities are enclosed by fences or hedges. You may even have some favourable weather in February when you may be able to wash/paint/refurbish structures and features around your ground. (seats, green surrounds, footpaths and fences and building structures). |
|
Pests
|
As required |
Increased soil moisture can often lead to an increase in worm activity. Regular switching 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. Some Groundsmen and Greenkeepers use brushes to remove casts but, in wet conditions, this can lead to smearing. |
|
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:
Once you have this information you will be in a better position to plan your season's feeding and maintenance programmes. |
