January Cricket Diary 2005

Happy new year to you all. With all the variable weather we have been having during the festive season it is important to keep an eye out for disease. Diseases have been quite prevalent in recent weeks. It is important to keep surface dew off grass surfaces. Allowing the sward to dry out quickly helps prevent disease attacks. The use of switching canes and brushes can be used to remove these dew deposits.

On your return after the holidays you are likely to find you may have accumulated some surface debris (leaves, litter etc.) on the square. It is important to clear it up. Also, the occasional brushing of the green will help the sward stand upright allowing good air movement around the grass plant.

January is a good time to carry out repairs and maintenance to cricket screens and other structures around the ground. You may get some favourable weather for painting and repairing these structures.

January is a also good time, whilst it is quiet, to plan and get yourself organised. What are your targets for this year? What do you want to achieve? Have you organised your spring renovation works? Have you ordered materials and machinery for the forthcoming season?

January Maintenance Tasks for Cricket

Natural Grass

Task

Frequency

Reason

Aeration

As required

Use of a sarrel roller on the cricket square during the winter months is useful for keeping the surface open and free draining.

The outfield can be aerated using solid or slit tines when conditions allow.

Covers

Not required

All covers and portable covers to be inspected for damage/wear and tear. Organise appropriate repairs or replacement.

Diseases (square and outfield)

Daily/Weekly

Turf disease can become quite prevalent when soil moisture levels increase, coupled with the presence of early morning dews. The combination of moist soils and surface moisture on the leaf blade can increase the susceptibility of disease attack.

Regular brushing in the mornings to remove the dew off the playing surfaces will reduce the likelihood of disease outbreak. Many turf grass diseases can be active at this time of the year.

Systemic curative and protective fungicides can be used to control diseases, there are a wide range of products on the market that have the active ingredients chlorothalonil and iprodione. These fungicides are usually applied in liquid form using water as a carrier.

• Fusonil Turf by RigbyTaylor

• Daconil Turf by Scotts

• Rovral Green by Bayer

Drainage

Weekly

Inspect drainage outfalls, channels and ditches. Ensure that they are working. Winter months are a good time for carrying out ditch clearing operations, blocked ditches may affect the performance of playing field drainage systems.

Fencing off the cricket square

During winter months

Many Groundsmen fence off the cricket square at the end of the season to protect it from pests (football players, rabbits, deer, foxes), vehicles and vandals.

Harrowing/raking (outfield)

When conditions allow

Harrowing/raking helps restore levels and keep surfaces open.

Inspect cricket structures

As required

Check and repair fences, scoreboards, covers and sightscreens. All structures should be stored away for the winter.

With very little activity seen on the ground during January, winter works can be dedicated to repairing and painting site screens, fences, practice net structures.

Litter/debris

Daily/Weekly

Wind blown debris needs to be cleared from playing surfaces. Inspect and remove debris from the playing surface - litter, twigs and leaves.

Machinery (Repairs & Maintenance)

Daily/Weekly

Ongoing inspection and cleaning of machinery after use. It is a good time to check up on the repairs of any machinery that has been sent away for repair or servicing.

Materials

As required

Keep a good supply of materials such as loam and seed at hand for repairs and maintenance.

January is an ideal time to contact sales reps and find out what products are available for spring renovations. Never leave it late to order materials.

Mowing

As required

Do not neglect your square, it may be necessary to mow the square during the winter.

Mowing frequencies during the winter months are dependant on the need and condition of the facility. It is important to maintain a constant height of cut on both the square and outfield. The outfield should now be maintained at between 25-35mm. The square should be maintained between 12-20mm.

Outfield

Remember not to neglect the outfield; it too has a major effect on a game if unattended. The outfield should be treated the same as any other natural grass pitch (aeration and mowing).

Some cricket outfields are often maintained as winter pitches, however the amount of work carried out may be determined by whether the outfield is being used for other sports (football/rugby).

Pest control

As required

Worm activity can be quite prevalent during the winter months especially during periods of mild weather. Keep an eye on the square and treat accordingly. 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 now the only active ingredient available for controlling worms.

Project Planning

On going

The winter months enable you some time to evaluate how well this year's maintenance regime has gone, which in turn will help you plan the works for next season. You may need to seek quotations for machinery and materials. Be prepared for next season. It is important to keep records and diaries of the activities carried out, and how well the facility has performed. The advent of the digital camera is a great tool for recording information.

Rolling

Pre season

Pre season rolling - ensure it is carried out early, try to start towards the end of January early February, with a very light roller ( 24" mower), gradually increase the weight until you are using your heaviest roller in late March.

Soil tests

Ideally once or twice a year, or as required.

Soil sampling is an important part of grounds maintenance. 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) 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 next season's feeding and maintenance programmes.

Artificial wicket and net Facilities

Artificial Grass Systems

Surface treatments

Keep surface clean, regular sweeping and brushing. Remove any algae and moss from surface.

Sand filled systems require regular brushing to maintain manufacturer's recommendations for sand levels and pile heights.

Net facilities

post -season

Repair damaged structures and netting, order new if required. Strim and mow around structures.

All net and practice structures can be repaired and stored away for the winter.