March 2022 Pitch Diaries
As you are reading this in early March, hopefully the horrendous rainfall we experienced from the last couple of weeks in February are now a distant memory. Up to that point, the winter had been fairly kind, with mild temperatures, conducive for small amounts of growth and recovery and the rainfall hadn't been too significant, which meant that most sites were reasonably dry, given the time of year. Well, what we didn't get over December and January, certainly came in February, with what has felt like storm after storm.
Carlisle Cricket Club recently flooded outfield
The recent wet weather has meant that many have had to delay significant maintenance work they may have had planned. There were some who took advantage of the favourable weather very early season and managed to get activities finished before the bad weather hit. Everyone else will have to wait until surfaces become suitable to get back onto the land to carry out the required maintenance. Patience is key here, as going early when conditions are not right can do more harm than good.
Looking ahead to March, more settled weather has been forecast. Typically for the time of year, there is still some rainfall to be expected, but as the month progresses temperatures look set to gradually increase, with night-time lows breaking away from just above freezing to a consistent 5/6 °C. We are already seeing the increase in daylight hours, which is only going to have a positive effect on turf growth as they continue to get longer.
In this month's diaries we focus on how an application of carefully selected fertilisers will help the recovery of maintenance work carried out ahead of the summer season. We look in-depth at how nitrate and ammonium are both readily available nitrogen sources which will stimulate growth and recovery.
Don't forget, you can also use our Pitchcare Forum, where members can ask for and offer advice on the whole range of sports turf surfaces issues.