Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

“Incorrect end-ofseason
maintenance is
not only a waste of
time, resource and
finance but, ultimately,
may lead to major
problems in the future”
Chris Westwood, ECB Pitch Advisor for Hampshire
clubs for bulk purchase may
also have financial benefits.
Autumn is a busy time for
specialist contractors and it is,
therefore, vital to book them
well in advance to avoid
delays and minimise the
affect of our climate.
Ensure that the contractor
is aware of your requirements
by providing a specification
of the work to be completed.
Particular attention should be
paid to the depth of
scarification, and ensure that
the contractor can (and will)
meet your requirements.
Some contractors apply the
topdressing, and use a drag
mat for spreading it. Whilst
this provides a good finish,
the drag mat follows the
existing conditions and,
therefore, the use of a lute is
highly recommended.
Many clubs rely on their
own members and volunteer
groundsmen to complete the
end-of-season maintenance,
and it is important that the
machinery is ready for use
and the work is completed
correctly - this is where advice
and attendance at
appropriate courses prove
advantageous.
Incorrect end-of-season
maintenance is not only a
waste of time, resource and
finance but, ultimately, may
lead to major problems in the
future.
Weather conditions at the
end of the cricket season are
variable. Therefore, work
should commence as soon as
the playing season has
finished. This is vitally
important to ensure that the
new seed has sufficient time
to germinate and the
topdressing to key into the
surface.
Aftercare is also important
throughout the autumn and
winter months, prior to the
commencement of the
spring/summer preparation
programme.
The square should be
brushed or swished on a
regular basis, the grass cut
when conditions allow, and
maintained at a height of
20/25mm until the spring.
As a guide, the end of
season, autumn maintenance
will include the following
elements:
• Repairs to the ends and
other worn areas
• Thorough scarification to
remove the build up of
thatch at the surface
• Overseeding with a good
quality seed mix to
improve the sward
• The application of an
appropriate fertiliser to
replace lost nutrients
• The application of an
appropriate fungicide to
control disease
• Topdressing with a good
quality cricket wicket
dressing, compatible with
the existing soil, worked
into the surface using a
lute
• Aeration to relieve
compaction, improve root
development and transfer
the moisture and nutrients
down into the soil base. In
addition. the regular use
of a sarrel spiker over the
entire square will prove
beneficial in allowing
surface water to penetrate
more quickly into the
surface
• Regularly brush or swish
the square to remove the
dew
• Cut the grass, with a
suitable sharp mower,
when required to maintain
an even height to the
sward of 20/25mm
The above list should be
regarded as a guide only. The
full extent of operations will
depend on the individual
requirements of the particular
facility being maintained.
The SISIS Rotorake 602
is a superb scarifier/linear aerator for regular routine use.The
Rotorake 602 can be set up with an integral seeder attached
so that it can be used for over seeding worn areas of turf
Range of interchangeable Reels
Thatch Removal Reel
Rolaspike Reel
Faze Mo Reel
Brush Reel
Synthetic Brush Reel
SISIS offer a range of pedestrian and tractor mounted
scarifiers and a wide range of machinery for most aspects of
turf and synthetic maintenance. Send for an illustrated leaflet
SISIS EQUIPMENT (Macclesfield) LTD.,
Hurdsfield, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2LZ
Tel: 01625 503030 Fax: 01625 427426 E-mail: info@sisis.com
www.sisis.com