Suffolk County Cricket Board

JOBS AND ADVICE

Do try to spend 7-10 days preparing your next wicket and using it for as long as is practical.  Vertigroom or rake thoroughly early in the preparation process to reduce density and trim lateral grasses and then soak evenly.  Roll out 2 days later.  This should seal the top and from then on only use the brush to raise the grass for cutting.  Final cut can be as low as 2-4mm if you have a flat even surface.  Rolling for 20 minutes twice a day, should be enough if you area able to cover efficiently at night and during rain.

Continue with your fertiliser programme especially if rain is forcast.  May is a good month to spray the outfield for weeds.  Only use approved herbicides from a BASIS qualified supplier.  It is very cost effective to add liquid fertiliser, seaweed extracts or iron to this operation.

Do check both your wicket and square mowers are on cut every time they are used.  Fold a piece of copy paper in two and carefully offer it up between the bottom blade and cylinder.  Gently spin the cylinder by hand and it should cut the paper as clean as a whistle, both ends of the blade.  If not adjust till it does otherwise you will be tearing not cutting your grass and this leads to all sorts of problems, diseases and poor presentation.  Machinery maintenance is key to good groundsmanship.  If this is not your forte, cultivate someone who is!

Repair used tracks asap.  All wickets used this month can be used again in August.  Soak thoroughly, sarel roll, overseed, fertilise and repair end with Ongar loam. 

TIM PARKER
ECB COUNTY PITCH ADVISOR