Suffolk County Cricket Board

The season has settled into its usual pattern – we have just had 10 days of continuous cricket at Woolpit either full league programme at weekends or junior, 20/20 mid week or outside lets and county games during the week most days or evenings and this doesn’t include various net sessions for both club and county every midweek evening.  I only seem to be able to do my work at 6 in the morning or 9 at night which on top of never ending demand for pitches at RHS makes for an interesting period. Thank God Public Schools break- up at the end of the month and I can go on cruise control for a couple of weeks before the massive Minor Counties Festivals hit the fan here.

Pitches have been generally dry and repaired ends have required continuous watering to get the seed to germinate.Sarel roll spiking of  used pitches is essential as part of the repairs.

The recent wetter weather has been an ideal moment to top up fertiliser levels to keep the presentation and disease potential in control.
An overall roll of the whole square is always a good idea after a rain to continue consolidation. I always tend to do this going forward and turn  on the outfield in order to keep the whole table flat.

Certain weeds, especially yellow suckling clover, are very prominent in outfields due to the dry weather, if funds allow spray asap under advice from a BASIS registered adviser.
Some of the weed grasses in the squares are growing sideways at present and it is essential to control this by either verticutting or careful scarification. Do not disturb the pitch surface if possible and if in doubt water afterwards and roll out whilst slightly damp to return a sealed top.

Wicket mowers take a hammering in dry conditions so do keep them sharp by backlapping or a relief grind mid season. Any local golf club or dealer can do this.
Start planning your Autumn renovation. Most of you do not scarify vigorously enough or put enough seed, fertiliser and loam down. If you can see any soil in the pitches not yet used your sward is not thick enough. Aim to put this right for next season as priority. Budget now. For an 8 wicket square you will need atleast 80 bags of loam, 2 x 25kg bags of top quality ryegrass seed and 4 bags of autumn fertiliser plus the use of a scarifier, fertiliser and soil spreaders, large lute or dragmat or pullable straight edge of some sort and later in the year the use of a cam action spiker with both 3/8 and pencil tines which go in 3-5 inches.

The County Grounds Association has a trailer full of all the equipment you need for hire at a very discounted rate. See Suffolk Cricket Board Grounds Association Equipment Hire section of the website.