Winter finally arrives...well, sort of

I say 'sort of' as here in Essex we had our first proper frosts last week but I’m writing this today with the temperature back up to 12C, very windy and rain falling so the grass growth might not slow down as much as I had hoped.

Ground conditions are currently a bit too wet to work on the squares so I’ll be looking to trim them and then feed and give them a spray for worm next week. I’ll use my rotary mower to trim them down to about 20mm and give them a 5-5-10+6Fe Autumn/Winter feed to keep the sward healthy.

I’ll be using my Team Scout sprayer to treat the squares with Caste Off Carbendazim which will hopefully see them through until February time. Please remember grandfather rights have now expired so anyone applying pesticides etc must have at least PA1/6 as a minimum to use a knapsack or pedestrian sprayer and please ensure you wear the necessary PPE protective clothing.

I’ll also be keeping an eye out for any disease that might appear during persistently mild and damp conditions. The typical disease that might appear is Fusarium and usually looks like this:

If the white spores start to appear then check the whole square to see if it’s an isolated patch or if you have a few all over it. If a harsh frost is forecast within a couple of days along with good period of sunlight and wind then then that can do the trick for you and zap the disease before it gets hold.

If in doubt it’s best to treat it as soon as you can with the appropriate product to prevent it spreading and killing the grass in that area. Please take care to avoid standing on the infected area or cutting or brushing it as the spores can be transported to other areas and spread the disease. If fusarium does result in killing a few patches of grass then these can soon be overseeded to fill them back in well before the playing season commences.

If you’re able to, regular brushing of the square keep the grass leaf upright and allows air to flow easier through the top and helps to prevent disease from forming.

Have you had your machinery serviced yet? I collected mine last week and they are now all stored in the warm and dry until the New Year.

Have you stored your flat sheet covers or had your roll on cover canvasses taken away for storage/repair?

Have your sightscreens been moved to a sheltered positition on the ground to prevent any high winds from blowing them over?

Have you had your aeration done yet? The square especially but the outfield too where necassary to prevent waterlogging. Two outfields at one ground I work at were verti drained this March and it has made a huge difference to both the drainage and also the grass quality.

So still lots to consider and get done before the Christmas period descends upon us. January is usually too wet to get much done on the ground so getting all these jobs done now frees up January to get some pitch use planning done with fixtures starting to be announced.

There’s always plenty to do so enjoy December as the new season will soon be here!

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