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Sports ground contractors since 1979 |
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Construction and Civil Engineering Verti-Draining, Hollow Tine & Deep Aeration Stone-Crushing Pitch Levelling -Koro Field TopMaker Case Studies |
POLO PITCH MANAGEMENT Spring MaintenanceThe following article was written by Mike Herring, our contracts manager for the March 2005 edition of the Polo Times. Maintenance of the polo pitch throughout the months of March and April, in the build-up to the start of the season, consists of adopting a reasonably straightforward maintenance regime. The result will, however, heavily depend on an intensive and successful end of season renovation programme having been undertaken in the September/October of the previous year. To initially produce a good quality pitch and then maintain it at that standard is an ongoing process, not merely a matter of a frantic burst of activity in the spring, followed an intensive mowing regime throughout the growing period.
Be prepared! Any works to be undertaken by a contractor, for example verti-draining, sand spreading or fertilizer application, should be booked early in February to ensure the preferred dates are procured.
By the end of February, all materials should have been ordered and suppliers provided with a definite delivery date. Materials required include a balanced NPK granular fertilizer, for example a 12.6.6 formulation, 70 sand: 30 soil mixture for filling in divots and sufficient grass seed to ameliorate with the divot mixture. It may be cost effective to purchase fertilizer and grass seed from a contractor, who can often purchase competitively from suppliers when buying in bulk and can then pass a percentage of his saving onto prospective clients.
Ensure that the mowing equipment and tractor have been fully serviced/repaired and that all other attachments such as the fertilizer broadcaster, harrows and spiker are in good repair.
Select a day in March when the sward it dry and ground conditions are sufficiently firm to permit the tractor to “travel” without undue marking of the surface. Make one or two passes with the chain harrows, flat side down, to spread and break up any worm casts that have appeared on the surface and generally lightly groom the sward.
Again, selecting suitable conditions, undertake the initial mowing, working to the trusted rule of thumb of not removing more than one third of the total growth on one single occasion. In the first instance, the mowing height should be in the region of 40 – 50mm.
If a regular mowing regime is undertaken using adequate equipment and selecting windows of opportunity when the sward is dry and ground conditions are firm, clippings would normally be evenly dispersed and would not require the laborious, time consuming task of being collected by mechanical means, i.e. brushing or vacuuming. Large amounts of clippings on the surface are both unsightly and can restrict the growth of the sward beneath, if allowed to remain for any length of time.
An application of a balanced NPK amenity fertilizer should be made at a rate of 35g/m² to promote both top growth and root development. The timing of the application should be made when rainfall is expected within forty-eight hours.
Deep aeration in the form of verti-draining with a 25mm diameter solid tine should have been undertaken in September/October the previous year, further to the completion of the season. This action relieves compaction, improves drainage characteristics and promotes root development. Sand application, over-seeding and fertilizer application should also have been undertaken during this period. If verti-draining was undertaken in the autumn, spiking with a solid tine would be sufficient in spring. Verti-draining should be considered, if not previously undertaken.
Assuming that an allowance has been made for this item in the budget, sand should be applied in conjunction with aeration, at a rate of 200-250 tons per pitch. Further to spreading, the sand should be worked into the surface and aeration holes by means of harrowing or brushing. The presence of sand in the rootzone will assist drainage and help to provide a cushioning effect throughout the playing season. Use a good quality sand for this purpose, for example a Kingsley No. 1 washed. Ensure that the price quoted by the supplier includes the £1.60 levy per ton that now applies to all sand purchases.
In the weeks leading up to the first play, gradually reduce the height of cut to around 25mm, mowing when the sward is dry whenever possible. Bear in mind the one third of growth rule at all times. It is far preferable to cut little and often rather than permit the sward to grow long and weak and then cut low in one pass.
Set out the boards and goals, which should have been treated prior to storage for the water.
Make a final cut the day before first use, ensuring as ever that the “bays” or breeds” are cut as accurately as possible. Presentation is of paramount importance in impressing players and spectators alike.
The season is now underway and further to a busy summer, the end of season renovation programme in September is only some five months away! Article contributed by Mike Herring – Contracts Manager for CH Grounds Maintenance Ltd. www.polotimes.co.uk
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Christmas Trees - we assist Christmas Tree Farm, Chesham in the growing, harvest, presentation and transport of their Christmas trees. |
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