Introduction
This involves renovating the square to help it to recover from the ravages of the season. If pitches have been gradually renovated as they come out of use, then this final task will be that much easier to complete.
Aeration
A good opening up of the square should be carried out. The type of aeration that is required will vary depending upon local conditions. Typically this will be with solid tines, however, the use of hollow-tines or deep spiking with solid tines may also be considered.
To help alleviate the intentional compaction produced during the playing season, it is important to aerate to a suitable depth. Typically this will be to 125mm or so.
Prior to aeration it is desirable to soak the square to allow for easier and improved tine penetration.
Scarification
The square should be given a thorough scarification to remove any surface thatch. This can be a cause of poor playing conditions as noted in the previous section on scarification. Scouring of the surface will also produce grooves into which grass seed will be able to settle and establish.
Overseeding
Use an appropriate grass seed mixture. This might be a blend of several perennial ryegrass cultivars as the only application or it may include chewings fescues and browntop bents for oversowing within the main body of the square.
To ensure evenness of application, spread the seed in several directions. In addition, it can sometimes be beneficial to 'drill' seed into the surface by using a seed-drill machine such as the SISIS autoseeder, or similar machine.
It is a good idea to give consideration to purchasing a good quality grass seed. Besides being provided with a good cultivar, the purity of the seed will be excellent and will contain less weed seeds than lesser quality products. A benefit of this is that there can be a reduced need to apply herbicides, save on application costs and will be more environmentally friendly.
Fertiliser application
An end of season fertiliser might typically be given towards the end of August. It would be low in nitrogen and an appropriate amount of phosphate would be included to aid seed establishment.
Top-dressing
It is important to ensure that not only is an appropriate material used with the required soil strength for the standard of pitch, but the material must also be compatible with the existing soil profile. Problems of using incompatible material and resulting layering are well documented and this results in low and uneven bounce.
It is good practice to make sure the top-dressing material is tested beforehand to confirm soil strength and compatibility. The binding strength of soil, measured using the ASSB method, can be suitably determined by a groundsman using their own basic equipment.
General figures for club level pitches are 45 kg (minimum), whilst for first class pitches this will be 55 kg (minimum).
The percentage of clay within a top-dressing for a club level pitch will be within the range 24-30%, whilst that of a first class pitch will be 28-36%.
To achieve a very evenly spread and worked in top-dressing, the use of strings at 1m spacings, stretching the length of the pitch (22m+) can be considered, although this can be more time consuming than other methods of applying top-dressing. However, if evenness of application is to be achieved then this method may be more appropriate. (6)
A typical rate of application for a top-dressing is 2 - 3 kg/m².
Marl (a calcareous clay) is occasionally included as a mixture with a heavy clay loam dressing. A typical ratio is 70% clay loam : 30% marl. To prevent layering occurring it is essential to thoroughly incorporate the top-dressing into a spiked surface, ideally to at least 100mm depth.
Marl is not nowadays used on a regular basis as it has been shown to be difficult to manage correctly and produces distinct layers within a cricket soil profile.
Attention to saddles
With the continuous application of top-dressing material onto the square, it is almost inevitable that some degree of raised saddle will develop. To help reduce this effect some groundsman ensure that they apply top-dressing to the immediate surrounds of the square at the same time of the autumn renovation programme. This can help to reduce the effects of a saddle.
Two approaches to alleviating saddles can be considered:
- Use a punch action hollow tine to remove soil and do not fill in the holes.
- Strip turf from the ends, re-level and blend in with the surrounds. Returfing as necessary.
Other renovation work
If a pitch, or pitches, isfound to be in need of more severe renovation work and other options have failed then it may need digging up and partially reconstructing. Whilst a full reconstruction to 12-14" depth may be considered too extravagant, excavating down to 150mm may be more appropriate and practical. New soil would be imported and reconsolidated in 50mm layers, with the finished level being some 25mm above the surrounding ground. This will allow for future sinkage and consolidation.
Such work would generally prevent the pitch/s from being used for a whole season.
The use of germination sheets can be of benefit, particularly on pitch ends. However, care needs to be taken as fusarium can be encouraged due to the increased humidity and temperature that typically occurs beneath a germination sheet.
Turfing of pitch ends may sometimes be carried out. If this is to be undertaken properly it is essential that the turves have been grown on soil that is compatible with that of the existing cricket square.
'Typical' renovation programme
- Mow the grass short,
- Scarify in several (3 or 4, or more) directions,
- Aerate by appropriate means - this could be anything from deep solid spiking to sarel spiking to about 40mm depth, or even hollow-tining. It is important that the square is adequately moist to allow for good tine penetration when carrying out the aeration work,
- Overseed and drill the seed into the surface,
- Top-dress: Generally this might range from 1.5 to 3 kg/m² depending upon the type of aeration work carried out.
- Trulute or screed the top-dressing in,
- Irrigate to ensure adequate germination takes place,
- Ideally all this renovation will have been carried out by the middle of September. This should still allow for adequate germination and establishment before cold soil and air temperatures become unsuitable.
Post renovation work
Following renovation, the square will still need to be maintained and this will consist of
- keeping the grass topped to around 25mm or as desired,
- regular drag-brushing,
- switching to remove dew,
- earthworm control,
- watching out for disease and controlling as necessary,
- aeration and
- maintaining the integrity of any fencing that may have been erected around the square.