Introduction
Whilst this is a period when for most people the pitch is 'out of sight, out of mind', it is a very important period for the groundsman. All the hard work that has been carried out by the renovation of the pitch will need to be maintained and not left to its own devices if a good playing surface is to be achieved for the start of the season.
Irrigation
Once newly sown seed has germinated, it is important to maintain an adequate water supply to the establishing sward. It is also important to remember that the grass roots will be mostly young and short at this time and will be gradually extending into the rootzone material. Care will need to be taken to ensure that they do not dry out, yet at the same time it is desirable to encourage the roots to extend as deeply as possible.
Mowing
This should be on a regular basis to encourage a good sward density to be produced.
Newly germinated and establishing seedlings may be loosely held in the surface layer and may benefit from an initial cut with a rotary mower rather than a cylinder mower to reduce the chance of the grass being pulled out - this may be more prevalent on high sand content pitches than on soil based ones.
The height of cut for premier and good club pitches may be in the region of 37 - 50mm. A higher height of cut will encourage greater root depth and density, especially when compared with cutting the grass at 25mm height.
Other club pitches will typically be maintaining their pitches between 50 - 75mm. Higher cut heights will also help to provide more cushioning for players and may alleviate potential problems from a hard surface early on in the season and may be particularly important on pitches that have not been constructed with a relatively high specification design.
Pitches with little or no artificial drainage will also benefit from this height of cut, helping them to retain surface coverage for longer.
As with many operations, the type of machinery used will depend upon available budgets and the standard of the pitch to be achieved. Premier rugby pitches may be cut with a pedestrian cylinder mower, whilst the majority of club pitches will most likely be cut with tractor operated gang mowers or ride-on rotary mowers.
Rolling
Some pitches, especially sand based ones, may benefit from a light rolling to maintain firm contact between newly germinated grasses and the immediate surface layer.
The rootzone should not be too dry or wet, but with a suitable amount of moisture to help firm the surface. Compacting the surface and subsurface will need to be avoided, otherwise the renovated area will produce a turf that is shallow rooted and easily worn and kicked out when play commences.
Weed Control
If a selective herbicide is to be applied to a pitch, then the grass should be in a strong, growing condition and any areas which have been renovated should not be sprayed too soon after seed germination.
Weed content standards will need to be achieved for the start of the season, so a realistic time for herbicide application is some 6-8 weeks after the renovation work has been completed.
Further Renovation
Some areas may not germinate and establish adequately, including suffering from disease attack or even some form of vandalism and will need to be either reseeded or turfed.
Some settling of top-dressing may also occur, so additional material will need to be made available to ensure an even surface is maintained throughout this period.
Fertiliser Application
A liquid nitrogen fertiliser boost can sometimes be given to aid the establishing sward during this period, but consider how it might impact on the main fertiliser programme when deciding how much nitrogen, or other nutrient/s, to apply. Such a liquid feed given during July can provide for a quick green up of the turf or maintain a suitable greenness until the next fertiliser is applied and can be used to continue to improve the density of the sward.
Just prior to the start of the season, a suitable fertiliser may be applied. The precise nutrient analysis as well as the amount applied will depend upon a number of factors, but primarily upon the type of rootzone present and the fertiliser programme which is being adhered to for the year.
See the Fertiliser section of Part 2 for a suggested yearly programme.
Disease Control
Once the grass seed has germinated and is establishing, then the likelihood of disease attack at this time of year will probably be slim for a perennial ryegrass dominated sward, although the most likely disease will be red thread.
Protecting Establishing Areas
The method, or methods, chosen will depend upon where a pitch is located - in an open parkland situation or enclosed within a stadium.
Methods could include fencing from humans or rabbits, to string or netting to deter bird damage, or even temporarily introducing a bird of prey to scare off bird pests.
Aeration
Surface aeration should continue during this period, although on pitches which have a high soil content or are without irrigation this operation may need to be suspended if the soil is too hard and unpenetrable.
Vertidraining when ground conditions are suitable can still be undertaken, however, consider using the narrower, 12-18mm diameter, tines and a shallower depth of penetration of up to 200mm.
Aeration during the summer period can help the provision of a soil environment that is well suited to aerobic bacterial activity, which can reduce the potential for black layer development.
Narrow diameter (<12mm) tines, used at a depth of 75 - 100mm, may help to provide a link with deeper tine holes produced by vertidraining and may also reduce the potential of an aeration pan developing, which would otherwise result from consistently aerating at a constant depth.
Goal Posts
A week or so before the start of the first match the pitch will be measured and marked out, ensuring all markings are clearly visible from a suitable distance and to the correct dimensions.
Post sockets will need to be either cleared out or reinstalled beforehand.
Uprights and crossbars should be in a well painted condition.