Bowling Greens
- Regular out-of-season work will be undertaken from now on for the autumn/winter period. Drag brush daily, or as ground/climatic conditions allow to maintain a dry surface with upright grasses. The height of cut will typically be 10-12mm, so just keep the grass topped if required.
- Earthworm activity, as well as any sign of leatherjacket presence, will need to be treated.
Mild, humid autumnal weather will be ideal conditions for a Fusarium attack- so keep a close eye on the situation.- Aeration, probably with slit/chisel tines from now. Should not be neglected.
- Keep leaves of the green by removing them on a regular basis.
Tennis Courts
- Leaves will continue to be a problem so does not ignore them and brush or rake them up on a regular basis. Moss may also be a problem on some courts. If this is severe then consider controlling moss using chemical application.
- Earthworm activity might be high, with surface casts smothering some of the sward. Regular switching and drag brushing will be needed.
- Disease potential can be high during November, so watch out for initial signs of attack. Do not neglect mowing keep grass topped.
- Aerate if ground conditions permit.
Cricket Square
- Carry out regular observations of the surface to check that grass heath is good.
- Regular drag brushing will help disperse worm casts and keep the grass upright. Top the square at 18=25mm height of cut if ground/climatic conditions and growth allow.
- If any material in topdressed tine holes has sunk, carry out additional topdressing, although be careful not to apply too much.
- Maintain any perimeter fencing.
Cricket Outfield
- Aerate if ground conditions are suitable. Continue to be vigilant for pest/disease outbreaks. Repair areas as required if outfield is used for winter sports. Make sure the markings are clear and accurate, check goal post integrity/safety before each fixture.
Football
- Aerate the pitch when the ground conditions are suitable. Topping may still be required, although try and keep it as high as possible to allow for maximum amount of coverage going into the winter.
- Divot as often as possible to help maintain an even surface.
- Sanding of high wear areas may be required; ensure hand forking takes place beforehand.
Golf Course
- Consider mowing the greens with hand mowers from now on. This will reduce wear on the green from heavy ride-ons as well as travelling between greens. In addition, ride-on mowers can be prepared for their end-of-season service.
- Continue devoting fairways. Aerate greens with slit tines. Remove leaves from greens, tees and parts of the fairway. Consider starting any tee extensions or bunker renovations. Tees that are taken out of service for the winter period should have been completely renovated by now: finish off with any turfing as necessary.
Rugby Union
- Continue with aeration wherever possible. Occasional topping of the grass may still be required, especially in the south of the country. Replace divots on higheer4 quality pitches, while chain harrowing on basic quality pitches will remove divots from pitch for collection at the pitch edge.
