End of Season Maintenance (Renovation)

Why carry out End of Season Maintenance (renovate)?

Post season cricket square renovation, undertaken in a correct and careful manner, forms the foundation for quality pitches throughout the following season. Renovations on a cricket square usually have the following main aims:

1. Remove excess organic matter that may otherwise form a thatch layer (see below)
2. Restore surface levels that may have become uneven during the passage of play.
3. Repair or improve grass cover.

There may be other aims for renovations, depending on the cricket square in question, but all end of season cricket square maintenance should focus on the above three aims.

If a renovation is not carried out, then this is likely to result in more cost outlay in the future years to repair the damage created by not renovating the square.

Thatch

• All pitches used or not, should still be  renovated at the end of the season. The grass on unused pitches can grow strongly and produce waste plant material on the surface, if not removed this leaf-litter accumulates and packs down over time to form a mat of organic material known as ‘Thatch’. If this is allowed to happen, then it will produce a sponge-like layer on the surface of the square for the following playing season, with the potential of creating a surface which has inconsistent bounce, limited pace and carry. This organic material must therefore be removed from the square at the end of every season no matter whether or not the pitches have not been used. This grass and thatch removal is important to prevent the organic matter becoming integrated into the soil over the winter months. If this is allowed to happen, then it will produce a sponge-like layer on the surface of the square for the following playing season, with the potential of creating a surface which has inconsistent bounce, limited pace and carry.
• Over-time thatch will become fully integrated as fibrous organic matter into the soil, making the preparation of quality pitches difficult. Thatch is controlled to a large extent by regular pitch preparation and players running over the square in spikes, but all grass produces leaf litter (senescence) and so a renovation will still be required.
• Roots accumulate near the surface. Due to the compacted nature of cricket soils, the bulk of the roots tend to accumulate near the surface. These roots die off over time and if not controlled contribute to the formation of thatch and fibre in the upper soil level.
• It is false economy not to carry out an end of season renovation.  Whilst funds may be limited, allowing thatch build up without renovation at the end of the season can create problems for the future which will require significantly greater expense to correct, and in the meantime the playing quality of the pitches will diminish. 

Surface levels

• Good ball bounce relies on good surface levels.

If surface levels are poor then the ball may bounce in an unpredictable way.

• Thatch removal requires thorough scarification (see below).

Scarification may disturb surface levels, so it is usually necessary to restore this via the application of cricket loam, known as topdressing, although the amount of loam needed to ‘top up’ scarification lines is relatively small.

• The passage of play disrupts surface levels.

Wear and damage to surface levels from the passage of play needs to be repaired via the application of suitable topdressing.

• Topdressing improves seed-soil contact.

Spreading seed on the surface limits the opportunity for it to grow since it will dry out too rapidly and birds will eat most of it in any case. Covering any seed with  a thin layer of topdressing, being careful not to bury the grass below, will greatly increase the chances of seed establishment.

Repair and improve grass cover.

• Preparing and then using a pitch usually results is a loss of grass cover.

Repairing damage from use must be done via the application of seed (usually 100% dwarf perennial ryegrass suitable for use on summer sports).

• Scarification, if done thoroughly, will also result in a reduction in grass cover.

Scarification also removes old, shallow rooted, or weak grass plants, so applying seed after scarification and brushing it into the scarification lines will repair this and provide good soil-seed contact.

Scarification will prune and disrupt old or overly large grass plants.

• Applying seed during end of season renovations allows for grass-species improvement.

Improving the percentage of desirable grass species on the cricket square will help to provide a better surface on which to play cricket. A dense grass sward will also help to reduce the opportunity for weeds to establish.

The following guidance shows how to do good quality, cost effective renovation:

When to carry out End of Season Maintenance?

Significant renovation should only take place once the playing season has been completed and no further games are to be played.  Work can then be carried out to ensure the square is prepared for the following season.

• To start renovations, you need to make sure that ground conditions are suitable.
  • Initially dry near the surface to aid effective scarification (if done in the wet then this can cause a mess that is difficult to clean up and the effectiveness of thatch removal will be reduced).
  • Grass shaved short to allow effective scarification (ideally less than 5mm, or as short as possible. The aim is to remove as much leaf as possible to reduce the risk of organic matter being buried by topdressing).
  • New seed will need soil moisture to germinate so if it is not raining, then irrigation must be available until the new plant has established.
• The ideal time to carry out the renovation is normally September.
  • The ground temperature has been warmed up, which will help speedy germination but is now cooling down, reducing the likelihood of moisture evaporating too quickly and the young grass plant dying in hot weather.
  • Air temperature is also cooling down with moisture (Dew) being present most mornings.
  • Rain showers are more likely as we start to go into Autumn, irrigation may still be required, but there is a greater chance that irrigation will happen through rainfall.

What End of Season Maintenance should take place?

A suggested minimum renovation programme to ensure the long-term health and consistent playability of your square is:

• Scarify all pitches on the square to remove thatch and collect and dispose of arisings, carry out a bare minimum of two passes, and ideally more (working below any thatch layer, with at least one pass at a minimum of 5 mm depth to help remove root debris and provide a good seedbed). Scarification should look quite brutal if done thoroughly. Aim to scarify at acute angles and never at right angles to previous passes, as this may pull out chunks of soil.
• You might need to consider additional scarification and overseeding to help increase the quantity of desirable perennial ryegrass in areas of higher thatch or annual meadow grass (Poa annua) content.
• Oversow with a fine leaved dwarf perennial rye grass blend suitable for  summer sports and brush it into the scarifying lines, if possible Depending on the amount of grass cover on the square, seed should usually be applied at a rate of between 35 and 70g/m2.
• Apply a pre seeding or autumn winter fertiliser. This is best done on a cricket square at the renovation stage, since it may be too wet and sticky to get on for some time after the grass begins to germinate.
• Apply a light dressing of your normal cricket loam (the loam used to construct the pitches) to repair and level worn ends and help germinate the seed (normal recommendations are around 160kg per pitch), reducing this by 40% across the square could be acceptable to fit with limited budgets. Applying much more than this increases the risk of burying organic matter, creating problems for the future.
• Topdressing will need to be worked in via brushing, luting or drag matting. The aim is to achieve a smooth and even finish where any grass leaves are standing proud of the soil. Worn ends should be levelled and firmed up before topdressing the whole square.
• If it is a very dry autumn, irrigate to germinate / sustain germination.  Be careful not to damage soil levels by over irrigating or by dragging hoses across the square, or by causing footprints.  If in doubt – wait for it to rain.  If this is a frequent occurrence, consider installing automatic pop=up sprinklers around the square.
• Once grass has germinated and reached at least two true leaves (i.e., not seed leaves), and in the right soil conditions (no footprints and no sinking mowers) then look to lightly ‘top off’ the grass with a sharp rotary mower fitted with a rear roller, reducing the mowing height gradually to the desired mowing height through frequent cutting until growth rates reduce in colder winter months 
• Look to apply an Autumn/winter fertiliser after the first cut to help establish the sward before the winter.

It is not essential but it can help to lay germination sheets or horticultural fleece across the square to help with germination but make sure the sheets are secured to the ground securely because sheets blowing across the square in the wind can cause significant damage which will need to be repaired.  If in doubt don’t cover.  Always make sure you are able to remove the sheeting once the grass has germinated and is starting to grow over under the cover.  The grass will need to harden before winter and keeping it under sheets for too long will encourage disease (damping off) and die-back of the grass.

All fertiliser should be applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and in accordance with COSSHH regulations. Click here

Employing Contractors, Carrying out End of Season Maintenance

When employing contractors to carry out the end of season maintenance, it is important that the work is carried out in accordance with what the square requires and not just an ‘off the shelf’ package. All squares are different and require different and sympathetic management, so ensure that the work carried out is in-line with what is required on a yearly basis for your square.  Make sure that when you appoint the contractor you have:

• A clear description of the works to be carried out (the number of passes with the scarifier, the specification, type and quantity of seed, fertiliser, and loam topdressing.
• A work programme (detailing the amount/number of operations outlined above, the products to be used and all quantities)
• Quality to be attained (standard to be attained)
• A projected start/end date (discuss options if delays happen)

Benefits

• Prevents thatch accumulation over time.
• Restores levels.
• Improves grass cover and reduces weed grasses such as annual meadow grass (Poa annua) which can wear easily and grow horizontally affecting pitch quality
• A good quality renovation is the foundation for preparing good consistent playing surfaces for the following season
• Clean top profile assisting grass density and growth.
• Can assist in producing more games across the square.
• Can reduce workload in the pre-season.

Practical Tips

• Buying in bulk (1-tonne bags) can reduce costs but carry out a manual handling assessment and make sure that you can cover the bags to keep the loam dry.
• If you are doing this yourselves, organise a group of volunteers to assist with tasks
• If you are using a contractor, make sure the work is specified properly and carried out to that specification.
• Ensure any equipment is hired in for when required and in good working order, all materials needed are ordered and delivered on time.
• Section off the square when renovated reducing foot traffic. The use of netting can help to keep footballs, humans, dogs, and other animals off the square – footprints can be very difficult to remove.
• Carry out winter maintenance, this will assist in establishing a thicker grass cover.