Message Board - Cricket: Seed type for end of season renovations
13 Jun 2006 by haslamm
For the last couple of years we have used Avanta MM50 seed at the end of the year on our cricket square. We have struggled to keep the poa annua grass out even at the start of the season on the cricket square.
We have a very heavy clay soil, Surrey Loam, has anyone advice out there about how we could improve our grass and keep the poa down?
14 Jun 2006 by olaf
contact your ecb county pitch adviser, he is their to give you exactly the advice you are seeking.
Some people are like Slinky's, totally useless but amusing if you push them down the stairs
14 Jun 2006 by Bewolf
Have seen RHS Wisley handpick AMG seedheads,(time consuming but thoroughly therapeutic!), which is good short term. As long term goes cut back on feed and water and encourage the finer grasses with overseeding and repair work.
14 Jun 2006 by Magnum
I use MM50 on surrey Loam and have no great problem with pa. Where it has appeared it has been down to defficiencies in my renovation process rather than the seed (eg badly worn ends often need a topup of seed, if this is done fine but if not pa may appear). Rather than change seed first ensure you have a good renovation process or you will probably get the same result.
Tony
14 Jun 2006 by Markone
Agree with Magnum.....I too use MM50 with great results on both Surrey loam and Ongar.
Ensure thorough scarification at the end of your season and overseed more generously in bare/worn areas. A few weeks after germination, identify bare areas and overseed again to obtain a thick a sward as possible so that weeds and PA don't get a chance to seed and germinate.
16 Jun 2006 by Grassman2011
Haslamm,
You do not say how much seed you apply to your square in the autumn or how you sow it.
As a guide, i apply at least 5Kg per wicket, usually more, and most of it is planted into the soil, not just broadcast onto the surface.
You will still have poa, but as a percentage of total grass cover, it should be considerably less.
16 Jun 2006 by Grassman2011
I forgot to say, do not get to carried away with whose seed you use. The quality of cultvar is very good in most major suppliers mixes. Just ensure that it is dwarf perr. rye meant for cricket squares.
17 Jun 2006 by Ben1
agree with all the above. poa is a problem for all of us. it all comes down to the renovations you do and how you do them.
getting the densest ryegrass sward is what i try to achieve. obviously the odd patch of poa manages to show its ugly head but keep on top of scarifying and renovations. the type of seed shouldnt matter, MM50 is a very good mix, ive had no problems.
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