Message Board - Cricket: Improving Outfield
3 Feb 2010 by pacman75cricket
Any suggestions for improving our outfield on a budget.
I was planning on chain harrowing & slitting but due to weather this has not been possible.
Outfield has thus become full of wormcast, whats the best solution.
Chain harrow (spikes up) & slit when conditions allow or any other suggestions.
3 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Ive got them all over as well, suppoose most have. But wont chain harrowing just smear them?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
3 Feb 2010 by Martin Wythe Last edited 3 Feb 2010
Let the worms do their thing as long as possible they are the best aerators and soil improvers. Then as things warm up chain harrow and you may need to roll we use the square roller and run over the whole outfield at the rollers fastest speed unballasted. Then aerate.
We use carbendazym as well but this practice is likely to be banned soon. So we will all have to manage with worms(not a bad thing in my opinion.)
3 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
As above really, Slit when ground conditions allow. Harrow on a dry blowy day sometime in March when casts have a chance of drying, late in the aftrenoon, after work. Spikes down will not hurt during March, providing you dont do it everyday. Once a week will be plenty.
I do not use the roller on the outfield, my triple, mowing the grass does enough firming of the ground.
I tend to let the worms do there work all winter, brushing the outfield when conditions allow and then spray treat with carbendizum in the early spring. Stops the triple mower getting all gunged up.
3 Feb 2010 by jontaylor
We have worm-city on our outfield too.
I chain harrow on a dryish day. Smooth side down for worm cast spreading - points down (backwards) for light "scarification" - points down forwards for trying to level mole hill damage.
Yes there is a risk of smearing, but our worms are very active and build casts high and wide. I am happy to take a little smearing in return for giving the grass under the casts a chance. Since getting the harrows and our own triple 2 years ago our outfield is very clearly steadily improving. Getting the weeds sprayed last year (about £400) also helped tremendously!
I pull the harrows with my 2L Diesel Mondeo using a loop of rope between the harrows and tow bar for a little shock absorbtion - we don't have a tractor.
I don't have the time to roll the outfield - I'm with Bath, the mowers can do that. With our worms and no other sports usage of the outfield I do not airate. Drainage is not a problem on our site.
The ciderman rolls
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