Message Board - Natural Turf: Ground Temperature
9 Feb 2010 by Minormorris64
Measured our ground temperature at lunchtime down to 3 inches and was the rather warm 
2.7c compared to 2 weeks ago when it was 5.4c.
So no growth with us for a while yet.
What goes around, comes around
9 Feb 2010 by mario
Haven't done mine so far this year but should be interesting to compare the different parts of the country.
Will measure tomorrow.
I know no boundaries.
9 Feb 2010 by has 2 mow
soil temp today was 0.9 east midlands.
9 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
Nine o'clock Monday morning mine was 4.7c.
A ground ten miles away was 5.2c at ten o'clock Sunday morning.
10 Feb 2010 by mario
Aberdeen -
Temperature taken in the rootzone at a 4" (100 mm) depth was 2.7 degrees Centigrade.
I know no boundaries.
10 Feb 2010 by Minormorris64
Snap, Kenny
And the prize is ?
What goes around, comes around
10 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
To stay in doors a few days longer at least !!
10 Feb 2010 by mario
Don't cut, don't fertilise, do maintain machinery, do watch daytime tv!!
I know no boundaries.
10 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
Especially loose wimen !! Its great being home !!
10 Feb 2010 by Minormorris64
C'mon now bath get the spelling right its 'wimmin'
What goes around, comes around
10 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
I was excited boy!!
11 Feb 2010 by villager
In the south greencast informs me that the soil temperature is 2 yet the ground temperature is -3. Talk me through it lads?
11 Feb 2010 by Martin Wythe
soil temperature is measured at a depth of 250mm rather than at the surface. The deeper you dig the more constant the soil temp.
11 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
My temps were taken in the top 75mm.
11 Feb 2010 by has 2 mow
It would also be interesting to see what devices you are all using , mine is fairly cheap (is it accurate )and has a probe 6 inches long but it will be handy to see at what temps my turf kicks in at for future referance .
11 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
Mine was sold to me by Pitchcare.
11 Feb 2010 by mario
......and mine!
I know no boundaries.
11 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
Does that make it accurate ?
12 Feb 2010 by Minormorris64
And mine, I think it appears to be fairly consistent.
What goes around, comes around
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Thinking of getting one , £22 not bad. But is it worth having one? what are the advantages of haviing one to use?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by Eddy21 Last edited 12 Feb 2010
Hi Barry
Great question and personally I think they are a great management tool and valuable statistical information could be gained for your site allowing you to make links and draw your own conclusions in certain environmental conditions.
I also think you are eliminating a certain element of guess work that is linked with the job we do.
You could gain plenty of information by regular testing and the things that could be temperature tested are as follows:
Rootzone and thatch temperatures.
Testing for overseeding/ interseeding ideal temperatures.
Testing for effective herbicide application temperatures.
Linking soil temperatures with disease attack or pest invasion.
Testing hot or dry spots that may appear from time to time.
I'm sure others could add to this list but that should show you what kind of information we are looking for with such a tool. It is then up to ourselves to correlate the information and make our own conclusions for altering our management practises accordingly regarding soil temperatures.
With any information we do gain through testing I would always say write it down on a daily basis whether that be in a note pad or on an Excell spreadsheet. The information you gain could be beneficial in the long run and aid in problem solving and future solution finding.
Hope this is of some interest
DE
Learning is there for every man
12 Feb 2010 by jlawrence
Martin: why on earth would we want to measure temperature at 250mm ? I don't know about the others, but my grass don't grow at that depth.
My thermometer is an older style that PC sold a few years back.
I find it useful to be able to say ground is at xyz degrees so no get stuffed I ain't touching it.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Thanks Eddy
For 22 quid its worth a go then. One other thing, I know the grass doesnt grow unless the soil temp is above say about 7/8 degrees but how about fertiliser? Ive tended not to put winter fertiliser on if the ambient temp is below 7 degrees on the day and for a day or so after application. Or will fertiliser be active at a colder temp than seed? I mean in the winters we have had recently, I was wondering about putting another bag on round about now. I have put one bag on in late October and put another one on in late december before the really cold stuff hit. I know grass is hardy stuff but have noticed a bit n=more of what I think is red thread after the snow. So I was wondering about puttiing on another bag of winter fert but is it getting too close to Spring? Perhaps I shouldjust do what i normally do and waiit till early Spring and put some spring/summer fert on. I normally put on a small 10kg bag of growmore (7-7-7) in March
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by jlawrence
Barry, if you think the grass needs a feed then give it one.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Thing is Jon, Im not sure. Currently, Ive only got 10kg of growmore and no wwinter fert left. I could get another bag of winter fert in a few days time but its still so cold, i dont know if it would do annyting
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by Martin Wythe Last edited 19 Feb 2010
The idea behind measuring at that depth is to see a more long term trend in soil temp.
The top few centimeters will vary day to day the temperature at 250mm will follow seasonal trends and give a good indication of when germination and grass growth will commence. Keeping a diary of weekly soil temperatures is useful. In general terms a soil temperature at that depth of around 9 to 10 degrees C is a good guide to the soil being warm enough to germinate grass. I thnk i have mentioned the book before " Sports turf By V.I. Stewart" explains it much better than me and I don't want to regurgitate word for word.
12 Feb 2010 by mario
I use the thermometer for two reasons - Is it warm enough to fertilise or overseed: readings taken at 100 mm (4").
The yardstick I follow is - above 5 degrees Centigrade for fertiliser and above 8 degrees Centigrade for seeding.
I do record the figures but only to contrast and compare them against readings obtained in previous years.
It means when the locals in the Club tell me it's the "worst Winter" or "it's nae sae cauld as twa years ago" I can chip in with reasoned argument.
I may be short but I'm also scientific!!
I know no boundaries.
12 Feb 2010 by jlawrence
Ground temperature would be very important to you though Ken - being as you're so close to it 
.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Ive ordered one off the Pitchcare sight just now. More toys! Lovely jubberly!
Do you have to make a hole, in the winter, before you put the thermometer or is it strong enough to push down even when the ground is hard through frost?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by mario
Make a hole with a screwdriver first, Barry. No point (no pun intended) of knackering it first time out of the packet!!
I know no boundaries.
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Ok mate. thought that was the way but always best to ask!
All this talk of cold weaather down south must make you grin every year, mind you, its always amazed me how you manage to play much up that far in t'north!
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by mario
Our season tends to be more compact than yours might be. Typically from the last weekend in April until the first weekend in September.
In that time we have around 65 matches which includes every Saturday, most Sundays, junior games Monday and Wednesday evenings with a T20 competition which is staged over 3 nights under imported floodlights.
I should add that the seniors practice on the square, when the weather and my time permits, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Really busy times but into a succinct "Summer"!
I know no boundaries.
12 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Not a lot of difference really then apart from September. We have games up to about 20th/21st sept as I like to try and get end of season work done the following week or weekend. My first game this year is on April 17th but that is in the laps of the weather Gods of course. Last year sprinng was great down here but ofteen its been about 10c when the first one is played, not much difference there I suppose from your neck of the woods.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
12 Feb 2010 by mario
Typically our first league game is either last weekend of April/first weeekend of May and is played in temperatures not usually exceeding 6 Centigrade.
Three years ago we hosted Scotland in a four day match in May against Namibia. It was 6 degrees with the temperature at the square being just plus one with the windchill. The Namibians capitulated early on day three!!
October is usually very wet - 146mm in 2007, 164 in 2008 and a record 188mm last year. So it is vital that I get the Autumn renovations started no later than the second week in September to ensure that the new seedlings are established in order that they are not washed out or suffer from a rapidly decreasing soil temperature.
I know no boundaries.
12 Feb 2010 by Phil Isherwood
1 O'clock Friday 12th Feb 2010.
Outside temperature 4.4 C(Sun has just come out gone upto 5C.)
Soil temperature with a 4inch probe 0.1 C.
Hoping to be playing Rugby tomorrow.
12 Feb 2010 by mario
Where are you located Phil?
I know no boundaries.
12 Feb 2010 by Phil Isherwood
Blackburn in Lancashire.
Didnt loose any games to the very wet start to the season.
Cancelled 19th Dec, No chance over Xmas & New Year, cancelled 2nd ,9th,16th and 30th Jan due to snow or frost. Daren't even think of the consequences if this weekend gets called off. Next week not looking very good either.
12 Feb 2010 by Minormorris64 Last edited 12 Feb 2010
Soil Temperature 4 inches down just measured at 0.2c 
South Shropshire
What goes around, comes around
14 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Got mt thermometer yesterday morning and went down the ground (yes Im that sad) and measured. Ambient air temp 4.2c, soil temp about 3 inches down 3.7c. This is in Surrey
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
15 Feb 2010 by paul kelsey
What yer waiting for Barry get the mower an roller out
15 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Yeah right Paul!
Favourite weather currently, cold,grey, drizzle, luverly jubberly eh?
Got no square mower currently, its in bits waiting to be serviced as is my wicket mower and triple!
Btw, can you remind me where you got those tungsten tipped scarifying blades for the Autorake mark 4 from?
Going to see if I can get the committee to agree to getting some.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
15 Feb 2010 by paul kelsey
Barry
Were'nt tungsten tipped for £44 think they cost about £300
got them from Central Spares.
www.centralspares.co.uk
01202 882000
15 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Cheers Paul
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
16 Feb 2010 by mario Last edited 16 Feb 2010
Snow again this morning.
This would be normal for this time of year up here but, on the back of having it since December 17th, it's getting a bit tiresome now!
I know no boundaries.
16 Feb 2010 by trubs
If you look closely enough Kenny, even the Starlings (?) are spelling out BRR...
16 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Just grey and pouring with rain down here Ken. 
Same forecast all week, as you say, getting very tiresome now.
Dont know what you keep your machinery in but my old steel containers are a nightmare in this weather for rusting the gear up. Will have all my cylinders back in next 2 weeks. Would smearing the cylinders/bottome blades stop them rusting again before wwe eventually get to spring?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
16 Feb 2010 by mario
I use a silicon based spray when they are to sit all Winter.
I am fortunate in that I have a brick built shed which is probably the size of eight normal garages i.e. double width and four times the depth.
I know no boundaries.
16 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Do you have to get this stuff off before using the mowers or does just running them up get rid of it?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
16 Feb 2010 by mario
You can't tell it's on to be honest, so natural use erodes it.
I know no boundaries.
16 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Thanks, Ill get some
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
19 Feb 2010 by BAS Last edited 19 Feb 2010
what temp do you guys start your rolling ,do you start prior to growth or with some growth to aid drying of the soil through the roots as well as air temp.
Mario-you also said about ideal temp to feed or seed,l guess you mean that temp maintained over a few days at least,esp with feeding.
19 Feb 2010 by mario Last edited 19 Feb 2010
Because you are taking the readings three or four inches down in the rootzone the temperatures are usually quite stable and less likely to fluctuate as they would do if taken closer to the surface.
So once you have a suitable temperature reading for, say seeding, it is liable to remain fairly constant for a few days unless there is a dramatic change in the local weather.
But of course we should all know what our weather is likely to do over the forthcoming week! Unless you're up here whereby I've got another fresh fall of snow and a forecast of minus five tonight!!
Therefore, I tend to use as a guideline - above five degrees Centigrade for fertilising and above eight degrees Centigrade for seed application.
I pre-season roll when soil moisture levels are conducive. I judge this by taking a soil profile. If I were to wait for my grass to grow then cricket in Aberdeen wouldn't start until June. Ha ha ha!
The attached photo shows me in March with seven layers of clothes, which includes thermal underwear, thermal gloves and hat. If I recall the air temperature that day was +6 C.
I know no boundaries.
19 Feb 2010 by BAS
thanks mario,great advice as all ways.
19 Feb 2010 by paul kelsey
Barry
If you aint bought any silicon yet pm me your adress an i'll send you a can got loads use it for my work.
19 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Paul
Thats very nice of you but I bought a can yesterday.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
19 Feb 2010 by paul kelsey
Try to avoid spraying near anything thats belt driven its designed to make things slip, tried some on my triple rollers to try and stop them clogging up as much but didnt really work.
19 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Just going to spray it on the cylinder blades and bottom blade, no belts around.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Back to Top - Go to Next Unread Message
This Message is closed, you may not post a reply at this time
