Message Board - Cricket: Playing on a recently reseeded square?
18 Feb 2010 by Steve63
How well does a recently reseeded surface perform? I think it is has been koroed, it is not a square I have anything to do with but it is probably the nearest.
Over the years the sqaure has declined in pace and bounce and last year the square was poor, the more it was rolled - the deader the pitch seemed, hence the works.
I looked at it yesterday, professional curiosity, and my first thought was, they will do well to play on that this season, new grass, weak, thin with worm casts and a few rabbit scrapes.
I know grass will respond well to good care but will it produce decent tracks this year?
They sure as hell will do well to get any PSR done.
Regards
Steve
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
18 Feb 2010 by jlawrence
If enough grass seed is put on then there is no reason at all why a koro'd square shouldn't perform well the next season.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
18 Feb 2010 by jontaylor
Ground local to me was Koroed and reseeeded last autumn. They were given advice on feeding etc and when I looked in October/November the square was looking great. But with the quantity of fert they were told to apply, that's no surprise.
I suspect the one you've looked at didn't get away soon enough in Autumn.
Mind you, with appropriate weather, treatment and feeding, what's to stop the grass filling out between now and mid April?
Over to their groundsman and the weather gods.....
The ciderman rolls
18 Feb 2010 by Loammeister
Often problems can arise when a cricket square has had major renovation involving a Koro/GKB Combinator and the 'polished' surface created by the action of the paddle blades has not been tilthed. I'm not suggesting this has happened in the case of the square that Steve63 has seen, but if a koro'd surface is not intensely tilthed with the likes of the scarifying blades from the same machine or similar, then problems will inevitably occur.
Even if the surface is sufficiently tilthed the renovated loam has to be diligently worked in order to create a good surface for the following season. With the possibility of settlement in disturbed soil profiles it is often wise to have the height of the renovated area higher than the former square, then settlement, winter effects and prudent pre season rolling can redress the balance.
It's not that the operation isn't a viable one, it's just that it needs to be done with great care, skill and attention to detail. Quite often the success ofthe operation comes down to the follow up work the following Spring, so much thought has to go into subsequent phases in any major renovation programme.
As with new constructions, major renovations rarely perform to their optimum in year one. Perhaps the club needs to expect some improvement initially but the (hopefully) excellent performance of the square may not come along to year two or three, all the time being aided and abetted by skilful groundsmanship.
Don't get me wrong I'm an admirer of major renovation as it can be a big cost saver for clubs, but it's not a one off quick fix, the operation can take a long time to perfect depending on local conditions and the time available to the grounds staff at the club.
The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train
18 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
If the grass coverage is poor Steve, there will be a reason, what we do not know, but there is no reason why it should be. Something has not been carried out correctly if the sward is thin.
Have had to play top recreational cricket on reconstructed squares the following season, so no reason at all why you should'nt on surfaces that heve been Koroed.
Its all down to how good a job was done.
19 Feb 2010 by Neil Dixon
Steve, our 1st team square was Koroed last year and the new grass didnt establish as well as i would have liked, the renovation work was carried out later than planned due to some weather related problems.
The plan in the spring will be to seed, seed and then use more seed, use the tracks with the best grass cover early season to allow the not so good to become a bit more established.
Even with the recent mild(ish) weather lately the grass is begining to perk up a little.
19 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
"mild(ish) weather"! Blimey Neil, where are you mate?
The grass on my square hasnt grown since November hardly its been so cold.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
19 Feb 2010 by Steve63
It is good to hear that decent play is possible in year one, so long as expectations are not too high!
I couldn't comment on the operation as I was not aware of it being carried out until last week and it was only curiosity to see a renovated square.
I did ask permission to have a look, the outfield is wet (no surprise there) and from what I gather there isnt a lot of cash to throw about, so hours for the groundsman may be limited. This will probably be the biggest factor for the squares establishment, it will be a busy square as well.
Regards
Steve
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
19 Feb 2010 by Neil Dixon Last edited 19 Feb 2010
It was sunny in SW london on Wednesday Barry, amazing what a bit of sun can do to lift everything.
What else do you want for february
19 Feb 2010 by barry glynn
Jeez Neil! The sun came out for 3 hours and it reached 6C! Mildish my ar*e 
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
19 Feb 2010 by Neil Dixon
3 hrs,!!!!!! it was glorious all day here, so much so i even got my bike out when i got home!!!!!!!!
19 Feb 2010 by gary poyner
I had my square completely koroed off the season before last in late September / early October and subsequently top-dressed and reseeded.
It was ready for play by mid- April for the start of our centenary season and played very-very well.
If done by a good contractor it can be done. 'Bath' AKA Gordon did a fantastic job and guided us on how to look after it after he had done his bit.
Average score was 230+
Would recommend Koroing-off as a fast solution, if done well which in our case it certainly was!
19 Feb 2010 by Grassman2011
Thanks for those kind words Gary. Hoping you have a good 2010.
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