Just wondering if anybody has tried Primo max on a cricket table, there is a reported increase in root development when using this product so could this benefit the preparation of a wicket? i.e. the stronger roots helping to bind the surface together and reduce cracking whilst still drying out to a deeper depth with the better root system.
Regards
Steve
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
7 Mar 2010 by Mal Last edited 7 Mar 2010
Hi Steve, I have used primo before but not on a cricket square. True theoreticaly in use the grass plant is encouraged to put its energy into rooting and you should also see an increase in the plant tillering. The problem that I see is that it will require some very careful management from the point of view that it is recommended that you should not apply it to grass that has just been sown for some pretty obvious reasons. The recommendation is that it should be applied 5 days before any seeding operations to get the cultural benefits of holding back the mature grass to allow the new grass to establish.
Given the nature of the way a cricket square is managed through out the season with individual tracks coming out of play and repaired etc.etc. adding to this the complication of timing an extra maintenance spray 5 day before would in my opinion be beyond the realistic reality of day to day square maintenance.
I can however see a possible use early season but think it would best come into it's own with a couple of applications prior to winter rennovations. It would be good to hear of any actual experiances though.
Mal
Geography is everywhere
I certainly use it on my practice area's Steve. These form part of the outfield, so the slower lower growth pattern means i return fewer cuttings to the area whilst outfield mowing.
That has certainly worked, so i may well apply to the square this year. Whether i have a better rooting system is difficult to quantify.
Try it and see.
I experimented with it on my practice square last season. Whether I had better rooting I'd not like to say, but I certainly had to cut it a lot less. I'll be trying on the second match square this season - with all my problems on the main square I'd prefer not to add another unknown in at the moment. However, if there actually is increased rooting then it might help considerably - might try it on some end tracks.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
7 Mar 2010 by BAS Last edited 7 Mar 2010
off topic
jlawrence are you able to say what your problems are with your square,just wondering if you where having problems with plating/crazing paving like affect we have on our 4 year old squad.we ve tried verti draining and filling the holes with loam,which we are hoping will help minimise the platting.is this your problem or has anyone else had a simular experince.sorry off topic.
From the trial work I did with Primo, I did see a little increase in rooting, but not that much.
Maybe conduct a bit of a trial yourself?
Ant
Bas, the problem with my square was down to the way it was re-constructed about 3/4 years back. The 'proper' cricket loam wasn't married into the subsoil correctly - so when it finally dried out last season (first time it's been completely dried to depth in a few years) everything separated. I've got other problems but that was the major one - it was one of those things where I knew there was something wrong but until it was able to be dried to depth it was impossible to see what the problem was. Now we know about it we can program work to try and fix it - a process which started during renovations last season and I dare say will be on going for at least another year or two.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Control the drying to the top 5omm JL. Keep the profile damp below that.
Keeping the profile damp below the top ain't a problem here - the water table is that high. Getting it to a stage where it could be described as damp rather than water logged is a challenge.
When I say it dried out lower down (last year), I don't mean that it dried out to same degree as I dry the top out.
Not wringing wet is dry for the subsoil around here. There's damp and there's what I normally have.
There are reasons as to why it stayed so wet - of course. Fingers crossed I've at least started to address one of those reasons but it's going to take time before I learn whether additional drainage is needed.
With the massively increased grass coverage this year things might actually be a bit more manageable - fingers crossed ;)
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Drainage where JL ?
I may have a need to artificially lower the water table under the actual square - exactly where we need to put what would be for experts to advise.
I need to ensure that the local drainage (ditches and rhines) are working as they should first though. I know the ditch hadn't been maintained (or at least not in the last 15 years) and if the outfield has no where to drain to then it's obviously going to cause me problems. I started the process of clearing and maintaining the ditch winter 2008 and it's going to be on going work for a while yet. The outfall from the ditch into the rhine was blocked - and likely had been for many a year. When I get problems like this sorted then (and only then) do I have a chance of seeing whether additional drainage is needed.
If the excess water in the outfield has no where to go then it's shouldn't be surprising when it turns into a lake - or at least 'I' don't think it should be surprising. Many at my place seem to think that since they've not maintained it in the past that they don't need to start now - at time's I think we should have a handy sledge hammer in the clubhouse.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
We've been digging ditches in this country since the bronze age, or longer. It only seams to be in our lifetime that we've been so careless of these vital earthworks. Is there a link there......
The ciderman rolls
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