Message Board - Cricket: Who is thinking of watering?
23 Mar 2011 by Nick Fisher
This is the second year for our club and I'm still getting used to that felling of pride when I see a beautiful square and blind panic when something goes wrong.
Anyway, I'm looking at the forecast for the south-east and I'm thinking that I might have to start watering (we've already done 20 passes on pre-season rolling). Anyone else thinking the same?
23 Mar 2011 by barry glynn
Hi Nick
Im down in south east and it has been dry. Iv done about 16 hours psr so far. Did 4 hours yesterday. some of the ends arre getting harder and drier but still possible to push thumb in a bit on main part of square.
Theres been a bit of frost with these clear skies as well so the surface is quite damp in the mornings.I wouldnt go near the hose yet mate.
Ive got to get some seed on in the next 10 days and thats going to mean pricking the surface to make some slight holes with a spiking reel, not ideal after flattening the booger for hours. But Ive got no choice as I have to get some moss out after it was sprayed 2 weeks ago.
So I will be rolling again after the seed has gone on. If April proves to be very dry, I will think about watering then but more because of having to roll the surface holes out Ive created by the seed holes.
I know what you mean about being paranoid though but its an occupational hazard mate of being a cricket groundsman!
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
23 Mar 2011 by seanmichaels
Haven't had the chance to do any rolling as yet. Was thinking of rolling in some seed this saturday after verticutting. Have a feeling it may be too dry....
23 Mar 2011 by Martin Wythe
Morning Nick
I built your square and I would leave the watering, I am sure that there will be plenty of moisture lower in the profile. your position on the flood plain
with good native loam will make drying more of a problem than being too
dry. This time last year the square had roots to 200mm! let them work for you. Let me know how it plays this season. I hear you have found some local help. Good Luck .
Martin
PS I have been watering our square to get some seed in this week with a uniseeder I am trying to repair the ravages of fusarium that struck just before the snow!
23 Mar 2011 by wicketdevil
We may have to water next week if we get no rain. It drys out so quickly here and we are onlyon three feet of soil we need to be very careful. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
23 Mar 2011 by Grassman2011
You bet your bottom dollar, the minute you show your square the hosepipe, it will start raining and forget to stop.
You may have a dry surface, but i bet if you took a profile out it will be damp all through. Keep rolling, superb conditions.
24 Mar 2011 by AB
.....and what are people thinking with regard to perparing for games in early April? Water or use the moisture already in the ground?
AB
24 Mar 2011 by Nick Fisher
Thanks for all your advice. I'm not going to water yet and as you say it is superb rolling conditions. In fact, have just come back in after a 2 hour rolling session. Lovely!
24 Mar 2011 by jlawrence Last edited 24 Mar 2011
As Grassman says, don't be at all surprised to find that it's only the very top that's dry.
I've had people telling me my main square is currently too dry - erm no it ain't. Only the very top is dry.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
24 Mar 2011 by Tom Dennison
I'm sure some folk round our neck of the woods are getting twitchy fingers about watering their bowling greens. A few dry days and people go into blind panic thinking that it'll never rain again!!!
The only parts I'm watering is the parts I've renovated, nothing else. There is plenty of moisture to be had further down in the soil profile.
25 Mar 2011 by jlawrence
A few dry days ?
We've had a grand total of 5mm of rain all month, but there's still plenty of water within the profile
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
25 Mar 2011 by Minormorris64
I have taken 5 or 6 cores from the middle of my square and there is plenty of moisture down in that there soil profile, passes 5 & 6 this evening at 5pm, just squeeze it in before it gets too dark. 
What goes around, comes around
25 Mar 2011 by jlawrence
Ipod charged, pink floyd archive loaded. All set for getting the main roller out today, only to find it'd blown a core plug. Bugger. I'll have to hire one in on Monday now - what's the odds the temperature plummets.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
25 Mar 2011 by trubs
Another Pink Floyd man.. excellent. I seem to recall Steve63 was too. Are we all about the same age perchance?
26 Mar 2011 by Minormorris64
Nothing like a bit of Comfortably Numb, usually a very apt track for psr at this time of year.
What goes around, comes around
26 Mar 2011 by Grassman2011
That temp JL is expected to be even warmer come the end of the week. If you have done no heavy rolling yet, then i hope the little drop of rain forcast for Wednesday is forthcoming, otherwise you wont stand a chance mate.
26 Mar 2011 by Mike
Haven't even dreamed of watering yet... just holding back on lowering the hoc, which is slowing the drying of the surface... what's underneath that is looking after itself in terms of the moisture content.
Mike
26 Mar 2011 by Vic Demain
Took core samples across the main square yesterday, little moisture at any depth, glad psr is all but done.
26 Mar 2011 by John Deere
If you guys are into Pink Floyd stuff, have a listen to David Gilmour;Live in Gdansk. Some seriously good versions of Time, Wish you here, Comfortably Numb etc.
26 Mar 2011 by Grassman2011
I find myself in the same position as you Vic, all but done.
26 Mar 2011 by Steve63
Gosh! - Too dry?
There are parts of our outfield uncut yet because it is so wet, the half of the outfield that I cut yesterday were only possible because I am experienced in using triple mowers in wet ground conditions, volunteer outfield mower guy got stuck on third run two days ago.
Apparently I am a lucky b*****d not to have got stuck, just like I am a lucky b*****d to drop right on to that drainage problem on the outfield, and a lucky b*****d to get a job straight after getting made redundant, S41t! I am so F'n lucky I reckon I should do the lottery tonight, I am bound to win chuff all.
Ste
p.s. feeling grumpy as I couldn't get anything done today with the red nose day fun day thingy going on, kids and mowers/rollers don't mix!
Bah! Humbug!
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
26 Mar 2011 by Grassman2011
Just to make you feel good Steve, been cutting my outfield twice a week for the last month.
26 Mar 2011 by jlawrence
Just driven through a heavy storm on way back from Taunton - hopefully a little is coming this way. I'm on a course on tuesday so may well give the top some water monday and look to get the roller on wednesday - won't need much water on though as there's still plenty in the profile.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
26 Mar 2011 by Vic Demain
Steve, was cutting the outfield on Friday using an old mastiff and it was so hard the seat was bouncing. I know all about redundancy mate, believe me it can get worse with age, mine did.
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