Message Board - Cricket: Very bumpy cricket outfield
30 Apr 2004 by PURLEY
Very bumpy cricket outfield
Hi
I look after a Parish Recreation ground that includes 2 adult sized football pitches and a cricket square.
The football pitches are within the cricket boundary.
I have inherited a bumpy/uneven cricket outfield that I am trying to sort out.
Historically the only work carried out was cutting and heavy rolling of the football pitches in the winter, and repair/seeding of goalmouths.
This left a poor cricket outfield that received very heavy rolling in April to get to anything resembling an even surface.
Since taking over (this time last year) I have tried to resist rolling and concentrated on harrowing and cutting the football pitches. I also have a Bolens aerator trailer that has 3 inch spikes and star tines (go in about an inch) - I have tried to aerate regularly. The grass growth and drainage seem to have improved. In addition I felt that the grass coverage on both pitches need to be improved and the council have paid a contractor to power harrow and top seed the central third (full length) of both football pitches.
I am now rolling the outfield (but not a heavy roller) for cricket and propose to continue to aerate (using the 1 inch depth star tines) whenever ground conditions suit - am I on the right track - any other suggestions?
if the sun is shining we need rain
30 Apr 2004 by pete
no roll
dont use a roller as this will not flatten the outfield and will cause u serious compaction problems.u need to spike at least to a depth of 4 inches plus a pto driven scarifyer could help level the outfield keep on with the harrowing and cutting but be warned it will take time
4 May 2004 by PURLEY
no roll
Pete - thanks for your reply.
The recent powerharrow/topseeding looked dreadful to start with but the recent continual rain / warmish weather has been a godsend. Managed to cut on Sunday and their seems to be a great improvement, much more even and strength of grass growth - last years cricket season outfield had very poor grass coverage with result grass/no grass appearance and lumpy look to it. I'm greatly encouraged to date!
if the sun is shining we need rain
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