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Daniel Rouse
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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Hi Guys,
Are any of you guys worryed about this weather we are having affecting the end of season work. I can not start mine till the last week in Sept and if the weather keeps getting colder we will prob have snow on the ground which is no good for growing grass lol.

Are you guys doing anything to try and get round this weather or leaving it to a bit to chance??
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barry glynn
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

There is nothing you can do about the weather and what you are talking about is four weeks away.
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Daniel Rouse
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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I know it is 4 weeks away mate but it is just so cold. Cant remember a augest being like this ever. The way the weather has been this year I can see it snowing in october lol.
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eddyinfreehold
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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It's not that cold here is N Lancs, about 15 C, but it is wet. We finish on the 18th Sept and my worry is having the surface dry enough to scarify and top dress from 19th to 25th. Germination should not be a problem well into October but a dry top makes life much easier. In order to help things along I will probably scalp the whole square apart from the last 2nd team match deck the week before we start unless it promises to be too slippery. I get strange looks from the players when I do this but so what, it makes them think at least.
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Grassman2011
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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Grass seed germinating in less than a week at the moment.
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Barry Pace
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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This week I 'ave mostly been working bloomin long days and not getting enough sleep

Indian summer has been ordered as the 'real' one has been cr4p, .........don't panic you could still have 3 months of growth yet... as long as seed in ground next 6 weeks
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tonybolton
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother

Too true Barry it's just UK weather, we're a small island surrounded by the sea and it's effects. Very hard to pedict weather here in the long term. We've had worse and wetter summers but somehow no matter what the weather brings cricket on a good sward returns the next season. It's our job to pick the right windows of opportunity and to be available to take full advantage of them.
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mario
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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I know no boundaries.

Well - If I can grow grass in Aberdeen.....................
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tonybolton
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother

Be interesting to see a comparison of weather in Aberdeen and other parts of the UK. But keep up the good work Mario are there any cricket grounds on the West coast of Scotland aided by the almost tropical Gulf Stream, I remember Palm trees in Plockton and the Kyle of Lochalsh.
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mario
Posted 30 Aug 2011
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I know no boundaries.

I recall contrasting the April to September mean average temperatures between my place and Sussex.
It indicated a difference of 9 degrees Centigrade in favour of the lads at Hove!

Think I'll check my soil temperature tomorrow. Would be interested to see where we are up and down the country given that the BBC weather was saying that this looks like being the coolest Summer for some time.

Plenty of grounds on the West Coast, Tony. They tend to be warmer but wetter, where the East Coast tends to be drier but colder.
I used to go for a short break to the Isle of Arran in November where there was a large palm tree in the back garden which looked as if it was living extremely happily no doubt enjoying the warmer conditions which go along with the Gulf Stream.
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wicketdevil
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

Hi guys if you have any spare rain please send it down my way i need as much as i can get.
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Minormorris64
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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What goes around, comes around

Whats this rain stuff you boys keep going on about ?, my ground is like a desert in places. .Been doing this for 26 years and I don't remember a summer like this one during that time.
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wicketdevil
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

I had the head of pe ask me to water a pitch thats 1000m for the nearest tap and up hill. They come off eight weeks holiday in the sun and start throwing there weight about. Ian
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barry glynn
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Then minor me old mucker, feel very lucky indeed.
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thegrifter
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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All done. Thanks to my suppliers Gavin @ colliers, david @ GSB loams & dean the graden guy .
5 tonnes county loam, 2 bags of bar extreme, pre germ & fertiliser, graden two way & brushed 10 tracks , hire mini digger, mini dumper, set of spirit level and 5mm flat bar frame. Not forget my team of unexpirenced volunteers who were feed and very well oiled . All for £1300. Very pleased, it can be done!!!!!
Should be well established before jack arrives.
Just got to service machines and then put me feet up.
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barry glynn
Posted 31 Aug 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Lucky you sean, I've got colts and senior games all way through September
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thegrifter
Posted 1 Sep 2011
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Cheers barry, sometimes forward planning and doing the work early every few seasons elevates some of the weather issues in september. Fixture secs can work round renoVations & play matches away for the last month of the season radical imsuppose but working with your Groundsman is the way forward &'possibly save clubs 20% of renovation cost with suppliers and contractors. I anticipate full coverage of my 10 track square by end of sept ready for first cut then aeration shortly after.
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barry glynn
Posted 1 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Yes well Sean, I'm also the fixture secretary but ut makes no difference. They just tell me effectively it doesn't make any difference and get on with it.
I'm just jealous mate of a committee who actually listen and the chance to get early germination.
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tonybolton
Posted 1 Sep 2011
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A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother

Quite a selfish approach to end of season renovations, having all your later games away from home. Surely this means groundsman colleagues at other grounds will be later performing the necessary. Plus what about bar and gate revenue at the latter end of the season, why not just decide to play all your games away from home so you cease to be a cricket club and have nothing to do.
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wicketdevil
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

Sean Surely you cant play all your sept games away as next years would be all at home i like the idea that once a pitch is finished with then do most of the autumn work. Ive my last game on sun but its a high profile so ive had to keep the square looking good. And its put my autumn work back three weeks and stopped me doing the work on the rugby pitches. Ian
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wicketdevil
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

Sean Surely you cant play all your sept games away as next years would be all at home i like the idea that once a pitch is finished with then do most of the autumn work. Ive my last game on sun but its a high profile so ive had to keep the square looking good. And its put my autumn work back three weeks and stopped me doing the work on the rugby pitches. Ian
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Strange thing is, the more games they want to play until last say of Septembet, the more the chance of risking poor renovation and germination on a surface that has increasingly more demands on it.
But of course, if the weather goes t1ts up at end of September and I end up doing renovation in October( quite possible according to latest forecasts) and this has a detrimental effect on the quality of the square, guess who will get the blame?
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thegrifter
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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All valid points gentlemen. Perfect planing, prevents **** poor performance!
Could I just point out the same amount of home & away games can be scheduled in the season and a complete league program can be achieved with no loss of revenue. I agree end of season high profile matches are prominent in the cricket calendar but that's the demand of the clubs officials. Maybe an interesting point of discussion if raised by the Groundsman to there respective committees.
Rome wasn't built in a day, so why shouldn't renovations be scheduled earlier as part of an ongoing cycle once every few years.

PS just wondering how many matches are cancelled in September due to inclement weather, teams dodging relation and seeking promotion on the basis of not playing!!
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

A lot if committees are made up with people who know eff all about cricket, that's nit a criticism, just fact.
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jlawrence
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.

we rarely lose any games in Sept because of the weather - August is a different matter.
Fortunately our committee has seen what happens if renovations are left too late. Work was once done in mid-end Oct and grass coverage was negligible next season, I reckon it's taken me the best part of 3 years to get the square to where it should have been.
I now get the squares from the 3rd week in Sept and that's written in stone by the committee - I didn't even need to suggest it.
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Well Jon,
My point is not that the work can't be done at the end of September if the weather is ok but that it gives no reserve window if the weather is awful.
Then, if like you, the square is poor the next season because of late renovation, who gets the blame and the bad reputation? We know the answer. Its idiotic, all fir a couple of joke friendlies against cr@p opposition.
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Barry Big Shot
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Once a muppet.....................

Barry, maybe we could have a get together like KB organised for the bowling club last year. We could all pitch in and give you a hand. Who's in first weekend in Oct, Barry to supply full breakfast?????????????
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Works for me. I did a similar thing last year at a local club where a groundsmanmate of mine wasn't well. I pitched up fir day to help out there. Then when I got in the poo cos of my usual scarifier breakdown the next day, one of them came over and helped me. Currently I'm hoping to get on Monday 26 TH Septembet. When you doing yours Vic? I'm quite happy to come over to you help out.
Breakfast no problem here, there's a cafe runs all year from our pavilion
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Daniel Rouse
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Why not get the members to help you out. After all they play on it.
I understand that is not the way to go if you are a full time paid groundsman but for us who are not it is what we do.
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

They often do and mightDaniel but getting them to take days off work on the Monday and Tuesday is a bit of an ask
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Daniel Rouse
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Well why not do the work on the weekend then mate? I dont know your situation but for me if you need people you need to work around the people that are willing to help rather than them come to you.
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barry glynn
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Daniel, they are playing at the weekend!and I do not want to wait another week and do it October. 27th September is too late in my book.
But they must be obeyed.
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tonybolton
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother

Obviously I agree the earlier the better but not at the expense of quality cricket. I often find that as we play into September with well prepared and covered wickets they are too hard and dry to complete renovations. Seed is just wasted and scarification is doing more damage to the machine than the ground. A reasonable period of wet weather or watering on the uncovered wickets towards the end of September, hopefully a bit of heat, and I find I get far better germination. If the ends are a bit slow I use sheets, but find the end result can be a bit of a 'forced' sward. We all know it's easy to grow grass in the right conditions, but growing it in adverse conditions is what we are about, the art and skill of the cricket groundsman.
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Grassman2011
Posted 2 Sep 2011
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Hard dry squares, that is where the Graden and Sisis 600/602, plus one or two others come into there own. You do not have to wait for rain to soften your square although you can or water if you wish. Graden was designed with these conditions in mind and leaves a superb seed bed, so minimal seed wash out when the heavy rains come.
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tonybolton
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother

Sorry Grassman but I have to disagree you can dig as many grooves etc into your square but unless you have enough moisture your seed will fail to germinate, I've seen it time and again, dry squares loads of thatch removed, everone is happy, it's great scarifying when bone dry. I've also seen expensive seed just dry up and die on those lovely tracks to scarify. Soil to seed contact, aeration, hydration, temperature, food and a lot of hard work.
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Chris Thornton
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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He not busy being born is busy dying!!

Please don't talk about "moisture"!! I have had enough moisture to last for weeks. It's raining now and today's game will not go ahead. The moisture is set to last well into the week and if it stops the square will be sodden when I get use of the county Sisis 600. Will the thing work on a wet surface?? Will I have to pass it to the next user before I can get some grooves into the surface (just like last year)?? This chuffing rain is driving me round the bend (just like last year)!!

Please pray for some dry weather in the North West, please!!

Fed up.
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barry glynn
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

Yes Chris
The fun of hiring in a scarifier etc. Must be an absolute delight having your own gear that can do the job when you want it.
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Barry Big Shot
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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Once a muppet.....................

Barry, unfortunately we start the same day as you. Having a bit done this time and the contractors are due on the 25th, but we will happily come over for the weekend following if you still have any work that needs doing.
Pulled the stumps on the alleged last colts game yesterday evening, we shall see. 4 per week since about April 10th. Poor old square looks a bit the worse for wear.
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barry glynn
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

No worries Vic
Thanks for the offer see how the weather goes eh? If you need a hand let me know.
Still playing colts here, crazy.
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Mike
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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Would happily head on down to help out too, Barry, but as well as our own, i've agreed to take on the task of changing loams for another two local clubs, so i'm flat out... and then i'm taking a loooooong holiday!

Mike
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barry glynn
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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What do I do? I just cut the grass.

No worries Mike. Enjoy the well earned rest mate
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Chris Thornton
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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He not busy being born is busy dying!!

Moisture today:- Saturday 3rd September .
1230 start 'cause it's September.
I said to umpires that V heavy rain on radar for 1300. So they start at 1230 and 4 overs later it starts to rain properly as predicted and the covers are on again and now at 1500 it's banging down.
Why do they not listen to me when I tell 'em what's coming? They would have had to only wait 20 Min's and the surface would be still dry.

Fed up. Too wet to go fishing too wet for cricket, where's that "cut throat"???
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Grassman2011
Posted 3 Sep 2011
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Why is every one concerned about playing on late into September? I think most of the county HQ grounds are playing up untill the last week.
However, just to liven up a few, our second square completely sorted this week, great job done. Last game at HQ on the 11th, so look out Monday the 12th. If weather and ground is bad then it will have to wait, tough. Practice area's may well be done this week around Civil Service Finals. Stop panicking lads, plenty of time yet.
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mario
Posted 4 Sep 2011
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Posts: 1934

I know no boundaries.

We, at the most northerly ODI ground in the World, need to start our renovations as soon as is practicable. Monday to be precise!

I bet that we'll have the most fantastic September as far as the weather is concerned!!
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Grassman2011
Posted 4 Sep 2011
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Only a week earlier than me then Ken, good luck with the weather mate and enjoy putting your feet up. Catch up with you soon.
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Minormorris64
Posted 5 Sep 2011
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What goes around, comes around

Our last game is Saturday 24th so a bit of a wait here, hopefully start the day after.
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