Cricket Club Groundsman's Trials and Tribulations

Spring Like

2012-03-10T19:57:00.000Z

I went down to Pool this morning and brushed square with a "rake brush" fixed to back of tractor. The idea was to lift the grass to present it better for mowing and to tease out bits of rubbish from the base -you could call it a light spring raking. Clive the groundsman there then followed on with the mower I brush twice and Clive mowed twice at right angles. He has since informed me that they had started rolling later in the day.

Sorry I forgot to take any photos.

On returning to Kirkstall I finished off the mowing of the outfield from when I was rained off yesterday. I then ran the mower over the square again and went on to cut the grass net area using the Mastiff instead of the rotary that I have been using till now, apart from the obvious mowing, the weight of the Mastiff pushes the soil down giving it a light roll.

There was just enough daylight left to treat the square with liquid iron and seaweed I us the Acuspray walkover spray unit it is miles better than any Knapsack sprayer.

Here are the two products I use, thinking I will need to order some more as I am getting low. I try to treat the square in this way about every six weeks or so I don't always include the liquid iron though.

This is the net area

It was half past six and dark when I set off home but it had been a beautiful spring like day, one which makes me think how lucky I am to be a Groundsman.

I am looking forward to getting the roller out tomorrow I have just had an email from Boycey (Kieth Boyce Ex Headingley groundsman) and he told me that he is well into his rolling program and wants some fertiliser for when he finishes the job one day next week.

You can only spring roll when the conditions are right don't miss the window.

Getting Busy

2012-03-09T22:22:00.001Z

Things are getting busy now especially as I have taken the extra work of the toilets on, I have my art exhibition coming up and getting the ground ready for the season. Hence no posts for a few days. Wednesday was the day my fertiliser was delivered so I made some deliveries and some guys came and collected theirs.

Part of the fertiliser in the container two more pallets to go in yet.

One delivery I had to make was up to Nidderdale I don't make much -if any- profit on it but it is a very nice ride out in some beautiful country side -I love it. Here you can see the "Golf Balls" at Menwith Hill.

From the same spot you can also see a wind turbine farm. Thursday was a day of varnishing some of my paintings and sorting out others to be mounted.

After making a few deliveries I still had some daylight left to apply some fertiliser to my square. I used 11-5-5 Spring and Summer and applied one bag to my square which is around half recommended rate I don't want too lush growth just yet we may still have some frost.

The next three photos are of different grass seeds I sowed in Boughton County Loam on the 15th Feb and the photos were taken on Wednesday the 7th March. Below each photo I will give a brief description.

I have enlarged these picture so you can better see the results.

100% Straight Colosseum from Harrell's, decent germination.

100% Straight Top Gun from Hurrell's

-it is an American Dwarf Rye that I am having a look at, it is not listed by the STRI but I think it has potential, so I want to see what it is like before I decided whether or not to include it in a mix.

Good germination.

This is Johnson's (DLF) iSeed.

Now this is interesting almost no germination has taken place. It is my theory that because the seed is treated with a coating of fertiliser it takes longer for the seed to absorb the moisture thereby delaying germination by a few days.

Wednesday night I was back at Cleckheaton C C to listen to Dr. Ian James of Cranfield University deliver his talk on Aeration of Cricket Squares. The full report is out in around two months and will be published on the ECB web-site so I wont bore you with details now, it was both interesting and educational.
Thank you Ian.

Today I got the old Mastiff out and cut the square in two directions and was aiming to get the outfield cut until the rain came and put an end to proceedings after I had cut from just one side of the square to the outfield. so I went home and got some invoices entered and printed off -note to me I must keep up to invoicing or I run out of cash!

Tomorrow I am off down to Pool C C to brush/rake the square in a hope to lift the laterals so we can get a good clean cut.

No Posts

2012-03-06T18:19:00.001Z

Sorry that there have been no posts since Saturday I have been busy working inside the club house on a Sh.t project!....... Yes I have been trying to upgrade or toilets with a very meagre budget. I don't intend to show a load of photos of the loos but below is just one by way of evidence.

I have been boarding up and painting, the board behind Ross still needs a coat.

Looking better already and the treasurer will be very please I haven't spent a penny so far.

Just to keep you all assured the ground is still looking OK, it is a little on the wet side to start rolling especially at the bottom end so I don't feel too bad at working inside.

Tomorrow I think that some rain is forecast -we'll see- I am taking delivery of my first order of fertiliser then it is a matter of getting it out to my customers busy day in prospect.

Visit to Pool Cricket Club

2012-03-03T18:21:00.000Z

Had a ride down to Pool Cricket Club this morning as they were trying to sort out some drainage issues where the old artificial pitch had been filled in last autumn.

Here you can see where Andy has dug out down to the base of the old artificial pitch base. Where there is a pan, through which water cannot drain as a result it was moving under the surface down to the bottom end and making the new imported soil like very wet and like jelly to walk on.

This is what I like to see the groundsman giving instructions to his assistant who is doing all the digging.......

while the next generation of groundman looks on.

Clive remembered that when the practise pitches were laid, a drain of sorts had been dug -here you can see Andy tyring to find it, which he did first time and it is only a few feet away from the end of the problem area.

On this photo you can see the drainage channel Andy has dug to take the new drain link.

Lets hope that when it is all connected up it will sort out the problem. There is a very important lesson to be learnt here. That is when you take up any artificial or do any kind of excavation work you have to break up the base that you are to back fill. When JCB's or other similar machines take out a channel they leave a smooth almost shiny surface and if you don't break it up you create a layer that moisture cannot get through and a plate where roots will run across horizontally rather than growing in or through.

Clive in his newly presented Hurrells woolly hat.

Shocker

2012-03-02T19:24:00.000Z

I have had a shocker today I left my camera at the pavilion where I go painting, so I went down to get it fortunately it was there, so no drama there. I then went in to the lock up part we store materials and paintings in, only to find that there had been a burst pipe and damaged some of my paintings I am preparing for my exhibition at the end of March....... What a Bugger!

Ended up spending four and a half hours there mopping up etc #gotajobonreworkingthem.

Got down to ground about 4-15pm so finished off the brushing I started on Wednesday and mowed the square.

No time tonight for a great deal of explanation as I am going out so Anne says. Mowed diagonally across square.

Off to't pub see you next post.

Hodgy

Some Progress

2012-02-29T21:33:00.000Z

Well I got down to ground at around 8-00am started by brushing square with hand pulled drag brush. Things were a little wet, so I fit the six foot brush to the back of tractor and brushed the uncut part of the outfield and lined up stumps to get my stripes back in the process.

I think you will need to enlarge to see the stumps I had lined up to help me get the stripes back.

Things were still wet and I was thinking that the worm casts and bare areas of soil would pick up on the Mastiff, so I fit the rotary brush with the collection bin to the tractor and swept a bin full of leaves up from the edges of the ground-sorry I was that involved that I forgot to take any photos.

It was then a case of just getting on with the job of mowing if I was to do it at all. I set to with the Mastiff and yes it did pick a load of soil up on the front roller and the seat roller so I think I flatted as much grass as I cut.

It did look a lot better when I had finished though.

This part of the ground had the big collecting brush over it, you can see the tractor tyre marks if you look and if you enlarge the picture you can see the red collecting brush I used by the side of the score box.

Some of you will have seen this picture if you follow Harrell's on Face-book these are my "trial plots"# pots" the pot on the right is straight Colosseum cold season New Zealand Perennial Rye Grass and the one on the left is a top quality mix of Sauvignon, Cachmire, and Carnac. The Colosseum is out performing the mix by miles at this time of year. They were both cut on Friday the 24 th Feb photo taken today 29th Feb just look at the difference. Colosseum would be good if we have to overseed/seed in the autumn or even late autumn.

If anyone would like a small sample to try please let me know and I will sort it for you.

Some of you may remember back in Nov/Dec I had this brush in bits well I finally got it back together with a new brush fit today- -actually its my old brush re bristled by Brushes North West their web site is worth a look they have videos of my running up and down with all kinds of brushes fit to my tractor http://www.brushesnorthwest.com/ They have an well priced brush for use on astra turf -3G or what ever you can adjust a bar which makes the brush stiffer on not as you require again worth a look. I digress by the time I got the thing put back together it was just about dark. I set the brush so it was just to say touching the soil and brushed half a dozen pitches in the semi-dark as the photo shows.

This is some of the rubbish I got out a yellow brownish colour all this would make thatch if I left it on the surface.

Here you can see the lighter area that I have just brushed, it was almost dark when I took this how good are cameras now a days. Blimey this has been a marathon of a post make it last cause I am preparing for my art exhibition tomorrow so no post.

Keep the peace.

Hodgy

Looking forward to a full day on the ground

2012-02-29T07:23:00.000Z

I am thinking that today things have just come in place so I can have a full day down at the ground getting on with some work on the ground. VAT done, four hour club meeting done, orders sent out, weather fair, porridge almost eaten. Away I go, I will report back at end of day if I have the stamina.

This was the 29th March last year lets us hope for another spring like that was.

29th March 2011

4th May 2011 Look how dry already starting to loose the outfield.

Back to it.

2012-02-26T18:44:00.001Z

After my few days away I was feeling guilty this morning so around lunch time I went down to the ground and started to mow the outfield. I have been keeping off it as much as possible after some spiking and slitting work. Before mowing I brushed with the six foot tractor mounted unit to try and spread the worm casts and get my stripes back in place.

The place looks a lot tidier when the stripes are in place this is after I had mown one side of the square.

My machine was set at 1" height of cut -in theory- how ever if you look at the front roller about 1/2" of worm casts had accumulated on the front roller making the height of cut a lot higher than the machine setting.

This is how much I scraped off after cutting just one side of the square.

I managed to get two sides of the square completed and the square brushed and mown fro the first time this year with the Mastiff.

I brushed the square in one direction and cut in two across and in line of play.

I want to get the outfield finished and treat the square with liquid seaweed and iron tomorrow if time permits in between sorting out some paper work -VAT - I am cant believe the temperature it has been today it was like spring. Last spring I had the boys on grass in the practise nets before the end of March and that's not far away now.

You will need to enlarge this picture. Here is another sign that spring is just around the corner frog spawn

They have a way of knowing what is happening with the weather so I am hoping they have got it right and winter is on its way.

A Few Days Away

2012-02-25T20:43:00.000Z

As per my last post I have been with my wife Anne up to the Lake District for a few days and the weather did what it always does in the Lakes rain. We travelled up on Sunday a lovely sunny day, arriving about tea time after lunch in Settle on the way.

Monday we got up to rain and low mist, this is looking up from the village of Grasmere.

Looking down the Main Street Grasmere.

While we were up there the national news was telling of drought in the South East of the country. I think all that is needed is one large diameter pipe from up here and the drought problem is sorted forever.

Thursday and the sun came out -well it did on the hill top- so of we went for a walk.

My daughter her partner and granddaughter arrived so we had to go feed the ducks.

This is where we spent a lot of time in the Lamb Inn -my daughter and her partner are at the bar- mines a pint of Red please.

Interesting road sign in the village of Grasmere.

Friday, coming home day and the sun comes out -story of my life. This is Bowness on Lake Windermere we called on the way home.

I have a bit of paper work to catch up on -including my VAT- which I intended finalise on Monday and then get on to the ground, so I should be back with grounds stuff then.

Still Spiking

2012-02-17T20:29:00.000Z

Today, on a spring like morning I was off to Crossgates Bowls Club to continue their spiking program.

I had a call from Pete the groundsman at Crossgates Bowling Club on Thursday night asking if I could get up there and spike the green for a second time this year, so I loaded up and off I went.

Here is the green on my arrival freshly mown the day before -not looking bad.

Conditions were ideal, not wet on the surface but sufficient moisture to take a spike -in fact it took a good depth I was getting down to around 31/2" -think that is around 87mm for you young ones out there.

I was using the triple head on the groundsman spiker with 3/8 tines -you metric junkies will have to work that one out for your selves. Above you can see the hole patter -better if you enlarge the picture.

Job done, you can hardly tell Ive been apart from a few thousand holes ("Ten thousand holes in Blackburn Lancshire" -first to post with the song title wins a special prize -details to follow)

Machine off the green and ready to load up and off. Nice steady job for a Friday.

I am going away for a few days next week to the Lakes so there may be no updates while I am there we'll see.

A Post for the Groundmen Followers of this Blog.

2012-02-14T23:22:00.000Z

Below are some photos of some photos of some sample I grew in plastic beer pots they were sown back in June last year -or was it July matter not.

On the right is Colosseum which is a cold season Perennial Rye grass and on the left is the best mix I had made up for cricket squares 40% Cachmire 30% Sauvignon 30% Carnac you can make up your own mind about fineness of leaf etc.

They look better when you enlarge the photo.

For me the real interesting thing about the above photos is the amount of dead material that they have both produced, in a relatively short period of time. The one thing I see more than any other when I visit cricket grounds is thatch and those dead leaves you see are what thatch is made up from. This illustrates the need to rake out your pitches in the spring time. (And I mean rake not scarify we don't want to cut in to the surface and create line of weakness that will open out in to a crack when we dry out our pitch.) You will find it hard to get all this out by raking you square as a whole unless you have some kind of machine rake or power brush -the Sisis Auto Rota Rake with the brush fit is an ideal tool for this. If you have the one but no brush I strongly recommend you get the brush attachment they are available complete from Brushes North West at a fraction of the Sisis price and the quality is excellent I know through experience.

Keep your surface clean!

More fibre and the square yesterday -Monday.

Keep off the Grass

2012-02-13T18:28:00.000Z

At last, just about all the snow has gone, so after some jobs at home and collecting a bag of grass seed for Rod Heyhoe. I was eager to get to work on the field. Plan get the tractor out and fit the slitter and get some air into the outfield.

The Health and Safety Officer wont be impressed -no guard. There is only me at the ground and I am very aware of the dangers.

Here you can see a tractor track and -if you enlarge you can see a slit- the conditions were on the wet side at the bottom end of the ground but fine at the top I was thinking.

You can see some slits here along with some pieces it has lifted out -where the roots are shallow. Slitting should help getting the roots down, so it is a matter of having to put up with it for now.

I got the west side of the square completed and moved over to the east side it was very wet the wheels bringing water up. I continued without turning the field black, however the blades were only penetration about 2". When I completed I was not totally happy because of the lack of depth and thought I would be better if I got the pedestrian Groundsman spiker out.

Every thing was going well apart from a few stones I was hitting until Bang! Bang! what the heck had I hit?

by the time I had got over the bouncing and regained control of the spiker I had bent many tines. Bugger!

You may recall these were new tines been used once only -oh dear.

These are the 4 bent tines I had to replace with some spare ones I had.

After I replaced the tines it was around 4-30pm so I took a few more photos which I will show on a wet day when I am struggling for material.

On reflection I think today was a day when may be I should have just kept off the grass but I was frustrated after a week of no action and some times you just have to make things happen I probably got it wrong today.

Just a Few Photos

2012-02-08T17:13:00.001Z

I had to pop down to ground to pick up a bag of grass seed so I took my camera with me.

The spire is Kirkstall St. Stephens Parish Church.

Look at this it is where some idiot has been sliding on the Square.

And again.

Tonight I am going to the West Yorkshire Branch of the IOG meeting at Cleckheaton we have Lee Jackson coming to give us a talk he is groundsman at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. I am looking forward to hear what he has to say and catch up with all the guys. We usually get between 35 and 40 at these meetings which is a top effort by our Secretary and Chairman Rod Heyhoe and David Robinson respectively.

Trip to Horbury Lawnmowers

2012-02-07T18:17:00.000Z

After sorting out one or two things at home off I went to load up my machines to take them to Horbury Lawnmowers for winter service I have been using Jon there for a number of years now. My first task was to get the scorebox door open -no problem there Oh yes. after the recent break in I have been using the post in front of the door which is an extra obstacle for possible burglars to over come. What had happened though was that the very cold night had frozen the post in the socket as there is always water at the bottom of it.

Here you can see the what I mean. I started thinking no problem just a quick squirt from the van ice spray that we all use in the winter, no joy, get the crow bar out and a sharp tap and a bit of leverage that will do the trick- no chance Ive got it if I pee on it than the jobs a good un still it would not yield. So I had to go open up the club house get a bucket of boiling water to break the ices grip.

As a club we are trying to get a grant so we can completely fence around the whole ground we are getting people pushing through the top fence and Leylandi hedge a cutting across the ground -if you enlarge this photo you will be able to see where some one with small feet has walked right across the square -not good.

This graffiti has appeared since Christmas and we have had two break ins I am sure with a secure fence completely around the ground some of this will be avoided.

I digress back to the machines -one machine belonging to me I was trading in lieu of some work I was having done on a set of gang mowers was stored in my container so off I went down to the yard to pick it up.

All now fully loaded and strapped up -off I went.

Cylinder and bottom blade grinding machine at Horbury Lawnmowers -my machines will be on it soon.

Grinder control panel.

Just a few views of the mowing machines in stock awaiting spring time mostly domestic -that's where the biggest market is.

Shifting Machinery Around

2012-02-06T17:37:00.000Z

Tomorrow I am taking some of my machines for winter service which means in the morning I will need access to them. So I thought I would move some machines around today while the snow was on the ground and it would give me a start for tomorrow.

Best just keeping off when conditions are like this.

First job is to take the "A" frame off the tractor.

Next job is to get the Veri Seeder fixed to the 3 point linkage the machines I want out are a set of Dennis gang mowers which are behind. I am having some work done on them regrind and other bit of things in exchange for a Mastiff I have in my container at the yard.

All fixed so away we go up to the top garage.

Safe and sound in its new home.

When I am at the mower shop I am going to look at a new rotary mower as mine has had a lot of hammer. The one I have the boys use it to mow the embankments around the ground and hit stones, tin cans and all sorts, so it needs a good amount of work on it -a few plastic bit have been broken by the stones and the blade needs replacing. My idea is to get a new one that I only will use -and like just about all the machinery it will belong to me. It will be interesting to see whats in stock.

New Tines and Bushes Fit

2012-02-01T19:31:00.000Z

What a grand day weather wise -will do me for February. I fit the new tines and bushes to my Groundsman spiker first job today.

Here you can see the new tines -all black after case hardening- it is a little harder to see the new bushes -they are the black bits above the tine holders. I wanted to get the tines nice and shiny so that they would not grab, so I had a session spiking the outfield to the west of the square.

Here you can see the area I worked on. I got from the edge of the square nearly to the boundary -our shortest. The tines were penetrating a good three inches which I am happy with.

While I had the camera out I took a couple of shots of the square -not bad for the time of year though I say it myself -hold on a minute is that a sign of a happy groundsman?

No don't be silly.

Result a lot of holes in the outfield, nice shiny tines and a slightly bent one, where I hit a stone -ah well that's how it goes.

This is interesting -sorry my photos don't tell the full story- I bought a very cheap soil water gauge you can see above, now I know I have dry patch on the ridge and furrows in the outfield. So I put the gauge in the soil on top of the ridge and the above is the reading. I then put it in the furrow and the photo below shows the result.

This is the reading at the base of the furrow I know its not good to see - the gauge reads from 0 to 10 -ten being the wettest, the red area is the driest.

I tried a couple more areas results in photos below.

More of the Tribulations

2012-01-30T22:57:00.000Z

Just had my tea when I noticed a missed call from Cheryl -who runs our bar and may other things- On calling back, I was greeted with the news that we had had a break in at the club -this just about ten days since the score box was done. Oh the Joy! Off I go down to find out whats gone and what needs doing.

They had thrown a brick through the window, glass all over nice.

This is where the flat screened television had been fastened. Gone along with other bits and pieces. We decided to get a company in to board up for us as we were going to have to put a claim in and I am not sure we had materials in stock to have done it.

Here comes help -man with a van.

Quick measure up and away we go. Sorry I haven't got any photos of the police I am not sure it legal.

I now will have to be at the ground tomorrow to meet the SOCOs.

It never rains but it pours

Maybe I will get round to posting some grounds stuff soon.

Odd Jobs

2012-01-27T17:32:00.000Z

This week again has been one of little activity on the grass Monday I collected some brush frames from the fabricator's and took them to the galvanisers and spent the rest of the day with the Sparky as last post. Tuesday Wednesday at BTMS exhibition, Thursday painting and today collecting frames from galvanisers.

Yard at the galvanise frames to pay for and collect.

Galvanised frames back at ground awaiting Phil from Brushes North West to come and collect.

A pallet full of sparkling frames, just to remind you these frames go to the factory are assembled and have brushes fit then out to the customers.

When I was at the exhibition at Harrogate I ordered two new sets of tines for my groundsman spiking machine -you can see them in the above photo. While I was waiting for Phil I thought I would start fitting them.

Old very worn tines.

Look at the difference.

Always use oil or Copper Slip on the bolts and tine sockets it saves time and problems when you have to get them out.

The business end of the machine.

When I started to take out the tines I could see that the rubber bushes that hold the tine holder were split on two of the heads, so I got straight on the phone to Groundsman Industries and ordered a set of three I recon the third will not be far off worn out so I will replace them all at the same time.

Phil from Brushes North West brought me re-bristled brush for my Sisis Auto Rota rake, so fitting that and the new rubber brushes are jobs for next week if we don't have a foot of snow by then I understand it may be on its way Boo.

Zipp the Sparky

2012-01-23T19:24:00.000Z

Sorry no posts for a few days, you have missed nothing due to weather and having to do other things I have not been down to ground for a while. This week as you groundsman will know is Harrogate Week BTME (British Turf Management Exhibition) the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association annual exhibition where I go and just dream if I could only win the lottery. So I will be there on Tuesday and Wednesday any chance of much action on the ground are very low again this week.

This is Zipp the sparky he came down to the ground to fit security lights to the score box after our break in a few days ago.

My job was to hold the ladder, well when we started it was a nice sunny day but by the time Zipp had got up the ladder it was freezing cold and pouring down with sleety rain. I wasn't a happy bunny standing at the bottom just holding an aluminium ladder in that weather is no fun. Zipp took this photo of me when he came down part way through.

Back in side fixing the trunking.

Drilling the other side wall.

Scorers elevated view of the ground.

Looking toward the clubhouse from the score box.

Job done both working as they should be, thank you Zipp.

Meeting

2012-01-17T09:58:00.002Z

Today I am having a meeting with Nick Gladstone from Hurrell's my seed supplier I am sure he is to deliver bad news, as you groundsmen will be aware grass seed prices are on a serious rise. I will have to decide -do I now start having it bagged in 20Kgs as most seed houses do- that will make price comparison easier. Then do I continue to pay top price for cultivars up near the top of the STRI list? Maybe I should offer a mix of the best and a more cost effective mix.

Interesting times I will keep you informed.
Thinking about grass. below are some photos of a small trial I did with different seeds I use.

This is the sort of thing I get up to -these photo's were taken back in October last year the one on the right is 100% Colosseum cold season Perennial Rye grass the one on the left is my best cricket square mix of last season (Cachemire Carnac and Sauvignon) the Colosseum is slightly broader leaf but much greener. Sorry forgot to say they were both sown on the same day in cricket loam.

The one on the left is Colosseum not only darker slightly broader leaf and more vigorous

I found this an interesting little trial.

Latest "T" shirt print, image Bill Bowes now with Bodyline printed below not sure where I am going with this.

Interlude

2012-01-15T13:19:00.001Z

I in some ways wasted a good day Saturday -from a weather point of view that is. As some of you will know apart from cricket, art plays a big part in my life, so I tried not to let Fridays happenings get me down by taking my mind off things cricket and working on my art for some of Saturday -although I must say cricket was not far from my mind. Below is what I produced.

I made this sketch of Bill Bowes- his club was Kirkstall Educational- black and white in felt tip pen it is about A4 in size.

I then reversed the image and transferred it to a lino block and cut out the parts I wanted to stay white above is the block.

I then inked the block with acrylic paint, turned it over on to a sheet of paper rubbed the back and transferred -printed- the image which is above. I didn't put enough paint on as you can see areas that should have printed were a little patchy so I made another print below.

Second proof a little too much now.

I inked the block for a third time but this time I printed onto an old working tee shirt above is the result. I now have a Tee shirt with Bill Bowes on the back. Nice!

Here you can see the whole tee shirt with the print of Bill Bowes on the back I can print as many of these as I want now. I hope you have enjoyed this short interlude.

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T22:54:00.002Z

Wednesday night I went to the IOG January meeting which included the AGM -yet again a top turn out around 40 guys turned up. Our speaker for the night was John Bentley who has played both codes of Rugby at the very top level, his talk was brilliant full of passion and very entertaining at the same time very enjoyable.

John Bentley -"Bentos" as he is known. Looks like he has just been asked a tough question.

The branch award was also made on the evening here is Ian Mather-Brewster presenting it to Bill Marshall of the T&A. Bill often gets branch meetings and events publicised in the paper and I am sure that that helps

-along with Rods efforts- to get the numbers at meeting that we do, well deserved.

When I arrived at the club late morning today this is what I found the staple from the score box door sawn and forced off . Yes another bloody break in, the door was closed so I dreaded opening it to see what would have gone.

Here is the staple that had been sawn and forced off.

Where the rusty patch and the box on the floor is used to stand my air compressor, that I use to blow down machinery and blow tyres up. Sadly that's what they took I don't think anything else has gone. They have just taken a small general item that can be sold in the local pub. Its not what they take but its the damage they do physically and mentally -because believe you me it is really deflating when it happens to you. So the rest of the day was spent with the police and repairing the hasp and staple getting new pad locks and fitting. I have called this blog Trials and Tribulations and today was both. Having got the job sorted I went off home unlocked the door and went in only to hear the burglar alarm piping - now we have recently had it repaired and Anne has changed the code- so yes you've got it the alarm starts blasting out -I had been told the number but I am very very old now and foregot it. Quickly on the phone to Anne but she is not good with her mobile and the battery was flat, however I raked my brain and recalled the number entered it and the alarm stopped Yes! sorted. I made myself a cup of coffee, logged on to the computer and was about to upload today's photo's when a knock come on the door and there were three policemen. Some one in the street had rung the police because the alarm had gone off and the light was still flashing at the front of the house - how am I to know that the alarm needed resetting.
Not that I am superstitious but it is

Friday the 13th.

Time to lock the door and have a tot of good malt whiskey.

Working on my own square -at last.

2012-01-11T15:57:00.000Z

At last today I got a chance to get something done on my own square. I started by raking, this is to try get all the leaves that have got into the base of the sward out.

I used the my Sisis four foot rake on the back of my little tractor. It was a little wet at the bottom end of square- you can wait for ever and not get anything done if you wait for ideal conditions- some times you just have to make it happen.

Here you can see some of the leaves the rake has lifted out.

Apart from lifting the leaves it also pulled out dead grass from the base and presented the living grass better for mowing.

Another view.

I only have a small rotary mower about 16 or 17 inches so it took a while to mow.

All mown most of the leaves and rubbish picked up now.

You will need to enlarge this but on top of the houses -over the road from the ground- sit a row of pigeons

They think I am going to seed but I have news for them no free food today, I am not getting the seed out so fly off to Headingley Stadium they can afford more seed than me.

I gave it a brush which actually lifted some more leaves I think they will blow away now that they are on the surface.

Just a couple more views of the finished job and that's what I achieved today on the ground. You may be thinking that it wouldn't take long to do what I have just shown you and in fairness it took about 4 hours but please remember I am only part time at this job I cant earn a living at it so first thing and again later in the day I had to go off and do other things.

No Prizes

2012-01-10T20:39:00.000Z

No prize for guessing what Ive been doing today -yes more spiking. Today it was at Wilsden high up above the Aire valley almost in Bronte Country or maybe it is in Bronte Country. I have been working at Wilsden now for about 7or 8 years and every time I go I can tell you it is an overcoat colder then down in the valley and it didn't let me down today.

Looks bleak doesn't it?

Just got the spiking machine out to the middle.

Look how long the outfield has got. I understand from Raymond the groundsman that it has been very wet in these parts -so with only volunteers to do the job- if there has not been a dry weekend when he is available it doesn't get done. I am sure that it is the same with many a local club -too much to do by too few.

The clubhouse and scorebox.

Getting on with the job.

This is why you should not leave a germination sheet on too long. It pulls the grass elongating it and making it week so when you take the sheet off it cant survive the harsh conditions so turns tail and dies. This area will not grow back without reseeding so Raymond put some seed down the spike holes I had just made it has more chance of growing there than it has in the bag. If some of it grows out of the spike holes -and I think there is a fair chance it will- then you have started your repairs and given an further new seedlings some protection. I think the best thing from here is to roll some more seed into the surface when spring rolling. That way it will be in contact with the soil for moisture and harder for the birds to peck out I have done this in February in the past and it germinated so all is not lost.

Here is a close up of the area I forgot to say it is on the shortened junior pitch at the edge of the square.

Looking over the road and across to the other side of the Aire Valley.
Tomorrow I hope to get some work done on my ground maybe a change from the old spiking routine looking at the forecast it looks like we are going to get some rain overnight so lets hope things are not too wet when I get down to the ground.

Something New

2012-01-09T20:55:00.000Z

Off today to spike the bowling green at Crossgates, then on to Whitkirk to spike for a second time.

Green looking tidy and freshly mown on my arrival. I deep scarified this green in mid/late October the club then seeded and top-dressed. We where fully aware that it was late in the season to carry out such work but with the mild autumn good germination was achieved and apart from a little damage from fungal disease the green looked well.

Spike holes 3/8 dia to a depth of around 3".

These two photos show a shaded corner of the green the grass always struggles here. I did get some lifting in this corner-I think the edges would benefit from some hand spiking so that heavy machinery need not damage delicate young plants.

Here you can see some of the fungal damage it looks promising though the grass appears to be recovering.

Job done and its off to Whitkirk C C to spike for a second time this winter.

Whitkirk C C on my arrival.

I was please to find that the square had been treated for worms since my last visit -15th Nov see post "On my Travels" http://hodgygroundsman.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-my-travels.html they now plan to treat with weed feed and moss killer when the grass wakes up and starts to grow. You can see the moss in the above photos.

I think I would be digging these bad boys out and filling hole with loam and seed other wise there will be a bare area when it has gone.

Job done lets go.

Back to the "Field of Dreams" I thought it was time to get some liquid iron and seaweed on so I filled the sprayer and got on with the job.

As I was working away the Red Kite appeared overhead -remember we are in the middle of Leeds in what is called Inner City.

He was quite high in the sky, they say that Red Kite only eat carrion -so he must have thought I was about to keel over.

I have been asked about pegs for pegging down sheets. Above are the pegs I have had made they are multi purpose I use them for the sheets and the boys use them for pegging the guy lines on the portable nets that they put up on match days to hit against. You will see that they are painted yellow that is so I can see them when they are left out and I don't run over them with the mower and need a new bottom blade and a cylinder regrind costing a fortune believe me it happens.

Here you can see that I have had a square plate welded on to the top -that is to give a good surface area to clamp the sheet down and not pull the rings out of the sheets.

I hope this is of help ... and interesting to others.

Delivery to Pool

2012-01-07T15:43:00.000Z

Pool were in need of some fertiliser for there recently Korroed square so I arranged to deliver this morning. I was expecting to have a coffee with the head groundsman his deputy and apprentice. Sadly head groundsman was out shopping with his wife!!!!! apprentice was still in bed looking after his head -will have to do better that, to get the top job lad. I was made welcome by the deputy head groundsman and we had a welcome coffee before venturing out to the middle.

The square protected by a chicken wire fence that is a problem with rural grounds rabbits. If you look close you can see that the square is yellowing not too much of a problem at this time of year.

You can see the colour better in this photo. Deputy was keen to impress so we mixed the fertiliser and got on with the job straight away.

Because of the yellowing you can see the fairy rings are prominent they will not be visible when it gets some nitrogen a little later in the year today's fertiliser has only 3% nitrogen just enough to give the grass a little interest.

Here he goes keen to use his new spreader it looks a good buy at around £75-00 full pneumatic tyres and large hopper it looks the business we should have calibrated it but we just set it on a low rate and made adjustments as we went not the best way however we got the fertiliser on with consistency.

Sorry not the best photo's, I hope you can see the new grass seedlings coming through. You may remember the outfield was Verti-Drained late November and the worst area for grass cover -in front of the square- was seeded with a single bag of Hurrells Colosseum cold start seed -a NewZealand rye grass which will germinate at low temperatures- http://hmseeds.co.uk/products/cold-start/ The seed was sown at a low rate at the end of November -which is something that would never have been dreamt of a few years ago. Germination as you can see has taken place so when temperature's warm up it will be away and growing quicker that spring sown seed.

Despite having the outfield Vert-Drained it was very wet in parts here you can see water coming up through and around the Verti-Drain holes and we expect grass to grow in these conditions and do you know it does not well but it survives it is an incredible plant.

A second view of the water in the outfield.

I love the journey to Pool we are only just outside the Leeds boundary and are in some beautiful country side. Look at this field look how deep the tractor tracks are and all the mud around the feeding rakes.

These are some of last years lambs and they will be in a local supermarket soon.

A big day tomorrow Sunday the 8th of January sees the first Cricket fixture of the season in these parts At Appletreewick, Appletreewick v Malhamdale these are very unpredictable days however the players will be meeting in the New Inn at Appletreewick at around 1-00pm start when sufficient ale has been consumed. -information courtesy of Tony Hutton. thank you Tony.

Spiking Again.

2012-01-06T18:40:00.000Z

Off on the road again to carry out some more spiking.

Not an early start this is about 9-30 this morning at Kirkstall, if you look close you can see the frost on the shaded net area.

Still very little sun shine on the square -it is very low in the sky and is below the tree line so it remains in the shade- so the frost is still in evidence and that is after the sun has been up for about an hour and a half.

Loaded up and ready to go look how long and tufty - my spell checker says there is no such word as tufty so I hope you understand- the outfield is. I have kept off it -as you may remember I did some spiking and seeding in parts of it so wanted the holes to stay open for as long as possible without traffic to seal them over -well that's the theory.

This is what it looked like at my destination sunny and bright.

Any idea where it is?

Job done.

Cricket grounds in public parks have their challenges

people walking across the square in all conditions, dogs fouling, kids playing on the square. I take my hat off to groundsman at clubs like this it would be one challenge too far for me -to see people straying across the square and dogs pooing all over -no thanks.

There are two grounds back to back in this park, here is a view of the other.

Have you guest where it is yet?

I spiked the square and a net area, I was surprised how dry it was the net area was by far the wettest still it has been windy the last week.

One final picture before I tell the ones who haven't got it yet.

There we go that's where it is.

Mirfield they have gone from the Central Yorkshire League to the Bradford to the Huddersfield Central and now back where they started -but in a lower division than when they left.

Lets hope they will settle now.
Monday I will hopefully be spiking Whitkirk C C again and Cross Gates bowling green I will keep you posted.
The weekend starts here!!!

New Boots for the New Year

2012-01-03T19:33:00.000Z

Too wet and wild to do any spiking today -so job number one was to get myself some new working boots Toe-Tectors I hate wearing new boots in.

There we go I usually get black boots but they had none in stock so I ended up with these -they may look good today but not for long I suspect- with the black ones I can put dubbin on them to keep my feet dry not sure if I have any thing for these.

Passport at the ready it was off over the hill to Lancashire to collect some fertiliser -they didn't have what I wanted in stock, I was after some 3-10-5 and some 3-6-8+fe instead I got 3-10-5 OK but had to

take 4-0-4+fe. All strapped up and ready for off back over the windy hill 40mph speed limit in force however -thankfully it was a straight forward journey.

Not sure why I did but I mixed a bag of each and put it on the square and net area I think that will work out at about 3/4 rate ie 3/4 oz per square yard -much easier than metric sorry you young ones. I also want to put some liquid seaweed on as reported yesterday and I usaully mix it with iron so I needn't have used the bag with iron in and just used two with 10% phospahate in -senior moment-. I thought conditions were too wet to put the seaweed/iron on today so that will have to wait.

As you can see it is in mini grans the darker is the one with iron and the other with the phosphate.

Give it a good mix and fill the spreader -on the hard standing avoiding any spillage on the grass.

Square looking a little on the yellow side the small amout of nitrogen will help green it up a bit -it will green up even more and quicker when I put the liquid iron on -iron is fast acting over night will do it.

Not looking too bad no close up veiws on offer though.

I was pleased to see that despite the high winds we have only one "tooth" missing from the sight screen.

Will it be dry enough tomorrow to get on with some spiking? We shall see.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T17:10:00.000Z

Happy New Year all.

Thought I had better post something before you all stopped visiting. I started with a cold on Christmas Day and have not been out of the house apart from Saturday to get a Newspaper -not been a good time for me. Still that's not what you want to hear a "Grumpy Old Groundsman".

Now that the New Year is here it is time to start thinking about what I need to get done at the grounds. Jobs that come straight to mind are get some fertiliser and get it on the square along with some seaweed and iron. Get some spiking done at grounds that are waiting for my services. I have a square I would like to get done tomorrow but the weather forecast is not very promising with strong winds and heavy rain to come I am not holding my breath, maybe I should go and get the fertiliser. I want to get as much slitting of the outfield as possible done -I have mentioned this before but not yet got round to it.

Talking about planning I have to arrange the date for the Spring IOG/ECB Foundation course to be held at my ground. The above photos was taken at last years course.

It was the 7th April look how dry things are.

Registration and introduction by Ian Mather-Brewster IOG.

Taking soil samples with IMB, must have been warm he is in shirt sleeves.

Setting the mowing machine with yours truely, are you paying attention? (Jon)

Squaring up the square.

Or at leaset checking my work.

Using strings as a guide initially, the picth was mown by the students.

Raking out hard work this boys gets you fit.

Some of the rubbish raked out it is important to get the surface clean so the ball is not loosing energy bouncing on a spongy surface.

We then finished the pitch off raking mowingtill we were happy, rolled and marked out before returning to pavilion to summerise the process/day.

Sorry I have no photos of that part of the day.

Wet Day

2011-12-23T15:39:00.000Z

This will be the last post for a while over Christmas. This morning I went down to club to meet Andy the Plumber as we had a couple of leaking radiators,while I was there I just had to have a walk round it was pouring down.

I tried to be clever with this photo I had it on sport setting trying to capture the rain drops photography was never one of my strengths. Beyond the fence is a Rugby pitch owned and "maintained" by Leeds City Council. The thought just occurred to me that next season at our ground we will be hearing the cheers and shouting that goes on at Rugby League games, as amateur Rugby League is to be played in the Summer. I wonder if that will Impact on Cricket in any way.

Square looking a little on the yellow side I need to get some liquid iron and seaweed on will do that after Christmas now. I have sold a lot of fertiliser this autumn have topped up once and need to do again I have not a single bag in stock and three other clubs as well a me are in need so that's another job lined up.

Square another view.

Very wet standing water in the slightly low areas at the bottom of the square, you need to enlarge just click on the picture.

You can see the yellowing well on this photo.

Standing water on outfield.

Net area not looking too bad.

More standing water outside machinery store.

As soon as I get back to work I have a few squares to spike some for a second time, get the iron and seaweed on my square then I need to concentrate on getting some air into the outfield slitting or spiking maybe verti-drain if we can afford it.

Happy Christmas every one enjoy your break and forget about your grounds for a day or two.

Hodgy

Different Type of Grass

2011-12-20T19:28:00.000Z

Today I had to go up to my Brother-in-Laws farm in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, to exchange some Christmas presents that Anne had got mixed up. Robert has grass to look after but not quite the same kind of rye-grass that we are familiar with.

This is the view across his home meadow.

A few of his Texel sheep in the next meadow -all the fields have names, I can never remember them though- this view is looking down the dale -Upper Wharfedale.

Looking down dale from side of the house fancy waking up to this every day?

I can be a bit bleak the farm is the top one, of this little off shoot from the dale.

The hill you can see is the well known land mark which is "Simon's Seat" slightly lower down is

"The Valley of Desolation" and on the other side "Trollers Gill".

Look them up it is a beautiful part of the world.

The next photo may give you a better idea as to where on the map you will find these landmarks.

It may be difficult to see in this photo but the lighter coloured area is a cricket square. Any ideas?

You may need to enlarge. Did you get it?

I just want to end on a positive, after tomorrow I do believe that the days start getting longer.

How good is that?

Wet Horrible Day

2011-12-19T15:29:00.000Z

Another wet horrible day it hasn't got light all day how depressing. So today I have been completing tasks that we all have to do at this time of year. Sorting out those last few cards that you don't have addresses for or you thought you would deliver my hand and forgot to take -or that you felt it was better not to take to the pub because of the sheer inconvenience to all and that it might get lost or just stuffed in pockets and forgotten about after a few pints. Well that's what guys do isn't it? Or is that just me? One thing that writing this update has made me realise is that I haven't got Anne my wife a card yet so that's my next task.

This photo was taken on the 4th May this year at 6-53 am -Isn't technology good- We had a Leeds Met Uni game that day and had had a keen frost overnight. It must have been a good forecast as I hadn't sheeted up, can you remember how dry the spring was?

And this photo was taken on the same day at 5-40 pm, thought it was better to post a couple of photos to keep spirits up and see what we are looking forward to.

TABS More Aeration

2011-12-17T16:34:00.000Z

Thorpe Arch and Boston Spa what a mouth full -that's why it is known as TABS- A cold frosty night but a sunny day here in Leeds made me motivate myself to get out and get the square at TABS spiked. I didn't leave home till 11-00am the late start would allow any frost to thaw before my arrival. Actually that is true but a bit of Bull S..t -I had a lay in... well why not on a Saturday in December.

A smallish ground surrounded by house's with a good feel. TABS are a club on the rise they have a massive junior section and in 2012 will be fielding 4 senior teams on a Saturday it is good to see.

The square on arrival.

Nice bit of sunshine.

You may be thinking why do I work across the square rather than stump to stump. Well you have fewer turns which take up more time and if there is any mess it is at the turns. I very much dislike artificial pitches on the square they make ground work difficult and look awe full -I think- I understand that they have there uses but at the cost of more than £6000-00 -I think- How many time a season are they used? I am not sure that they are value for money. Whinge over now.

Nice blue sky.. The little score box is behind the trailer it has a lovely clock above it which, I like to see at Cricket grounds. It is interesting to note that it is an hour fast -it will be correct when they start to play Cricket here in the Spring time.

That's all for now folks sorry it is a bit repetitive at the moment I either don't post or I repeat some of the processes. Which is the best? You tell me. You can email me direct if you don't want or find it hard to post on the blog. david.hodgson9@btinternet.com

Fertilised Pudsey Congs/Nothing much to report

2011-12-16T16:59:00.000Z

Thursday if you have been following the blog you will know is my art day over the winter below are a couple of my recent works.

A Young Friesian Heifer -need to come up with a title- Graphite on paper.

Swaledale Tup again graphite on paper.

Pudsey Congs when I arrived. The marks left by the spiker tyres on Monday have soon gone.

Ready to go.

Doing fine then disaster struck the gate that opens to let the fertiliser out at a metered rate got stuck and this is the result of trying to free it it came out completely spilling fertiliser all over the place. Very fortunately it was off the square. I had to pick up what I could and clear what was left repair the spreader and finish off.

It happens aaarrr!!!!!

Job done off to Bradford to collect some parts I need for my other job.

Just before I got back in pickup I noticed this on the outfield can you see all the debris on the surface? - you might need to enlarge picture- it is an area where the birds have been pecking in the moss, searching for grubs- it looks a mess but is superficial.

Welcome signs bulb pushing through in one of the planters at Congs.

Not Much Happening on the Grounds

2011-12-14T21:00:00.000Z

The forecast for today was poor so when I got up and the morning was fine with some sunshine I planned to go spike T.A.B.S. C.C. square, at lunch time -cause that's when they could get the gate unlocked for me.

Martin my friend from Complete Weed Control visited late morning we had a look at the square together then thought better of it as it was freezing so we retired to the tea room and had some black coffee -no milk available- by the time we had finished it was hailing and looking very black over Bill's mums house. So I made the executive decision to cancel the spiking job. In the afternoon I went round to our Chairman's house to collect some tables the Siddall Bros had obtained from the Skyrack pub in Headingley as they are having a refit. They will come in handy at club1853.

The Siddall Bros Presidents Day 2011.

Big job for one man and one very small mowing machine.

Not Cricket -just to get some practise in for all those Christmas quiz's- where in the world could this be? It is a self taken photo. Look at the end of the post for the answer.

Taken at the same venue if you click on the picture you will see the names.

The above photo is for Mr. K Bowie in Oz. It is a better view - than previously posted- of the hole that the fox is digging above the drainage system. What a pain!

I have posted this picture so you can see how dry things were at the end of August look at all the areas of the outfield that I had lost grass cover from, they got seeded and I now have grass thankfully.

Back to the quiz.

This is a big clue.

Yes you got it, its the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

"On The Road Again"

2011-12-12T20:10:00.000Z

Sorry no post for a day or two the weather here in Leeds has been very wet. With bad weather forecast overnight Monday and Tuesday and gale force sometime Friday I thought I would get on with what I could. Pudsey Congs had asked me to spike their square so I gave them a call they got back to me just after

10-00am this morning and said things were a little wet but should be OK, so off I went.

Wanted to show this photo so you can see how little light gets to the net area in the winter months this was taken at 10-45 this morning.

All loaded and ready for off. Got every thing?

Just started you can see it is a little wet -it looks worse because there are some worm casts especially at the ends.

You can see the muddy mess it is making where the worm casts are.

Am I sad taking pictures of spiker tracks through a load of worm casts?

In fairness the worm casts are just at the ends here you can see the middle of the square I spiked it lenghtways across the square no stump to stump.

Liking the new Football changing rooms at Pool

This is the square at Pool looking a little short of nutrients apart from that it look in very good condition no worms, no moss and a good covering of grass also surprisingly dry. This is the square that we had Korred and it has done remarkably well over this favourable Autumn. I am sure I put a post up about the Pool work but I cant find it now I must have deleted it by mistake, how did I do that?

No muddy wheel/worm cast marks here.

Two squares spiked before the weather turns. Nice!

It is good to see a club invest it its grass facility and Pool certainly have done that this Autumn. They have also had their outfield Verti-Drained and it is already paying off, as it is significantly dryer that it has been, even after all the recent rain. Well done Pool!

The 1" dia -25mm- tines go down around 16" then the machine applies heave, which if the conditions are right will have the effect of creating fissures in the profile allowing air exchange, increasing drainage capacity and de-compacting the surface. All this will benefit grass growth. I need to see if we cant get this done down at my club. Treasurer be aware!

It is now 8-00pm and the rain has started I don't see much more in the way of ground work this week but you never know, I will keep you posted.

Wet Week

2011-12-08T22:16:00.000Z

You may recall from my last post I said I would be off spiking a couple of squares. Well I got up on Wednesday morning and thought it was far too wet, so I still have those jobs to do when the ground dries out.

Wednesday night I went along to Cleckheaton for the December meeting of the West Yorkshire Branch of the IOG we had a very interesting talk given by Jim Whitton of Ransome-Jacobson who spoke about mowing machines and the technical aspects of setting up and the issues that effect mowing -like wet, soft and hard ground etc. He came over very well and presented about mowing machines in general not specifically Ramsome-Jacobson. The meeting was exceptionally well attended with around 40 members present. Thanks are due to Golf and Turf Machinery who arranged for Jim to come along and to David Robinson and Rod Heyhoe who arrange the program for the Branch.

While thinking about Cleckheaton I must congratulate Keith Johnson and John Hawksworth on wining the IOG Volunteer Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year Award.

Well done guys.

Look how dark at around 4pm Wednesday.

What sad places Cricket grounds are on wet December days.

This area is under the trees and on the machinery turning circle I did seed it but rather late and it was then covered in leaves for a while, this is the result -some work to do here in spring time.

Not sure this photo shows up so well -what I am trying to show is a hole the B...dy Fox has dug in the drains.

This is a massive problem for me -if I fill it he will dig it out the following night -if I leave it it will be deeper the following night -if I spray it with Jeyes fluid he will find another drain to dig out, so short of spraying the whole field I am at a loss as what to do.

Any suggestions welcome!

Sorry must try to get a better photo.

Jim Whitton of Ransome-Jacobson at Cleckheaton Sports Club.

Some of the IOG members -paying full attention.

If you have been following this blog you will know that on Thursdays over the winter I go and paint with my artist friends, we hire a Cricket Pavilion in Leeds. Here is a view taken from the veranda kids play football over the outfield in winter. Here we are first week in December and already the grass has gone in places I dread to think what it will be like at the end of February or worse still for the start of the Cricket season.

The square is the green bit above the muddy strip.

I like the thought of this -above is a Lithography print I did last year of Che Guevara I fastened him to the window so he could watch the Cricket and he has, all summer.

Paul with a recently finished work.

With all the wet weather and high winds I don't see myself on the ground for a day or two yet -may be I will get on with a painting or two myself.

Nice to Go Travelling

2011-12-06T22:02:00.000Z

Well I have just had a couple of weeks on a beach in Cuba-Nice!

The weather has certainly changed while I have been away it is a lot colder and a whole lot wetter.

When I returned over the Pennines yesterday there was snow on the tops and a light covering at home here in Leeds. What a change from 30* in Cuba.

I spent the morning sorting out a backlog of e-mails and post but the sun was shinning and the ground was calling so I put paper my work on hold.

This is the square as I found it, you can see the weak area at the bottom right of photo apart from that it looked in reasonable order - no signs of any disease. I contacted Martin from Complete Weed Control before I went away, asking him to spray against fungal disease. I was concerned after last year when we had a foot of snow while I was away and I ended up with patches of snow mould all over the square.

I was pleased to see that the leaves are now off the trees and by the looks of things there has been some winds as they have mostly blown off the outfield now.

I am not sure this photo shows up the water that was present on a couple of pitches at the bottom of the square -if you click it and enlarge it you may see better. However as a result I thought it better to keep off the square for today.

This is the net area behind the score box it has been spiked just once so I decided that would be my job to re-spike it.

Job done, it was a little wet in places but took full depth of the tine that's about 3" or 75mm for you young ones.

Can you see the spike holes?

The brush in my Rota Rake is worn and needs new bristles. The bad news is I could not get it out of the square hole it is fixed in, all the dust and damp must have got in there and made it very very tight. I had to dismantle the complete shaft, sprocket and all three bearings eventually I bossed it.

I also have a problem with the front roller as you can see it is not parallel and the eccentric bush will not take up the difference so I think the shaft is bent that is a job for a wet day.

And finally I got the brush assembly out I will now send it off to Brushes North West and they will re-bristle it for me.

I was thinking as I was doing this job that while I am mending machines I am not working on the turf which is what I -think- should be doing. I cannot stress enough the importance of having machinery up to speed and working. There is nothing more frustrating than turning up with limited time and first pull of the starting cord and it snaps. So you spend it repairing the machine instead of working on the job you came to do in the first place. I must get on top of servicing or sending my machines off to be serviced

over the winter months.

If the weather is fine on Wednesday I am off to spike a couple of squares I will keep you all posted.

"Its Just a Perfect Day"

2011-11-19T17:49:00.000Z

I was not able to waste such a perfect day. Got down to ground around lunch time and brushed square and outfield. Then got on and spiked the square finishing off by brushing again.

First job I did was to brush the square and outfield with tractor mounted brush this is a stiff one which is almost rake like.

The field and square before I started.

Square after brushing.

Out with the groundsman spiker.

First few runs, because the grass is long about an inch long it looks like I have damaged the surface but I have only flattened the grass.

When I had spiked I brushed with the manual drag brush in both directions, to try get the grass to stand up again so if it rains it wont flatten and stick to the wet surface.

I have posted a few more photos than normal as I am going away on my holidays tomorrow so I though I would leave you all with something to look at while I am away because I will not be updating from Cuba. hopefully all the leaves will have fallen and blown away by the time I get back.

Final look back before I go.

Just one more thing you may recall I spotted some disease the other day so I have arranged for my friend Martin from Complete Weed Control to spray for disease while I am away. Last year when I was away about a foot of snow fell and my square was covered for a number of weeks

when the it finally melted I had some snow mold, don't want that again or fusarium either.

See you all in just over two weeks.

Hodgy

Friday

2011-11-19T11:02:00.000Z

Not much to report on groundwork. I went to the Galvanisers in the morning to collect some brush frame we are making. Its absolute chaos at the place, the guys just appear to ignore you and its hard to understand any system they are working too, after about half an hours wait watching wagons unload come and go I finally got my frames. What a waste of time.

When I got back to the club with the frames Phil from Brushes North West my partner in this project was waiting for me. Just look at his happy face you would have thought he would have been pleased to see me! that's just the effect I have on people.

You can see these frames with all the brushes/rakes fastened and even watch them on You-tube http://www.brushesnorthwest.com/

Clive (sorry not got his photo) my friend from Pool Cricket Club called to collect a bag of seed. He has just had his outfield Verti-Drained and wants to try get some grass growing in weak areas. So I ordered him a bag of Colosseum the cold season seed from Harrell's it is imported from New Zealand and will germinate at 5 degrees. It is an Perannual Ryegrass as opposed to the Annual type that Barenbrugs and Johnson are supplying that means its not just for winter green up it will survive.

http://hmseeds.co.uk/products/cold-start/colosseum-coldstart/

All the info is on the Harrell's web site I act as an agent for them in the West Yorkshire area.

We have been awarded a ECB grant to fit a new Boiler and Cylinder the whole project is about £3000-00 and they are contributing around £750-00. This all means that I have had to clear out some things from our top garage including my Sisis Veri-Seeder. You can see the mess that the place is in, it needs a good clear out, one thing that was emphasized on the Health and Safety CPD day earlier in the week- house keeping.

By the time I finished clearing things away and rearranging it was dark -another day gone.

CPD Day

2011-11-16T19:20:00.000Z

Been at Cleckheaton CC today on a CPD day with the morning taken up with Impact of Health and Safety for County Pitch Advisers and the afternoon with a talk by Alan Lewis on Soil Sampling Techniques and Managing Newly Constructed Cricket Squares.

Alan Lewis with his soil sampler.

Taking a core out we left him too it the sign said to keep off the grass.

Inspecting the sample.

Taking a sample from the outfield with an Auger just about 4"-5" beneath the surface the profile was totally dry. The top 3" or so of thatch was holding all the moisture.

Am I nodding off there? Well it was just after lunch.

I uploaded this picture and got to thinking what the collective noun is for groundsmen?

Maybe

a descent of groundsmen

a grouch of groundsman

a mischief of groundsmen

a kettle of groundsmen

Any suggestions?

On my Travels

2011-11-15T21:26:00.000Z

Today I have been to a local club to spike their square below are some photos

This is the square on arrival.

Lots of worm casts the problem here is that they are bringing poor soil to the surface and upsetting the levels that need to be maintained I recommended that they get this problem sorted out sooner rather that later.

I got a little lifting in one or two areas just on one end of the square. I understand nothing like last autumn when they used an old Patterson drum spiker, it rolled the lot up.

Some parts were a little short of grass and moss was getting in, They need to concentrate on grass growth maybe over seeding weak areas a couple of weeks after the main autumn work/seeding its hard for moss to get hold where there is a good cover of grass.

Back at my ground sun shining -what a difference that makes- square brushed in both direction. A happy grumpy old groundsman. Is that a contradiction in terms?

Even the weak ends are beginning to fill in now thanks to the over seeding completed a while ago.

Fruits of my labours apples from surrounding trees, mushrooms from compost heap . If I had time for a cooked breakfast these big boys would be on my plate in the morning. Talking about tomorrow Wednesday I will be at Cleckheaton for a continued professional development (CPD) day for pitch adviser's. Health and Safety morning, "Soil sampling" and "Managing newly constructed squares" in the afternoon with Paul Bannister and Alan Lewis respectively. So may be no update Wednesday or Thursday as that's a Painting day.

Finally I am not sure if anyone is reading this blog I have only had a few comments however it has been on line for around a month now and today it has acheived 500 visits worth the effort? You tell me?

BT Monday

2011-11-14T21:24:00.000Z

Today I had the BT volunteers down again. They got the new sight screens painted, finished off painting club house doors, painted scorebox door and cleared some leaves up. I had to leave them on there own for a time while I went to the fabricators to collect some brush frames and take them to the galvanisers.

How many BT Engineers dose it take to paint a sight screen?

Leaf clearing.

Club Chairman Nick giving a helping hand, thank you Nick

Last post I was saying that I was clear of disease however it can appear over night and look what I found on the square today Fusarium Patch. So I brushed and mowed it to try get some air through it and dry the plant leaf I only had the odd patch so I am not reaching for the chemicals just yet

As straight as a dogs back leg.

Job done.

These last two photos show the new seed just coming through under the trees I lose this grass nearly every year. It is shaded, dry, part of the turning circle of the mowing machine and just for good measure it gets covered in leaves.

Saturday

2011-11-13T12:19:00.000Z

Saturday I had to replace some roofing felt on my garden hut at home, that took up all of the morning and in to the afternoon. I finally got down to the ground at about 2-30 pm which left me with only a small window to get on with some work. I decided to mow the net area with the rotary mower, which would also pick up the leaves, however I found that the blade was hitting the side of the metal frame. So out came the spanners to fix it. That sorted I realised that I needed so more petrol, so I had to put every thing away lock up and go the the petrol station. What a nuisance to put it mildly! Oh the frustrations! Yes I should have filled it when I used the last drop but that's life get on with it David!

At last I got going, the conditions were a little on the wet side however I did want to get all the leaves up and the grass topped so I went for it.

Job done, this photo was taken with the flash on it was so dark that is why the foreground looks so light coloured.

While I was down I had my usual inspection of the square and I am pleased to report that the areas that had the oil damage from the vandalism we experienced way back in the summertime is starting to get a cover of grass as you can see from the pictures.

I am also pleased to say that I have no disease despite the mild damp week we have just had.

This photo is the same area on the 24th October so you can see how it is now filling in well. This is a relief as I was thinking that I would still have a bare area next spring.

Poor Week for Ground Work/ Where has the Week Gone?

2011-11-11T21:47:00.000Z

Well what can I say? So far this week I have not done any groundwork Monday I had the BT guys the a couple of wet days when I was doing paper work I went to the IOG meeting Wednesday night, Thursday painting all of a sudden its Friday.
This morning I attended a meeting with Ian Powell and Rod Heyhoe from the Yorkshire Cricket Board Groundsman Association (YCBGA) it only lasted 3 hours we were planing the seminar and AGM for next March.

Rod invited me to his ground at Lightcliffe C C in the afternoon. He had it Korroed (like Pool C C in the last post) and was concerned about the grass cover or lack of it. His square was seeded with a disc seeded which is quick and good for placing the seed below the surface in contact with the soil, however the draw back is that although it had been seeded in many directions bare cubes remained and Rod is a little worried about these areas and thinks they may still be a problem next spring. We had a good long chat and he arrived at a plan to get some fertiliser and liquid iron on as soon as he can to try bulk up the root system which would give it a better start when conditions warm up in the spring time. The iron will also have the benefit of hardening the grass and knocking back the moss which could invade the bare patches it will also slightly acidify the soil which will discourage worms.

Henry Bechelet entertaining and informing the IOG West Yorkshire Branch at Cleckheaton on Wednesday night. Sorry about the photos I had not had a drink I promise they are just meant to be in 3D!!!!

A very misty damp Lightcliffe

We took a core out so we could see how far the roots had got down.

Here you can see the roots of the new grass plant they are about an inch long, sorry for you young un's 25mm

now the question is will the surface hold together sufficiently to spike?

Spiking will create holes for the roots to follow which is what we want but dare we spike?

I think a test run is in order as spiking will be a real benefit.

You can see the cubing effect well on this photo.

Rod has been digging out the old drains, put down some sixty odd years ago he needs to link the surface with the drains and as they have been back filled with ordinary soil he may well have a big job on here.

Before I arrived at the ground I was thinking that I would over seed the square, however the ground is exposed and I guess higher than I am at Kirkstall it was a full overcoat colder, I was not convinced that he would get a worthwhile benefit from seeding at the moment better to wait till rolling next spring and roll a bag full into the surface or better still sarel roll then seed brushing it into the spike holes before rolling in.

It good to visit other ground so we can all learn from each other. Thanks Rod.
Wow where has the week gone?

Office Work

2011-11-09T16:12:00.000Z

As a self employed Groundsman I have to deal with my own accounts, invoicing, payments, VAT and the rest of it. As the weather has been poor over the last couple of days I have been getting on with such tasks
--I love it "not"-- Office work is not one my strengths nor is working indoors however it has to be done.

Tonight I am off to the IOG branch meeting at Cleckeaton Sports Club where we have the pleasure of a talk given by Henry Bechelet from the STRI. I understand his topic is his latest research in the turf industry what ever that is. Henry is a real character and I am looking forward to being entertained while I learn. These IOG meetings that David Robinson and Rod Heyhoe put so much time and effort into organising are very worthwhile and well supported. The last one in October that I was unable to get to was very well supported with over twenty groundsman in attendance. I will take my camera along and get some photos may be I can post them.

I have not been to ground for last two days so no photos of a damp, dull and dreary ground to put up so here are a few from my album.

Pool Cricket Club after Korroing 14th Sept I was involved in this project and had the task of making a seed bed seeding up, top dressing etc I tell the full story some time this winter when things are slow.

All seeded, fertilised, top dressed and leveled 19th September.

Same square first cut 15th October.

These photos were taken around two weeks ago and I understand it is ready for mowing again.

Maybe it's the artist in me but I like these views from strange angles this is still Pool C C.

Thursday is a painting day so no updates tomorrow.

I am hoping to get on with some of my contract aeration work by the end of the week so I will upload details as I progress.

BT Volunteers

2011-11-07T19:22:00.000Z

When I arrived this morning the grass was covered in frost and the ground was quite firm, not sure what the temperature was over- night but it must have been well below frezzing.

Today I had a party of eight BT volunteers at the club helping to paint the changing rooms and various other bits and pieces. I got the "new sight screens" out and we did some work on them also.

Paint all ready to go.

Getting stuck in.

Oh loose phone cables at the back of the club-house.

Sight screens rubbed down and painted with Red Oxide where needed

Only had time to top coat part of one screen, six of these guys are back next Monday so lets hope for a fine day then we can get both screens painted.

Recycled Sight Screens

2011-11-05T18:33:00.000Z

A local club purchased new sight screens and their old ones were heading for the scrap man, so in lieu of some work I was able to secure them for my club. However transport was for me to sort out, as you can imagine welded screens take some moving. I had to arrange for them to be sawn in half so as to fit them on the wagon.

I took the opportunity to reduce their height as they are due to be used at the top of the ground and have no need to be so high this has the advantage of making them more stable.

We shortened the top frame and faced up the cut hollow section of the base.

Re welding the shortened top frame.

Club cricket grounds look sad places in the winter and people always ask me what I do at this time of year. Well as you can see from the photo I have plenty of work to be going on with. All the leaves need collecting , I want to continue with spiking of the outfield to get some air exchange and hopefully get some root growth. It also needs cutting as soon as I can get on, we have had a lot of rain here in Leeds over the last few days. I think the net area at the back of the score box is ready for spiking for a second time but this is a very wet area and I will have to choose the right day.

On Monday next we have eight volunteers from BTcoming down to the club to help out so tomorrow I will be off to the DIY shop to get paint, rollers, brushes, etc. So they can paint our changing rooms for us that should be a good leg up for us, as asking some cricketers to help out is like asking for their life.

I went up to Scotsturf last Wednesday it is a small exhibition, however I find that exhibitors have just that much more time to spend with you and explain the products in a bit more detail. I think it is important to attend such things so you can see for yourself what is available, whats new catch up with some old friends and do some networking. Most of all you can look at lots the new machines in all their glory and dream!!!! if only I have got those numbers for tonight's Lotto draw at least I know I what to buy.

Still a lot of leaves to fall

Overnight Rain

2011-11-01T18:21:00.000Z

Well the rain that was forecast overnight arrived, which was good as it has helped to wash the fertiliser I spread yesterday into my square...... its good when a plan come together.

I had some other business things to sort out this morning so I got down to the ground in the afternoon. I was torn as to what to do. Do I work on getting some leaves up or spike the square. Well I reckoned that the overnight rain would help the spiker tines slide in and out of the turf without lifting. I have the triple heads with 3/8" tines fit at the moment and with triples there is always a danger that the could pull a triangle out. So I was watching carefully and had no problems, I think that is partly because the water was acting as a lubricant and the tines are used ones with a smooth shinny surface so there was nothing to grab.

I managed to get to a depth of about 21/2"-3" which I think is good for the first time in the autumn.

You will see from the photos that I didn't go over the ends I though that they are not quite strong enough just yet and I didn't want to start ploughing, so best keep off for the time being.

Just started

Job done the grass is mowed at about 1" so you can see a lot of flattening

it will soon spring back up.

The weather is still very mild and we have had good growth this autumn, which should stand us in good stead for the winter. I hit the square with some liquid iron last week you may recall, that should toughen it up a bit however I am thinking should I spray with a fungicide? or not? and hope that I don't get any disease.

This is interesting.

Way back on the 15th June we had vandals on the square they poured oil on a couple of pitches and tipped glass on every pitch. The above photo shows how I am still struggling to get grass to grow in the area, despite treating the pitch with liquid carbon which is supposed to neutralise the oil.

One thing I have learned is that the carbon has some effect on the grass I think it makes the nitrogen more available to the roots. If you enlarge the picture you will see what a healthy grass stand I have around the area of spilage. I have just been reading an artical about the Carbon-Nitrogen balance in the soil above is a clear indication that adding the carbon helps the grass growth.

I heard part of a program on RadioFour today they were talking about the benificial Fungi in the soil I am now going to check to see if I can listen to the whole program on iplayer.

Fertilised Square

2011-10-31T23:14:00.000Z

Sorry there has been no update for a day or two. Had a busy weekend which included a "Stars in you Eyes" night at the club. All to help raise much needed funds to see us through the winter months when we still have virtually the same overheads but with little income. So we rely on club nights and private hires and hope that the small surplus we have built up over the summer will see us through.

We have been fortunate enough to get an ECB grant which will go towards replacement of our old

in-efficient and unreliable boiler. That is work that is just starting and I have the job of sorting it out with the plumber all of which takes time out of my working day.

I as you all will be, am an avid weather watcher and I saw that rain is forecast to-night so I took advantage and got some Autumn Winter fertiliser on my square. I hope it will start to wash it in over night.

On Wednesday this week I am off on the train up to Scotland, to the IOG'S Scotsturf with my fellow groundsman Henry it is our annual day out. I would very much like to go to SALTEX but it falls right in my busy period at the start of September.....you don't win them all. I hope I will pick up some new ideas to put to test. I want to visit the Symbio stand as I am looking at a new ways to manage my square, if possible by getting all the good bugs on my side and helping the grass through the roots. Lets see what they say.

Sorry no pictures taken today which is not how I intended it to be, lets just remember the summer when there was some action. The top photo was taken on the 27th August 2011 and the second was taken at the first out door practise (or should it be practice?) on the 29th March 2011. Look how dry it was back in the Spring time.

Part time artist

2011-10-27T22:22:00.000+01:00

I said there would be no update today but just thought I would sneak these two painting in I have completed today. In the winter months I spend most Thursdays painting with a group of artists I am a member of. We are working towards an exhibition next spring not ---sure how that will work with my ground responsibilities.

Anne walking down a ginnell in Keswick

Acrylic on canvas.

The walk to easedale Tarn Grasmere
Acrylic on canvas.

This is the sort of thing I need to do to supplement my earnings as a Groundsman, hope you enjoyed this little diversion sorry if you were looking for grounds stuff.

Brush trials

2011-10-26T21:00:00.000+01:00

If you read the top of this blog you will see that I am a part time groundsman, one other thing I am involved with is the design, manufacture and sales of turf brushes. Today my colleagues Phil the brush maker Brushes North West and Walter the fabricator came to my ground so we could do some trials on a new brush system we are developing. The photos here record the sort of things we got up to.

Walter fiddling with a chain. Here the system is fastened to the tractors 3 point linkage via an "A" frame.

You can clearly see the "A" frame here.

View from back of tractor.

Frame lifted of the ground via 3 point linkage for turning.

Phil from Brushes North West getting a close up..... heavy dew this morning after last nights thunder storm.

Now you can see we are pulling the frame with a chain so this unit can be pulled by almost any mode of transport. We had feared that we might get some bounce but having done previous tests we got the bristles in the brush and the angle of of pulling right and it worked very very well indeed we almost surprised ourselves.

A contented Walter

After avisit with Phil to the engineers merchants I returned to the ground by which time it was late in the afternoon, so I had a look round for job I could take on in the limited time I had left.

The net area needed a cut so I got the rotary out and topped it while doing so I noticed how yellow it was looking, that indicated to me that it was time to for a feed the last time was when it was seeded on the

3rd September.

Good thick cover spoilt by the yellowing

Time for the Autumn Winter fertiliser,just 3% nitrogen.

Look how yellow it really is. Application rate around 1 oz/sq yrd. On completion of this job it was about time for home I took a few photos of some grass I am growing it plastic containers to get a comparison and try to find out which will best suit my needs in the future I will post some photos on a rainy day.

No post tomorrow I will be painting.

No Battery

2011-10-25T18:45:00.000+01:00

The battery on my camera had run out when I tried to take a photo -its on charge as I type- So no photos today.
Not much to report had a meeting with a bar fitter as we are looking at revamping the club house bar.
Went to iron mongers and got new pad lock and bolt for gate as reported yesterday. I then fixed the gate and did some more outfield spiking. Some day's as with all work, groundsmanship is mundane and today was just that.
I got a phone call from a local crown green bowls club, they ordered a couple of tonne of 70/30 sand soil mix for top dressing the green along with a bag of seed. I think they will struggle to get the bent fescue mix to germinate this late hope they don't blame the seed.

"Monday Monday can't trust that day"

2011-10-24T20:41:00.000+01:00

Arrived at ground today only to fined that vandals had ripped the bolt of the side gate.

What a start to Monday!!!! This means that one day this week I will have to sort out a new bolt, padlock and bull ring as it has been broken on the other side of the gate,what a pain, typical for school holidays.

My first job was to fit the new belt to the rotary mower and cut the whole square, the rotary is good because it picks up a few of the leafs, its nice having a ground surrounded by trees until autumn time then its a pain.

After mowing I mixed some liquid seaweed and iron and treated the square and net area, this will help get the bacteria going and the iron will give a green up knock back any moss and tuffen up the grass plant. When the square had dried I brushed it in both directions, this process not only helps presentation (I like it to look good if possible) but also lifts some leafs from the base, I hope they blow away overnight.

My pedestrian Acuspray I used for spraying it's a million times better than my old knapsack unit

My square after mowing, spraying and brushing.

I have a big problem with the outfield it was never constructed as as cricket field and still has the old "Ridge and Furrow" from when it was agricultural land. Until the last few years apart from mowing it has had no other work carried out on it excepting Verti-Draining once since we had drainage installed.

As a result I have dry patch and about 25mm (1") of thatch in parts.

Poor photography here you can see the toe of my boot

I am trying to spike as much as I can of the outfield however I only have a Groundsman 346 pedestrian machine which is about 18" (don't know how many mm that is) wide across the spike holes, so I am doing a section at a time. I am looking at having the outfield sprayed with a wetting agent so the more hole I can get in before that is done and the better.

While spiking the low parts the tines were going in about 4" (75mm) but on the drypatch parts it was bouncing and penetrating only around 11/2" (37mm) as you can see from the two following pictures.

A good spot hole about 4" deep

Not quit so good if you look you can see the mark I made on the peg from the first hole.

Next picture you can see the different depth of penetration.

The two marks on the peg show the two depths.

I hope you are still following me and haven't drifted off to sleep.

Part of the spiked area.

This is a part of the outfield I worked on about three weeks ago you can see the new seed has germinated well If you enlarge it.

Nothing Ventured

2011-10-23T11:49:00.000+01:00

Saturday I helped a friend construct a couple of extra pitches on the side of a cricket square at a local school.

It was all cut down when I arrived

We scarified to a depth of 12mm (1/2") in lots of directions with the Sisis RR600

Collecting the arising's with the Rotorake we got a good clean surface.

The area was flat, had no thatch, but had a reasonable strength soil when we started.

Close up of surface with a good key and grooves ready for the two tonne of new loam.

After seed and fertiliser application Eddie brushed to get the seed down in the grooves so it would be in contact with loam, this is important as we need fast germination, taking on such a job this late in the season.

Two tonne of Boughton County loam was then roughly put down.

We then leveled as best we could with rakes and lutes.

It would have been good if we had a six foot lute or even a aluminium ladder the best we could do was a four foot pallet.

We pulled it out lengthways and across, its hard work.

When we were happy that the surface was flat with no hollows or bumps we finished off with the B.N.W.

six foot drag brush.

Worms eye view.

To finish off it was covered with germination sheets and roped off.

Now I can hear you all saying that this is not to the ECB specification as in the TS4 or what ever number we are on, however it will do the job the school need and was affordable.

To take on such a job this late in the season is a risk, especially as far north as Leeds, however we are not expecting it to be ready for play in April or May and indeed it may need overseeding and a light top dressing in the spring. The school have been made fully aware of the situation and were happy to take the gamble.

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained!

Back at my ground with the long shadows of the autumn sun, I love it.

Nothing Ventured

2011-10-21T13:53:00.000+01:00

Sorry this post is just about the practicalities of a Cricket Club. This morning I got a text from Cheryl -who runs or bar and generally organises events and lots of other things- asking if I know anything about the glass washer, any way to cut the chase I ended up tying to fix it which I did to a point. So alas not work on the ground.
This afternoon I will be taking two tonne of loam to a local school the idea is that tomorrow I and a colleague will be taking the top off and area to the side of the cricket square in order to create two new pitches. Yes I can hear you all saying this is far too late, however the school are fully aware of the situation and the risks involved in taking such work on so late in the year but if we have a mild spell we may well get away with it. The pitches aren't needed next year and the standard of Cricket is not that great so we can over sow in the spring time if required " nothing ventured nothing gained"!
I will try get some photos.

What a beautiful day

2011-10-19T18:54:00.000+01:00

Had some domestic and office jobs to do this morning so didn't get down to ground till after lunch. What a shame on such a beautiful day. I thought I would cut the outfield just to even it up a bit. I got the tractor out and fitted the old Huxley triple, it needed some fiddling with to higher the cut as I had not used it since the season had ended.

I should have brushed the outfield first as the rollers were picking up worm casts in parts however wanting to get on I didn't. I was thinking that I was flattening the grass not cutting it which was the case where the grass was short and had not grown much since it was last cut but it was cutting the longer areas and evening it up a bit. As my outfield contains all sorts of different kinds of grasses it grows very unevenly and is hard to present well.

I had a visit from a little black cat that has been coming around for a few years now I encourage it thinking it might catch a mouse or two I have enough with the pigeons eating my seed.

Thought I would then do a bit of mowing around the score box and net area with the rotary mower. All was going well until I heard a mighty clanging sound coming from it, on inspection the belt had jumped off the pulley and got tangled in the blade -bad news- I re fit it only for a second occurrence. So I am thinking oh no! that's a trip to the belt shop, when I made an important discovery hung up an the wall I had a spare belt I had got the last time this happened - I am getting old and cant remember things, so it was a total surprise to me that I had been that organised once-

I will need to get it fitted the next time I am down at ground witch won't be tomorrow Thursday, as I will be painting with my artist colleagues. Below are some random photos I took today.

It not all good this area has been over sown.

If you enlarge this one with the apple tree you might be able to see the squirel

Sorry no post tomorow painting

First post

2011-10-18T22:40:00.000+01:00

Here we go with my new venture a groundsmans blog.

A little background I don't want this blog to be all words rather a visual one.
I am Groundsman at Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club, Leeds and have been for a lot of years now. A member of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) and Vice Chair of the Yorkshire Cricket Board Groundsmans Association (YCBGA). Heck already into all these acronyms I so dislike! Apart from being a practising groundsman I also undertake groundwork for other clubs and supply grass seed, fertiliser, loam, along with various other bits and bobs, more will be revealed as the blog develops.

This is a view of my square yesterday it was seeded on the 21st September and overseeded on the 6th October. It still has some weak areas at the ends where the pitches were very worn (we have about a hundred game a season on an eleven pitch square). Today I have mown with my rotary machine about six of the pitches I did not do it all because I did not want to pick up loam from the weaker areas.

Yesterday I mowed and spiked the net area, this was seeded and top dressed on September 3rd. It is in a cold wet shady part of the ground and if I don't get an early start in the autumn I get poor grass cover and it struggles all winter long, The shade from trees and the sight screen make the area slow to warm up in the spring time.