Annus Horribilis

Well as we go into the final few days of the year the weather remains the same as it has been since mid April, wet and horrid.  I have been hearing on the news over the last few days that 2012 has been the wettest on record. Well, ever the optimist -though some may disagree- I am looking forward to what will surly be a better year in 2013.

My club Kirkstall Educational will be celebrating our 160th anniversary and there are plans a foot to get development projects on the move and have some kind of a dinner.


After all the Christmas excesses I though I would get out and have a look to see just what a job I face as soon as conditions allow.

Top end of square at Kirkstall reasonable grass cover, needs a feed I recon.

 Bottom end, bare patches and standing water every where.

  It just looks so depressing.

Off I went up to Pudsey St Lawrence.
Above are the Sir Leonard Hutton Memorial Gates at the grounds entrance.

It is a similar story at Lawrence as at Kirkstall, young grass plants struggling and under water.

This is the best view of the square. It is made of Surrey Loam and has not been aerated for a season or two and I fear the roots are very shallow, how ever it has been under water just about constantly since the end of the season. I still cant get on unless I just spike through the water-which is an option I may well take I will work only on the middle of the square keeping off the ends with little or no growth so as not to lift the loam out that has no root to hold it together.

Here you can see how the grass has managed to come through in the grooves the scarifier made but very little else. Next week I will give it some Autumn/Winter fertiliser with a little iron, I need to keep what I have growing.

Just looked at the Met Office weather and we have Yellow Warnings in place for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

What a pain!

See you soon
Hodgy