Winter Not Done Yet?

Well after around two weeks of relatively dry and slightly warmer weather -although the temp hardly reached double figures in Leeds- We  are back to winter here in Leeds.

Friday was wet and miserable so I got some fertiliser out making a delivery to Methley Cricket Club.

Rolling not yet started outfield and square cut and looking fine.

This very old pavilion is a grade ii listed building and can not be altered in any way, a few years ago it was falling down and the club got a grant to make it stable and safe.

Bernard Richardson looking to the skies for better weather with the groundsman looking on and thinking "Silly Bugger"

Bernard has no reason to complain he is off to Tenerife   soon for a preseason holiday, good on him I hope the sun shines.

Back to Kirkstall and the same as we have seen all Winter -and last Summer- standing water.

I have not a lot to say about the above photos 

Wet and Miserable just about sums it up.

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But Wait! whats this I see?

Frog Spawn. 

When I looked out this morning, this is what I saw in my garden pond the first of the frog spawn .

So lets hope that the frogs have got things right and that this cold spell will be the last of the winter.

 Please

Spring is on its way, Hip Hooray, Hip Hooray.

Spring

Spring Spring Spring

is almost here

Spring Spring Spring 

is the time to cheer

But when the rain comes

everyone won't be glum

Spring Spring Spring

is almost here

Spring Spring Spring 

the sky will be so clear 

taylor hurttgam

Keep positive boys.

Hodgy

Pudsey St Lawrence in the Mist

I went up to Pudsey St Lawrence today to over seed their square after the bad Autumn/Winter left poor germination the square is surrey loan which is heavy and slow to warm up. 

It was misty in Leeds this morning as you can see.

 As my colleague Iain had borrowed my Sisis Veri Seeder to seed at Sessay -see earlier post- had offered to do the job for me while he had the seeder on his tractor and was returning it to me.

So I met Iain and Philip his right hand man up at the Lawrence ground at 11-30 after I had to guild him in 

-no sat-nav.

Prior to their arrival I cut the square in two directions with my Mastiff and when they had done I fertilised the square too.

 In the two photos above you can see the dimples the seeder makes I asked Iain to go over the square once before we put the seed in just to get more of the dimples to receive the seed. 

He then went over it twice in different direction with the seed. 

Just need some gentle rain and warmth now.

When we finished it was off down to Kirtstall and he did some seeding there for me before we put the seeder away. 

It was off to deliver some seed and fertiliser after that.

Groundsman tip:- I have a small pond in my back garden where the frogs come and spawn, normally there would be spawn by now but not yet this year I think they know more than we do I think that winter is not quite done yet. 

Indeed the forecast I heard at lunch time today said that there could be some flurry's of snow on Sunday.

Always observe nature it tells us so much.

Hodgy

Pink Shoots Hooray!

Now this post is the one you will really think I have lost it. 

Spent the afternoon down at the ground, met with Simon Hardcastle from Everris. Then later in the day with the police after a spate vandalism at the ground.

While I was with Simon we took a close look at the square especially the weak pitch ends and guess what I can just see germination taking place those little pink shoots so characteristic of Perennial Rye Grass. I have even take some photos for you, see below.

Technical point these photo were taken with my camera on Super Macro setting the shoots are tiny but they are there.

The Seed is Hurrells "Coldstart" Colosseum and Topgun or Carnac  I have sown both mixes at different times.

I keep getting people say to me that this mix is course leafed but if you look back on my trials shown on this blog you will see that this is not the case. I have also had the comment that these grasses are not Summer active but I have now been growing them for over 12 months including throughout last summer and I can say that this also is not true. 

You can all be none believers but the only way to find out is to do what I have done and try it for yourself.

I have stocks.

With some rain forecast for Thursday and Friday along with warmer temperatures I am hopeful of having a green square for the start of the season.

While I was down I did some work on the net area which I had not been able to get on to all Autumn and winter so it is in a right state.

I cut it and raked it the blow as many of the leafs off as I could.

Photos below.

 I fertilised with some 11-5-5 spring and summer to try stimulate some growth, next I want to treat for worms and get some seed in. We are looking to replace two of them with plastic as they are unworkable most of the year wet and shaded so I get "squidge", moss and any other thing that likes a saturated surface.

Above show the square not looking too bad now considering, that is apart from the bare ends that are just germinating as seen above.

Groundsmans Tip:- With the rain and milder weather forecast now may be a good time to fertilise your square, not too much nitrogen just yet we can still have a cold spell -winter may not have finished with us yet.

Two posts in two days whats happening I must be going down with something.

Time to see if I can start the old roller up, that will be a task -some serious cranking I suspect.

Hodgy

Loving the Weather

Well when I am getting reminders that I haven't updated for some time. It makes me think that having started this blog and kept up to it for getting on towards eighteen months now, carries responsibilities to the people who take the time to read my ramblings so to you I apologise.  Part of the reason for not posting is because I felt I was a little short of material I have had a frustrating week when the weather has been good, yet I feel I have not been able to take advantage of it on the ground.  

I don't want to bore you but it is the end of my VAT quarter and we have had a new central heating boiler fit at home.

Right lets get on with it now. Below are a few of photos of a visitor I had to my back garden.

He was just not phased by me he just sat down and looked at me yet I was only around 10 foot away from him.

Those who know me will know that I have been haunted by foxes throughout my groundsman career.

So this guy was just taking the proverbial.

We are still been hit by vandals at the Club this is the second time the new fence has been smashed. 

This last Saturday we have had a middle rail and larger nails fit to try and make it stronger so it is harder for them to break. 

Lets hope it is successful.

 Thursday I was off with my Artist colleagues  to visit the Hepworth  Art Gallery in Wakefield  well worth a visit. Why Leeds don,t  have the same vision toward art I don't know.  

I understand we were offered an Antony Gormley before Newcastle got the "Angel of the North"

and declined. No wonder people in the south think we have no culture.

Friday I got some time in on the ground and worked till it was dark below are the photos.

 Inside the "Hepworth" one of the temporary exhibitions by Jessica Jackson Hutchins.

Friday I cut the outfield for the first time since last September It had grown surprisingly little

 I also brushed the square with the Sisis Roto Rake to get out any leaves, pick up dead grass and general debris that had accumulated.

 By the time I had finished it was almost dark if you look in the back ground you can see how bright the house and street lights are.

Saturday there was a meeting a the the Club of a number of the 1st team their Skipper Andy Siddall a level 4  Cricket coach put them all through the  Briggs Myers personality test which is based on the teachings of 

Carl Jung the Swiss Psychotherapist. I hope it helps them with their game.

I also underwent the Personality test  too and it has now been confirmed once and for all that I am a "Grumpy Old Bugger" 

Thanks Mr. Jung.

I do understand the Jackson Pollock the American abstract expressionist -he of the drip paintings- was a follower of Carl Jung

 

 The first sign of activity, its been a long time.

 A few stretches.

I now need to start thinking about rolling as I don't want to miss the window the ground is drying out nicely now.

I have loved the weather recently hardly any rain a lot of cloud but when the sun is out you couldn't be at a better place than the "Field of Dreams" in the spring time.

Groundsman Tip:- If you have any weak areas or pitch ends get a bucket full of seed and evenly spread it on these areas then roll it into the surface, that way it will be in contact with the soil which means it will have moisture and also it will be harder for the pigeons to peck out you can cover with a germination sheet if you have one but don't leave it on too long 10 days 14 max or it will weaken the grass you already have.

Keep at it boys the season is almost here after a tough year for groundsmen.

Hodgy