With summer in full swing, July brings a mix of match prep, pitch care and forward planning. If you're fine-tuning cricket squares or wrapping up renovation work, there’s plenty to keep grounds teams busy.
This month is also the perfect time to get ahead. Review your equipment and refresh your plans for the new season. Oh, and keep your turf thriving through dry spells!
Here are nine essential tasks to focus on this month:
- PREPARING THE CRICKET GROUND
Continue to get your ground ready for play for each game. When preparing the ground there are a number of actions that need to take place to make the ground suitable and safe for play: The aim is to have a well presented, safe and compliant ground ready for play, setting and marking the boundary, fielding restriction circle, sight screens, ball stop netting and making sure your ground is safe. - CRICKET SQUARE MAINTENANCE
Continue the maintenance of the cricket square for each game which includes mowing the square, verticutting the square, irrigating the square, fertiliser application, managing weeds, pests and diseases. - PITCH PREPARATION
Continue your cricket pitch preparation, a typical programme of works for cricket pitch preparation is as follows: Initial phase: define your pitch and provide the initial cut. Thin the sward and undertake any minor repairs to levels. Make sure that there is sufficient moisture at depth. Conditioning phase: rolling. Grooming the grass. Mowing. Controlling moisture. Finishing phase: Final cut. Marking out. Installing the stumps. - COVERING THE SQUARE
Rain delays in cricket are common in the UK and not playing in the rain is an accepted part of the game. But delays to play because the pitch is wet, even though it is not actually raining, are frustrating for all involved. Covering the square can reduce these delays by stopping water getting on the pitch and other sensitive areas that are slow to dry out once the rain has stopped. - IRRIGATION
Why do cricket squares and pitches need to be watered? Cricket is a summer sport and irrigation is essential for the preparation of safe cricket pitches. One of the key characteristics of safe cricket pitches is that they have reasonably predictable ball bounce. This requires that they are smooth, that they have uniform hardness and a uniform density of grass cover. - MAINTAINING YOUR OUTFIELD
Continue maintaining your outfield in preparation of each game. The key tasks through the season include mowing, repairing damage, fertiliser application, weed, pest and disease management, de-compacting and smoothing the outfield surface, renovating the outfield and drainage maintenance. - MOWING
End of season rugby union and football pitch renovations should now be near to completion, but it is essential to continue the mowing regime to remove seed heads and encourage tillering of the grass plants. Be aware of any drought conditions that are forecast as mowing frequency may need to be reduced to reduce stress on the plants. - PITCH EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
It is a great time of year to look at the pitch equipment that is used on match days which includes the posts, flags and flag sockets. Posts may need to be painted, and fixings on crossbars checked to ensure they are safe for next season. - PLAN AHEAD FOR THE NEW SEASON
Looking ahead to the new season, identify what pitch sizes and goal sizes you require to facilitate all the age groups at your site. Make a maintenance plan for the season, to help structure when you may need to book in contractors and order materials.
Online Training
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For More Expert Advice
Need more guidance on pitch care? Visit the GMA Toolkit for detailed resources and tips tailored to your needs: thegma.org.uk/toolkit.
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