October is a pivotal month for grounds teams. Autumn is now in full swing, bringing shorter daylight hours, falling temperatures and a greater risk of heavy rainfall.
With football and rugby union seasons gathering pace and winter sports in full demand, surface management becomes more challenging. October also offers a crucial window for autumn renovations and preparations ahead of the harsher winter months.
Here are some key considerations:
- Aeration
With football and rugby union seasons now underway, pitches may already be showing signs of wear. Only if soil conditions allow, regular aeration helps to relieve compaction and improve root development. Even light, frequent passes can make a big difference to plant health and surface recovery. - Fertiliser
An autumn fertiliser will help the sward stay strong as growth begins to slow. This will build resilience for the winter months, ensuring your surface will perform under heavy usage and fluctuating weather conditions. - Overseeding
Overseeding winter sports pitches now takes advantage of warmer soil temperatures and moisture. The sooner seed is in the ground, the stronger the establishment before winter sets in. - High-wear areas
Goalmouths, scrummage zones and centre circles, for example, will deteriorate quickly under regular play. Repairing divots straight after games and overseeding where possible will reduce longer-term damage and improve player safety. - Surface grooming
If use of a combination grooming tool is available, or can be organised, regular use of this to rake and brush your surface will help to relieve surface compaction, improve surface drainage and manage organic matter levels. These operations will also alleviate the conditions in which many weeds and diseases thrive, and stand grass back upright after use. - Cricket square
Hopefully your square renovations have been completed, but if not, there is still time in the first half of October, if the temperatures are still good and no frosts at night, only carry out if weather and ground conditions are suitable. - Cricket winter maintenance
When the renovation is completed, the next step is to fence off the square to deter people walking across it and damaging levels and the new sward.
Wait for rain - don’t walk on the square until the sward is established. The best thing that can happen, once the renovation is completed, is for light rain to fall frequently. Rain is the best form of irrigation. In these conditions, the grass will germinate in seven to ten days and then keep growing before winter.
Stay off the square until the loam is worked into the surface.
For More Expert Advice
Need more guidance on pitch care? Visit the GMA Toolkit for detailed resources and tips tailored to your needs: resources.thegma.org.uk.
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