This is the DECEMBER installment of Horticulture Week's month-by-month guide to essential maintenance and management tasks for turf and sports facilities such as bowling greens, cricket pitches, football pitches, rugby pitches, golf, lawns and other recreational and fine turf.
All turf areas
- Check for disease activity and treat appropriately
- Mow less frequently and raise mowing height
- Remove dews and debris
- Keep off when conditions are frosty
Winter games pitches
- Divot repairs remain key this month
- Inspect goal posts before each game
- Fork and sand high-wear areas as necessary
- Slit tine when there is no risk of smearing
- Brush or harrow when conditions permit
- Overmark as necessary
- Mow regularly to 35mm for football and 50mm for rugby
Golf
- Mow greens with hand mower to reduce wear
- Aerate greens with slit tines
- Make sure artificial mats are secure
- Fairway divoting and repairs will be ongoing
- Remove fallen leaves and debris from greens and tees
- Rope off damage-prone areas and erect explanatory signs
- Start tee extensions
- Start bunker renovations
- Mow greens to 8mm, tees to 12mm and fairways to 18mm
- Monitor areas prone to waterlogging to plan future drainage needs
- Service machinery
- Prepare maintenance schedule and budget for next year
Bowls
- Use drag brush daily to keep surface dry, blades erect and remove worm casts
- Aerate with solid tines at 75 to 100mm or with slit or chisel tines depending on weather
- Watch for fusarium during mild spells and control
- Clean ditches
- Finish bank repairs
- Mow to 12mm
- Prepare maintenance schedule and budget for next year
Cricket
- Use drag brush daily or at least every other day to keep surface dry, blades erect and remove worm casts
- Aerate when conditions are good
- Mow square to 25mm
- Mow outfield to 25mm
- Maintain perimeter fencing
Lawns
- Top off at 10-12mm for ornamental, 18mm for general and 50mm for amenity when necessary and conditions are suitable
- Remove leaves and debris
- Repair edges and uneven areas
*Jobs should only be undertaken when ground and weather conditions are suitable and will vary according to location and may vary significantly from year to year. And remember that while the year nicely divides into 12 months, activities often overlap.
- SEE SALLY DRURY'S TURF TASKS MONTHLY CHECKLISTS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR
