Alcester & Ragley Park CC Groundcare Diary – Beginning of May 2020

Whilst we are in ‘lockdown’ we are following Brad Jefferies, Head Groundsman at Alcester & Ragley Park CC, through the season as the ground maintenance programme progresses throughout the Spring and Summer in readiness for a Return to Cricket.

We caught up with him at the beginning of May......

After most of the pre season rolling work was completed last weekend, this weekend is all about cleaning out the square. Firstly cut with Honda Rotary at about 20mm. Raked with SISIS Combirake the square in two directions (not for the faint hearted, very hard work but worth it), clean up with rotary mower. Verti cut the square with play and then clean up with rotary.

 

I then applied some nutrients as the Cold Start 11-5-5+8Fe was starting to leach out. We applied two ICL products which are pictured. One being a standard fertiliser but with weed killer added (we currently don’t have a sprayer or knapsack, this is on my list to buy but at the moment need to look at granular alternatives). I also applied a 4-5 month fertiliser applied at a low rate to act as a base feed for the summer which we will add on further fertilisers as required.

 

Outfield was cut at 25mm, the car park was cut with our ride on rotary mower.

 

Overall very happy with where the ground is at and once again I couldn’t do all of this by myself and a big thankyou goes to the amazing volunteer club members who helped me with the other tasks throughout the day so I could concentrate on the square.

 

Brad Jefferies

Head Groundsman

© Alcester and Ragley Park CC