Pitch restoration after the floods subside
With sports pitches across the UK either severely water-logged or completely submerged by flood waters, the majority of spring aeration work and fertiliser applications are on hold. Groundsmen are instead contemplating their next moves once the flood waters have receded and water tables have started to fall.
While larger pieces of detritus such as rubbish, litter and branches can be gathered up and disposed of, a thick layer of silt is more problematic. Where silt deposits are particularly deep the only option will be to grade it off, either with a machine or by hand.
In both cases, care should be taken to minimise damage to the underlying sward and, if you suspect you are doing more harm than good either by digging into the grass, excessively compacting or churning up the pitch, efforts should cease until conditions are dry enough to recommence.
Less severe deposits should be tackled via a programme of aeration once conditions allow: it should be noted that regular and frequent aeration will be required throughout the following twelve months to combat the build-up of silt in the soil profile.
In addition, top dressing with sand should also be carried out more frequently. If a top-dressing programme isn’t already included within the budget perhaps it could be considered as a one off to give the pitch the best chance of making a full and rapid recovery.
Brushing the sward or light scarification should also be considered in order to clean the grass plants and to persuade them to stand upright.
Alternatively, where flood waters have only deposited a thin layer of substrate, using a pedestrian mower with an old set of blades set high enough that they aren’t actually touching the grass can create a good vacuum to ‘hoover’ the sward clean.
Applying a good quality slow release fertiliser as soon as conditions allow will also help to take the pitch through to the end of the season.
For the worst affected pitches – where the sward has been severely impinged by long periods under water – it may be necessary to over-seed with a rescue mixture such as A999 Rescue. This specialised blend of ryegrasses contains THUNDER, an annual ryegrass that (unlike most perennial ryegrasses which aren’t suitable for sowing in cold conditions) germinates at lower temperatures and quickly replaces lost grass cover.
The mixture will not persist beyond May, but it will bolster the pitch in the short term and provide a surface which can be managed through the remainder of the winter. Beyond that, over-seeding with a high quality blend of perennial ryegrasses – such as those in A20 Premier Ryesport or A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus – can be done as part of the post-season renovation programme.