APRIL 2014

Well Easter is here, the weather has been more favourable than last year, and the grass has started to grow., but night time temps have been bordering on frosts of late and grass growth is very slow on the low lying Iford Bridge green.

I have started working on improving the soil biology and have applied the first application of a cocktail of compost tea, some soil conditioners such as amino acids, fulvic and humic acids, molasses, seaweeds and various minerals, an organic penetrant and finally an organic compound that boosts the oxygen available to the root zone. The effect of this will be for about a month, but I will make a second application earlier to give another boost. I am also waiting for some rain or the irrigation to be up and running to apply a further soil conditioner that needs to be washed in.

If the weather stays dry I will start light verticutting this coming week. This will start to thin out some of the thatch, will create just enough disturbance to encourage grasses to fill in some of the weaker patches, and hopefully out compete the moss. Oh yes the moss is a problem and after chatting with Alan D it seems it has always been so. I know the conditions are good for moss, low lying and generally on the damp side, but I do not accept the current levels. I am expecting as the root zone is stimulated back into life, the levels of moss will reduce and maybe even disappear. Well it is my job to be optimistic!!

Lastly I hope all the members, both new and old, enjoyed a bowl on opening day? I am hoping that I will get some constructive feedback, and undoubtedly some criticism. I realise that I am employed by the members to improve your green; to take it onto the next level. This will not happen over night, and I expect that progress will be slow to start with, but if all goes according to plan, the rate of improvements will increase, and in my year two (well here's hoping), that I will have brought smiles to most members faces.

Happy Easter to you all and hope you all have a successful and enjoyable season in 2014.

March 2014

What a difference a few weeks make. It has stopped raining every day! Hurray. 

I have been busy on the green, but also have taken the time to look up the weather statistics. The recorded rainfall for 2013 was 730mm, which is nearly 29 ins. Our expected annual rainfall is around the 32inch mark. Interestingly the rain fall for October and December was 129mm  (5ins) and 146 (nearly 6ins). So generally last year was a dry one, until the end, and we will not forget the Christmas Eve storm which resulted in the Clubhouse being flooded and the green being a metre or so under water. If my maths is correct, then that fact equates to some 1500 tonnes of water just on top of the green. I hear you all say, then it should be flat! We will see?

More seriously I have had a good month generally and managed to aerate / spike twice; verticut in both directions; apply two lots of fertiliser; overseed; sarell roll; spray a couple applications of iron; trim the edges and spray for laetherjackets.

The green is still suffering from the moss, but hopefully we are now, or soon will be, warm enough for the grass to push on and out perform the moss. I am largely continuing with the eco friendly approach and will be applying the last of the granular fertiliser applications next week if the weather is suitable. 

I will then start with the biological warfare! Sounds very scifi and scary, but in reality it is turning the clock backwards, but with the use of modern science. I will be following a programme which is similar to that of Gleneagles, who will be staging the next Ryder Cup I believe. This programme will look to use nature to break down the thatch layer; enhance the rootzone and hopefully result in a faster; truer green, which will have improved disease resistance as well. 

It will be very interesting to see how this approach works on your green, as it is rather unique locally in it's position. My personal opinion is that it will work better than before and be an outstanding success! Well I would say that wouldn't I?

With the new season just a month away, fingers crossed that the early spring continues and we have good growth when you start bowling.

Feb 2014

It has been a rather wet time, and to be honest not a lot going on. The odd day has been dry, and have managed to get some iron and fertiliser on in the last few days.

All in all depressing!!

But saying that soil temperatures are between 5 and 6 degrees C, and now we are having 12 hours day light a day. So lets keep our fingers crossed and hoping for an early spring!

I have applied an organic granular fertiliser, but only a 20kgs bag. So hopefully it will give the sward a little lift and get it away.

The very wet, but mild winter, has resulted in ideal conditions for moss! The continuously overcast days = low light levels + mild weather, the perfect conditions for moss growth.

But we must look forward and not backwards! So I have now everything in stock to get going as and when the weather allows.

The Club's mower will go for a service / sharpen the first week in March, and then I will be ready!

I must say I am looking forward to the 2014 season, I find it rather exciting; a new challenge; a great green to pit my skills, etc...

Jan 2014