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[thecord]

Not sure how many experienced groundsmen are around on the forum these days but worth a try...
Is it safe to scarify a cricket square this close to the new season or will it potentially cause damage?

We do our own pitch work and are keen to scarify to remove some dead moss from the surface but one chap has mentioned that it might not be a good idea so close to the season - first matches will be 7th May.

Appreciate any thoughts.

[jwebber86]

if its just to remove moss then it shouldnt be a problem. personally i would do this as soon as possible after spraying the moss

just make sure you dont go into the surface as this will cause problems. clay by its nature is very good at keeping its profile which will include any grooves made by scarifying

[thecord]

Thanks for that mate 👍🏻

[waikik]

It has to be done mate, if not it will give to much advantage to the bowlers. You just need to
take a bit grass out at a time with the scarifier, cause one you take the grass out it can't go back in.

[jamferg]

As long as you roll out any grooves created, before the square dries too much If you don't get the moss out you'll have a slow surface

[uknsaunders]

Do you have a brush attachment for your scarifier?  That should do the job without grooving this close to the season.  You can scarify but ideally you want soft ground so you can roll out any grooves.

[thecord]

We don't have our own scarifier, we'd have to hire one in

[waikik]

If your hiring a scarifier you can set the depth so you wont disturb the soil
or you can even use a metal springback leaf rake which will do the job well but
is more labor intensive. If you have a bunch of blokes and a few rakes you'll
do it in no time.
 

[thecord]

Thanks @waikik we did the raking option with out smaller second square yesterday but our main square is huge and my spine will break if we try to do the same on there!

[simonmay5]

Was going to say that a good old spring garden rake going accross the pitch not straight down will get rid of the moss and then just clean up with your fine cut table mower

[Vulcan Cricket]

Before i do what I do now I was a greenkeeper and also trained in sports turf . Right it's does take out moss but also thatch you should do it two ways ie up and down and left to right . Doing the whole table should of been done at the end of season and then then over seeded and top dressed with loam . But by the time of year you are going to be playing soon would say just go with nap of the wicket be care full not rip to much out because you could end up with poor root zone and end up with not haveing the roots to help hold the surface together and end up with dust bowl and the top comeing out of the wicket . Hope this helps if you want any more advice would be happy to have a chat.   Dean

[Woodyspin]

This would explain why of late our groundsman has left slightly longer grass around the crease, makes the pitch look shorter when you're bowling though!

[thecord]

Thanks very much Dean.
We did all the end of season work as you suggest but a very wet winter/spring seems to have left us with an unusually large amount of moss.

[Vulcan Cricket]

Wet winter wouldn't help