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[RSpall]

That's sounds really good and I will have to give it a try. It's might help us better as well because we are a very open ground and grass really struggles to take because the wind is very strong all the time. Unless it's something else we are doing wrong ha. Would you suggest watering it before you put them down then? Would you also fill the ends in with the loan and seed and put the sheets down straight away?

I'm the past we have sometimes just put the sheet across the square sideways so it covers all the ends at ones. Would that be wise or would you just stick to one strip at a time. As much info as possible would help thanks!

[jblowe]

@uknsaunders surely they can't stay on for a week as they need the sunlight etc? We have had them on for a day or so when we use them and notice a difference but we never really know the ideal time to leave them on for.

Thanks @jblowe

Being really lazy I left the germination sheets on for 4 or 5 weeks after the end of season renovation, only took them off to do my first cut.

The Groundsman at Charlbury CC has cut down a sheets to the size so they cover just the damaged areas at each end, maybe 1 by 2 metres and they stay on until he has regrowth, they are on when you play!!!

[jblowe]

Found these really helpful, all the Natwest pitch doctor videos on youtube are worth a watch. just put a couple of links for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqp0FkObJ_A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAOrjSyU6LE

[jblowe]

Would you suggest watering it before you put them down then?

No I water over the top, the net helped to hold the water during the really hot periods. Later in the year it helps keep the ground warm.  It forms a kind of micro-climate.

[RSpall]

Thanks very much for those.

Would you say it matters what the weather is like when you put the sheets on? Better when it's sunny and hot or cloudy as it won't take as well without them when it's cloudy?

[123*]

Hi mate, first of all well done on helping out and becoming a bit more educated, if only all players would do this!

The problem is every groundsman has their own way of working and their own methods they've developed over time. We all think our way is the best and only way to do it and anything else is the wrong way! Ask 10 groundsman the same question on pitch preparation and you'll get 10 different answers!

If I was you I'd visit your local ECB premier league club and have a bit chat with the groundsman, every square and ground is different so advice given to you might be totally wrong for how your decks are constructed. Get someone who can give you advice which is specific to where you play. Even better still get yourself an ECB county pitch adviser out, it'll be well worth the small fee and you will get a lot out of it, they will point you in the right direction!

[RSpall]

Thanks. Yes I can understand there are different ways to produce a good wicket depending on the type of ground, grass and environment. I just wanto to know the basic things so I can start having a clue of what needs to be done and when. I'm sure you know what I mean, I have a lot to learn.

[uknsaunders]

Hi mate, first of all well done on helping out and becoming a bit more educated, if only all players would do this!

The problem is every groundsman has their own way of working and their own methods they've developed over time. We all think our way is the best and only way to do it and anything else is the wrong way! Ask 10 groundsman the same question on pitch preparation and you'll get 10 different answers!

Agree, the level of prep will vary according to standard and facilities. Many village grounds will get maybe 2-3 hours of prep a week during the season. Literally cut the square, couple of wicket cuts and a roll. Not much more as they might only use a wicket on the square once a season. Move on to big clubs or minor county standard grounds and they'll be prepping a track for 2 weeks or more, plus other things like spiking, scarifying, footholes etc.

As you get to know your wicket, don't be afraid of re-using them for further matches. Can not only save time and effort but result in a better playing surface. We had one track at Marlow that did 9 games in 16 days and could of kept going, it was that good and hard. Likewise my village team at the moment have a deck that we used for 3 games no problems, it could of been used for more it looked that untouched in the playing area. It played better/quicker with every game thanks in part to the rolling it received. Doesn't always work out in wet weather or some soil types but it's a way to cheat some time back.

[RSpall]

I suppose every club is different. We are a decent sized club really but it's all new to me and the groundsman are only volunteers so they do what they can when they can which is good on them but needs a lot more work than it gets. This is where we will look to invest in a paid groundsman next year so a bit more time can be spent on it. I'd love to do it myself really as I am really keen to keep learning about it. My down fall is that I'm moving away after the season donut would be silly to get involved now.

We are using a pitch from Saturday for our T20 cup game tomorrow and you are right, it's taken a lot less time to prepare. I did also give Saturday's pitch a good rolling as the ground was soft. If we look at a 10 day preparation period for a pitch, how many times ideally would you water and roll it?

[123*]

Personally I try and only irrigate once but making sure it's to a decent depth, not just 5 minutes with the hose! Depends if you have covers to control the process!

[RSpall]

When you say irrigate do you mean scarify? Or is that something completely differentl? We scarify a strip after it's been used.
What's your thoughts on this weekly process...

Select the strip, scarily and cut it. Depending on the weather, assuming it's summer and warm it will get watered a lot early week then rolled the next day morning while still soft. Watered and rolled again midweek. Cut prior to the game Friday evening or Saturday morning? Following the game, fill the footholes in with the loam and seed and gently roll in?

[uknsaunders]

Even when its warm I doubt it needs watering more than once in a week. Should only need the rolling once not too long after watering. You can also roll it again if it is still a bit damp onto on the Friday or as a last resort for a wet track on the Saturday ( to get some moisture to the surface and burnt off before playing).

[RSpall]

We had a damp pitch yesterday so it had half an hour last night and 15 mins tonight. Looks like a nice track for the weekend. The grass on it is also one of the hardest things to deal with as its a very thick grass and not fine grass. Hopefully with the weather we have had this week and what's due, there shouldn't be any excuses not to produce a good wicket.

[Timbo]

If you need any advice, have you tried your local county cricket board? I'm on the Norfolk Cricket Grounds Association and we run seminars to local groundsmen. We are always here if you need us, likewise to anyone who wants advice and is willing to listen!

[uknsaunders]

this looks a good resource:-

http://www.ecb.co.uk/groundsman/