This is the OCTOBER installment of Horticulture Week's month-by-month guide to essential maintenance and management tasks for turf and sports facilities such as bowling greens, cricket pitches, football pitches, rugby pitches, golf, lawns and other recreational and fine turf.
All turf areas
Check for disease activity and treat appropriately
Watch for pests and control when necessary
Mow less frequently and raise mowing height
Remove dews and debris
Winter games pitches
Repair divots
Harrow worm casts when dry
Seed thinning areas
Inspect goal posts before each game
Mow regularly to 35mm for football and 50mm for rugby
Irrigation may still be required on sand pitches
Golf
Complete renovation of greens and tees
Slit tine greens
Fairway divoting and repairs will be ongoing
Remove fallen leaves and debris from greens and tees
Mow greens to 8mm, tees to 12mm and fairways to 18mm
De-commission irrigation systems later this month
Bowls
Complete end of season renovation
Repair edges
Watch for fusarium and consider a preventative treatment
Clean ditches
Repair banks
Mow to 12mm
De-commission irrigation systems later this month
Cricket
Open up square to relieve compaction
Finish renovation as soon as possible
Fence the square
Brush regularly
Mow square regularly to 25mm
Aerate outfield throughout the month, especially if used for football, to improve drainage and maintain root development
Mow outfield to 25mm
Lawns
Continue mowing 10-12mm for ornamental, 18mm for general and 50mm for amenity
Control moss and scarify
Remove leaves and debris
Top dress if required
Begin repairs to edges and uneven areas
De-commission irrigation systems
*Jobs should only be undertaken when ground and weather conditions are suitable and will vary according to location and may vary significantly from year to year. And remember that while the year nicely divides into 12 months, activities often overlap.
- SEE SALLY DRURY'S TURF TASKS MONTHLY CHECKLISTS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR
