TURF MANAGEMENT
Wiedenmann XF6 helps STS York with their cricket wicket aeration marathon
Moderate conditions since October have meant sports contractor , Sports Turf Services York has hardly called off a day ’ s work these past few months .
Director , Simon Race and experienced colleague , Nick Hatfield , operate together and separately across the north , maintaining and refurbishing all types of outdoor sports surfaces for schools , councils , and professional and volunteer clubs .
Cricket has long been an area of expertise for STS York , and this season they have aerated dozens of squares . Aerating a cricket square follows a standard timetable but so much comes down to the conditions on the day .
“ It really has to be done between mid-November to December with our machine of choice the Wiedenmann Terra Spike XF6 , which is both fast and precise ,” explained Nick Hatfield .”
“ We try not to deep spike beyond December because you want to give the aeration holes time to close . I always suggest a 10 mm wide tine to a depth of no more than 20 cm .
“ Deep aeration is essential as it lets oxygen down to the root system and let ’ s CO ² out , plus helps with drainage . It can help break up layering caused by over rolling that causes lateral root growth and helps the roots go deeper .”
“ You don ’ t want any ‘ lifting ’ whatsoever . The XF6 is the quickest deep aerator on the market and its tines penetrate the surface and then come back out fast . That ‘ in ’ and ‘ out ’ action must be smooth .
“ No two cricket squares are ever the same , nor are the conditions on the day . Just because someone has had theirs done a mile away doesn ’ t mean yours is ready to do . With timing , the secret is to be patient . Over time you do find what works best ,” concluded Nick Hatfield .
www . wiedenmann . co . uk
54 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March 2022