CROQUET LAWN MATTERS CONTINUED The benefits extend beyond thatch reduction alone. Improved microbial activity enhances nutrient cycling, increases root depth, and improves resilience to stress. Lawns managed in this way tend to hold moisture more evenly, recover more quickly from wear, and show less susceptibility to disease pressure, particularly during periods of fluctuating weather. regular light mowing complement biological management by avoiding unnecessary stress and excessive leaf removal.
Ultimately, an organic approach to croquet lawn care is about working with natural processes rather than against them. By encouraging soil biology to perform the functions it evolved to do—nutrient release, organic matter breakdown and soil structuring—clubs can achieve firm, true-playing lawns while reducing reliance on disruptive practices. Thatch control, once considered a purely mechanical problem, can instead be managed as part of a balanced, sustainable turfcare system. Listen and learn more about microbes - https://www. duncanhectorturfcare.co.uk/microbes.html
It is important to recognise that this advice applies specifically to organically managed systems. Synthetic fertilisers do not rely on microbial conversion and therefore do not generate the same biological effects within the soil. Clubs following a chemical programme should not expect biological thatch reduction to occur at the same rate, and scarification may remain necessary under those regimes. Attempting to combine aggressive mechanical practices with an organic programme can also
undermine the very soil biology the system is designed to encourage. Mowing also plays a crucial role. The mowing heights and frequencies I recommend assume the use of a properly set-up cylinder mower of the type commonly used on croquet lawns. On flat croquet lawns, set the cut height at 4 to 5mm during the season and 6 to 10mm in the winter, higher for undulating lawns. Clean cutting, consistent height control and
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