CROQUET LAWN MAINTENANCE
DUNCAN HECTOR duncanhectorturfcare.co.uk
Hoop Smasher
A CUNNING HACK FOR HOOPS As the season progresses, hoop holes tend to enlarge, causing the hoops to loosen. I solve this by using carrot‐ shaped plas6c shims cut from old fer6liser containers. These are pushed into the holes to make the hoops solid in the ground again. The posi6on of the shims allows you to fine‐ tune the hoop width: placing them on the outside of the holes narrows the gap, while placing them on the inside widens it. They do tend to bed into the hole 6ghtly so a pair of nose‐end pliers will be required to remove them. For extra firmness, a small amount of green‐waste compost can be added to the holes. Being organic, it will break down naturally over 6me without crea6ng high spots. NEWPORT CC HOOP SMASHER A hoop smasher is used to create pilot holes when se8ng hoops, and the job is much easier if the smasher matches your desired hoop width. Newport CC has devised a clever solu6on by adap6ng a spare hoop with an adjustable bolt, allowing precise control over the width (see photo). SHOULD I MOW BEFORE FERTILISING? When using granular fer6liser, it’s best to mow first. Apply the fer6liser just before rain is forecast, or water it in if you have irriga6on. A&er applica6on, mow without the grass box un6l the granules have dispersed. This prevents fer6liser from being collected with the clippings and ending up on the compost heap. ASK THE EXPERT Duncan Hector has kindly agreed to be our resident expert for lawn care. From the results of the Croquet Gaze7e survey it was clear that lawncare advice was a high priority for many of our readers. Duncan would be delighted to hear your ques6ons which may be published and responded to in the Croquet Gaze7e. Please submit your ques6ons to communica6ons@croquetengland.org.uk.
Shims
WHAT HEIGHT SHOULD WE MOW AT? For several years I maintained the lawn at 5 mm, but recently reduced it to 4 mm with no6ceable results. The lawn speed has improved, and coarse grasses don’t like it. A faster surface transforms the game, encouraging a lighter touch and allowing longer shots with less effort. However, if the surface is uneven, you may need to keep the grass slightly longer to prevent balls from wandering. In the winter, the cut height should be increased to between 6 mm and 10 mm. Keeping the grass trimmed during the winter is important because it encourages lateral growth thus thickening the sward. If the grass is allowed to grow long and lanky, the sward will thin out and the surface will degrade. IRRIGATION I was recently asked how o&en irriga6on should be used during dry periods. Some believe it’s best to water heavily but infrequently, allowing moisture to penetrate deep into the root zone and encourage deeper roo6ng. According to this theory, light daily watering keeps moisture near the surface while the deeper soil remains dry. While this sounds logical, my experience shows the opposite. I apply 2.5 mm per night (about 2,500 litres per lawn) during dry spells. Tes6ng my lawn’s root zone reveals that the top inch is driest, it’s moist from 1" to 5", and wet at 6". It’s remarkable how o&en accepted advice and published guidance don’t match real‐world results.
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 10
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator