What a Difference a Year Makes

February 19'

What a Difference a Year Makes

This winter's weather has been the one all groundsmen wish for, which is the polar opposite to last year. but does that bring its own problems?

We have had just one very hard week this winter when snow arrived and getting that shifted off the covers ready for training. Fortunately, that was only for a week, unlike last year when it felt like we were doing it all winter. 

We are watering the pitches in February, which is the first time since 2012, despite having a wet winter that year, the weather in February was warm. Watering now isn't ideal as we are putting cold water on surfaces we are wanting to warm up for some growth and germination of seed which has been sown, but this is necessary as pitches were drying out too much and getting hard under foot for play.

We are generally pleased with  stadium pitch this winter because of a combination of the good weather and we have had less fixture congestion in the post Christmas period. 8 fixtures were held in poor weather in the new year of 2018 and this year we have had 5 fixtures in good weather. The only problem area I could see when the fixtures can out was the 13th and 16th of February, a Wednesday - Saturday quick turn around, which is OK if you don't get snow or a frosty spell over this period.

When the "Beast From The East" we were experiencing temperatures down to -7, the same week a year on, we have temperatures in the teens. This is great news for us, but we do have to adjust our management practices to accommodate. Our feeding programme has to change because the winter fertiliser we would normally plan and budget for is insufficient for the requirement. Typically an order would be placed 2-3 weeks before it is required so a look at the long range forecast, which is not much more than an educated guess by the meteorologists, and a decision is made so it has been last minute changes this year.

2019 forecast for the end of Feb on the left and on the right 2018

There is a massive improvement to the area in front of the dug outs, which we have always struggled with. we were able to purchase a new grow light for the pitch in December which sits around this area now, not just giving light to help the plant to photosynthesise but also heat from the lamps to keep the surface dry. Most of our grass coverage is lost when play happens on a surface which is has too much moisture in the top. The images tell their own story.

In front of the dug outs 13 Feb 2019

In front of dug outs 13 Feb 2018

We have overseeded through the middle of the pitch to fill in the gaps to have as much grass coverage as possible going into the last quarter of the season. We will have the pitch in play until the end of May to accommodate county cup finals and corporate use. 

The training ground pitches have come through the winter in decent condition, so a strong finish to the season regarding pitch quality is expected. Pitch 1 has performed particularly well this year. It has the benefit of the drainage system installed and that really helps pull the water away from the surface so there isn't damage taken when it is used after rain.

Pitch 1

Pitch 2

Goal keeper training area

Renovation planning has been done with the first training ground pitches to be taken up from the 15th April if the weather is on our side. Renovations will continue until the end of June completing one pitch per week.

It's a good feeling that challenging weather is (hopefully) behind us and we have survived the winter  with the pitches in good condition. roll on the summer.