Green Maintenance

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Association Secretary

Green Maintenance

Darren Andrews • 23 March 2020

Bowling Green Maintenance Suggestions

Working on the fact that we are not bowling at present but hopefully will return later in the season, the following recommendations have been offered to WWCBA and it's bowling members:

Anyone working on the green must follow the government health guidelines, these are changing daily.

While working on the green, it's important to keep social distancing from others that may be carrying out other essential tasks. Keep 2m away and take care with cleaning shared facilities. If lone working make sure someone knows where you are, what you are doing and the time you plan to be there. This will help keep you safe. A working Mobile Phone will be useful but check it regularly as noisy machines & ear defenders may prevent you from hearing. If there are any changes to the plan let people know.

The bowling green is a living thing and even without bowling it could need some level of minimum maintenance.

Mow the green at normal winter height of 8mm to 10mm - Remember do not take more than a third off the plant.
Continue to Verticut or lightly scarify once a month to remove dead material and prevent the build up of thatch (Organic Matter), Only scarify the grass plant.
Aerate the green with a solid or slit tine every 3 months when not bowling, if possible
Continue to apply fertiliser but reduce the nitrogen content as you are mowing less and not creating wear with bowling, perhaps staying with a autumn winter fertiliser is a suggestion.
Treat any pest and diseases as normal.
Edge the greens and clean the pans as needed.
When we can bowl again lower the cut down to 6mm and increase Verticut or light scarification. Remember do not take more than a third off the plant.
Keep equipment and chemicals safe & secure, we know unattended premises will be tempting.

Please do not be tempted to have a practice as this sets a bad impression that bowling is a safe activity, We know that lone bowling could be currently accepted but given recent events where people are attracted to open spaces and flocking together in breach of the 2m zones and that to play a game you would need to be at times within that zone then it is not safe.

If people go within two metres of others who they don't live with then they're helping to spread the virus and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer. The Health Secretary said the government advice on social distancing was "really clear" and people should stay two metres apart, staying at home if at all possible.

We have learned that some councils have already made a statement regarding Parks and open spaces, that the maintenance of non-essential grass cutting in parks and open spaces, bowling greens, football pitches and roadside grass verges will be suspended for the foreseeable future.

You should consider these suggestions but more important is to ensure safety first, grass will regrow or be replaced, you and others will not.

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