In this online series, club partner STIHL is bringing fans exclusive insight into the inner workings of Leicester Tigers groundstaff team.
Head groundsman Ed Mowe gives you a peak into what the grounds team have been up to as we head towards the business end of the season.
Tuesday, March 1 – Friday March 4
The ground team aerated the pitch using 10mm solid tines to a depth of 4 inches at 3 inch spacing. We also managed to spray the pitch with GBR Fortie Fe chelated iron and also Seaweed.
This helps to increase the plants tolerance to natural stresses and diseases, encourage stronger roots and healthy growth, to increase microbial activity within the rootzone and to add macronutrients and trace elements as well as enhancing the appearance.
Monday, March 7 – Friday, March 11
It was a chance to get in some essential pitch repairs with a Team Run and matchday upcoming. This included divoting the pitch as well as cleaning the surface of debris. The squad trained at the stadium, so we prepped the pitch and cleaned the surface lengthways before seeding the whole of the pitch.
MATCHDAY | Saturday, March 12 | Tigers v London Irish
Tigers on top in a convincing win, but the pitch also played host to teams from this year’s Prima Tiger Cup which welcomed U10 teams to play on the hallowed turf. A quick clean up and back to it for another week.
Monday, March 14 – Friday, March 25
With no home game for the next two weeks, it was our chance to make use of the time. We raked the scrummaging areas of the pitch, and also fertilized to input nutrition and help encourage steady growth and development of the plant.
A repair job was required on a broken irrigation pop up sprinkler, we dug this up, fitted, re-connected and tested the new pop up sprinkler. Also took the chance to use a slow release temperature controlled fertilizer which will release nutrients dependant on the plants needs dependant on the soil temperatures.
MATCHDAY | Tuesday, March 28
Final matchday in a tough month of weather. The pitch was cut both width and lengthways, and we prepped the post-protectors, mowed and strimmed the perimeter of the pitch using the STIHL FSA 90 R Cordless Grass Trimmer and STIHL RM 655 RS Petrol Lawn Mower.
A Premiership Cup win means Tigers signed-off March in style!
Ed and his team’s monthly log will be back next month with club partner STIHL. To discover more about STIHL’s range of products, visit their website at the link below.
