About Me

A few years ago I realised that our green would not get better on it's own.
Our green was for many years 'properly' looked after by a team who had a method and stuck to it. It worked for them but they are now gone and their methods gone with them.
Starting from a shed of mysterious equipment and chemicals and no knowledge I set about discovering how to keep a green and a day-job with no budget (20 members) and few resources (4 helpers - all with day-jobs).

Less of the what - more of the how!

I discovered lots of resources telling me what to do, but little to tell me how to do it.
This is an attempt to share my findings through trial and error. I am not an expert - just a practical person who is giving it a go.

Where to start?

Sample your soil and get a plan. Your local association may be able to help you here but I would highly recommend Bowls-Central - https://bowls-central.co.uk/soil-analysis-services

John Quinn at bowls-central will prepare a green-keeping program based specifically on your conditions.

John's approach is to work towards an organically sustainable grass ecosystem that should reduce your ongoing outlay, whilst improving your green's playing surface.

How's it going?

Slowly and with mixed results

Lesson 1 - Mow as often as you can

Lesson 2 - Understand how to use your kit

Lesson 3 - Get help (https://bowls-central.co.uk is my go-to source)

Lesson 4 - You probably don't need more top-dressing this-year (5 years sober)

Lesson 5 - You probably have a thatch issue

Lesson 6 - Try not to use ...-icide - make love not war