Bowling Green Maintenance: 30. Quarterly Plans

These plans are a general estimate of the number of occasions a task might typically be carried out over the 3-months of each season.

However, these would only be used as an informed forward planning guide as the current sward conditions, expected standards and prevailing weather conditions will influence the actual number of occasions any work might be required. The total time in hours has been given as a general range and this too will clearly be influenced by a range of factors, including the type of equipment being used, the skill and experience of the user, material quantities needed and calibration requirements, the extent of pre-start checks and post use clean down, and the ground and weather conditions. Other influencing factors will also be actual usage, equipment breakdown and vandalism.

In this example, hollow-tine aeration in the spring has not been included, although in some situations there will be a need to carry this out along with heavier top-dressing applications than normal.

The extent of work might be estimated in accordance with four quarterly maintenance plans covering the periods:
• Spring: March / April / May.
• Summer: June / July / August.
• Autumn: September / October / November.
• Winter: December / January / February.

The estimated annual total hours of work with the four example quarterly maintenance plans are 425¼ - 596 and this would be to achieve a bowling green that would be rated as a grade 3 (Intermediate) to 4 (High) quality.

Any month could be used for the starting month, with March or April often being a common one due to it typically being when pre-season work is carried out to get the bowling green prepared for the start of the playing season.

The four example quarterly maintenance plans could be adjusted accordingly to reflect any different starting month.