Keeping a bowling green in top condition requires consistent care and the right equipment. Whether you are a head groundsperson at a busy club or taking on maintenance for the first time, this guide covers everything you need, from mowing schedules and aeration techniques to maintaining your bowling green ditches and ditch liners.
A well-maintained bowling green can serve a club for decades. Invest the time now, and you will enjoy a surface that is both a pleasure to play on and resilient enough to withstand years of use.
Mowing
Mowing is the most important aspect of bowling green maintenance. You will need a specialist lawn turf mower with at least ten cutting blades, as there is no practical alternative that will produce the same quality of cut.
Use a piece of paper to test your mower blade: slide it between the cylinder and bottom blade, and it should cut cleanly through.
Spring Mowing Schedule
- By the end of March, cut grass to 6 mm. Reduce blade height by ½ mm at a time if needed.
- Cut twice a week through spring, mowing corner to corner and alternating direction each time.
- From April, lower height by ½ mm per week, targeting 5 mm, and increase frequency to three times a week.
Whether you take the grass below 5 mm depends on member preference and grass type. Finer grasses produce a faster surface, whilst annual meadow grass bowls slower. Mowing is also a good opportunity to inspect the turf for disease, infection, or deterioration before issues worsen.
Scarifying
Scarifying removes dead and dying material to allow light and air into the green and encourage lateral growth. Avoid scarifying in winter, as exposing the grass crown to frost will cause damage.
- Use a thatch removal reel in autumn and early spring if thatch is a problem.
- Try verti cutting (a less aggressive method) two weeks after applying early spring fertiliser.
- Continue scarifying every two to three weeks throughout the season, alternating corners each time.
Fertilisers and Conditioners
Bowling greens take significant wear from feet, bowls, and equipment. Fertiliser promotes growth and keeps the surface healthy, whilst conditioners help the grass absorb nutrients by improving soil biology and supplying micronutrients.
- Apply the first fertiliser of the year in March, when temperatures begin to rise. A good indicator is when local farmers start fertilising their fields.
- Use a fertiliser containing iron to suppress moss. Avoid phosphate and potassium at this stage.
- During the season, switch to liquid fertiliser containing nitrogen, potassium, and seaweed, applied at the end of May and July. Liquid formulas are less disruptive to play than powders.
- In particularly wet seasons, apply additional fertiliser to compensate for nutrients leaching out of the soil.
Aeration
Aeration ensures water penetrates the surface, reaches the root zone, and creates space for roots to grow and absorb nutrients. How frequently you aerate depends on the composition of your green, as sand drains far faster than loam or clay soils.
- October to March: alternate between deep slitting and chisel tines every two weeks.
- Summer months: use solid pencil tines or chisel tines once a month to keep the surface open.
- Throughout the season, use a sarel roller every two to three weeks.
- Always spike in the same direction to promote root growth and avoid surface damage.
Water Application
Watering keeps the green alive, but too much will soften the surface and make it unplayable. Automatic watering systems can be a useful solution. If you use one, soak the green every three days rather than watering little and often. This encourages roots to grow deeper in search of moisture.
In particularly hot weather, a brief one-minute spray during the day will help keep the turf cool without oversaturating it.
Rolling
Rolling compacts the turf to keep the bowling green surface flat and even. It should not be done too frequently, as this can inhibit growth, but when combined with spiking, rolling can help to increase green speed. Both pedestrian trulevel rollers and motorised versions are suitable for this task.
Lawn Equipment and Bowling Green Ditch Markers
Alongside surface maintenance, ensuring the right accessories are in place is essential for smooth play. Key items include:
- Bowling green ditch markers and coloured disc markers to define rinks clearly.
- A bowls gatherer to collect bowls without causing turf damage.
- Rink protection mats to reduce wear in high-traffic areas near bowling green ditches.
Keeping your bowling green ditch markers in good condition is just as important as maintaining the surface itself. Clearly marked ditches ensure fair, consistent play and are a sign of a well-managed facility.
Caring for Your Bowling Green Ditches
Your bowling green ditches need regular attention alongside the lawn itself. Neglecting them can lead to drainage problems and surface damage that affects the quality of play.
- Inspect the drainage system regularly for blockages. Water should flow freely through the ditch. If it does not, clear the drain using drain rods.
- Check beneath bowling green ditch liners periodically for debris build-up or unwanted growth.
- Replace or refit liners as needed. Smooth rubber bowling green ditch liners are the recommended choice, as they are straightforward to clean, easy to cut to size, and simple to fit.
Get Everything You Need from Sportsmark
With over 60 years of experience, we are the UK’s specialist supplier of sports ground equipment, groundsman’s tools, and bowls maintenance products. Whether you need bowling green ditch channels, bowls ditch liners, access steps, or ramps, we have everything required to keep your bowling green in outstanding condition.
We also stock a full range of indoor bowls equipment, so wherever you play, we can help you maintain a facility to be proud of.
Beyond the green, Sportsmark supplies a comprehensive range of road marking products and safety solutions, including speed bumps, reflective road studs, antisocial studs, and litter and grit bins, to keep your club and its surroundings safe and well-managed. To find out how we can support your facility, visit our website or get in touch with our team.
