Irrigating the Square

Why do we need to irrigate the square?

The square will need to be irrigated (watered) during dry periods, or when the square has been under cover for extended periods because:

1. The grass plant needs water to grow and develop and to be resistant to wear.
2. The clay based soils used to construct cricket squares will crack during extended dry periods (especially in bare areas) and this should be limited for safety reasons and to protect pitch quality.
3. To water-in (dissolve) fertiliser or to nurture grass establishment on repaired pitches or renovated squares.

What equipment is used?

The challenge with irrigating a square is that normally the demand for irrigation is highest during the season when you will have pitches that need watering but also pitches that need to be kept dry because they are in preparation or use.  That is why a combination of methods is usually required.  Different methods have different pros and cons:

1. Hand watering

Hand watering using a hose with a sprinkler nozzle or lance is usually the most controlled method allowing precise watering of pitches close to other pitches you need to keep dry.  However, it is also the most labour intensive and slowest.  Without a high pressure, high flow water supply to the nozzle this can take a very long time to complete.  It also means that one person is tied to completing that task over a number of hours. 

2. Automatic ‘pop-up’ sprinklers

At the opposite end of work rate and labour demand is an automatic system of pop-up sprinklers which if well designed can be controlled from a computer or mobile device from the comfort of the grounds shed or pavilion. 

Automatic sprinklers can provide good uniformity of application if well designed and maintained and can be used to water overnight which is the most water-efficient method.

The disadvantage of automatic sprinklers for the square is that it is difficult to control which parts of the square get water (although good design of the system can allow you to split the square into halves or blocks to help with this).

3. Static hand-moved sprinklers

Static hand moved sprinklers are usually a single sprinkler mounted on a stand that applies water in a circular pattern (the arc can be adjusted on some models to limit this to quarter of semi circles).  The radius of the sprinkler or area of coverage is partly a function of the sprinkler and the nozzle, but it also the water flow rate and pressure of the supply – which is related to the feed into your water supply to the square and the diameter of the supply pipes (narrower pipes increase friction which reduces pressure at the sprinkler nozzle).

The larger the radius, the less times you will have to move the sprinkler because the area of coverage is greater – but having a smaller radius can be beneficial because it will give you more control.  You can reduce the radius by closing the tap/valve on the supply,  by using a narrower diameter hosepipe to restrict flow or adjusting the nozzle arrangement on the sprinkler itself

4. Travelling sprinklers / water tractors

Travelling sprinklers use the flow of water through the sprinkler to drive a mechanism that moves the sprinkler back along the hose or a cable.  The advantage is that some of the labour of moving the sprinkler can be reduced but this will depend on water pressure, flow rate and the application width of the device.  The depth of water applied will also depend on the wind-in mechanism gearing.  Most will come with an automatic shut-off so can be used unattended in secure environments. Travelling sprinklers can apply water very evenly over the length of the run and are therefore particularly useful for wetting pitches.

5. Sprinkler hoses

Sometimes called ‘Leaky hoses’ these are laid along a pitch or square and water is emitted through very small holes cut at regular spacing along the length of the hose.  They are good for providing linear control of application – so good for wetting pitches or irrigating next to pitches you are trying to keep dry.  They need to be moved across the square but can be plumbed in parallel depending on the pressure and flow rate of the supply.  They are particularly useful when water pressure and flow are low but will need to be moved a number of times because application width is often narrow. Because of the fine jets of spray, they may be significantly affected by the wind.

Always speak to your supplier about the right sprinkler and hose type for your square and water supply, a good supplier will be able to provide the advice you need.  Typically, a combination of a static sprinkler for watering larger areas and a hand watering sprinkler rose would be the basic set up for a club.  Adding a sprinkler hose or water tractor can make the watering of pitches and controlled areas easier – freeing up the person hand watering to do other tasks.

Managing water across the square

Pre-season and post-season when pitches are not in preparation, irrigating the square is relatively straight forward.  Automatic sprinklers or static sprinklers moved occasionally can be used to water the square effectively.  There are also usually gaps in fixture programmes when this can be done, particularly when the weather is warmer.

However, on many occasions you might need to water the square with pitches in preparation that you need to keep dry.  If those pitches are towards one side of the square it becomes easier – it’s just a matter of careful sprinkler positioning.  If the pitches you need to keep dry are spread across the square, then it might require hand watering or the use of travelling sprinklers or sprinkler hoses.

Getting water to the square

One of the challenges with irrigating cricket squares is getting the water to the square.  You can run a hose from a tap or standpipe on the boundary, but this requires a long hose which will need to be reeled in and out and stored.  A more convenient solution is to bury a water pipe under the outfield to a hydrant near to the square. 

If you install this arrangement, you should not connect that pipe directly to the mains water supply because there is a risk of polluting the mains water with pesticides and fertilisers from the square by what is known as ‘back flow’ caused by a drop in pressure.  If you are installing an underground supply to your square the best arrangement is a break tank (5-10 m³ is a typical size for a cricket square) with submersible pump to pressurise the supply to the square.  The break tank needs an air gap between the overflow and the inflow mains water pipe to be compliant with law. 

For more details on complying with the law speak to your irrigation supplier or contractor.  Make sure that your supply pipe is of big enough diameter so that you have enough pressure at the hydrant to drive the sprinklers you want to use and to make watering efficient.  Make sure you bury the pipe with at least 600 mm of cover so that it is at less risk of freezing and does not get punctured by aeration equipment (or people erecting marquees!)

If you do have a hydrant or hydrants next to the square make sure that the covers to the hydrant are not an injury risk.  A proprietary irrigation hydrant box with synthetic turf cover fixed to a well-fitting lid is a common solution to make these boxes safe.  Always replace damaged lids and make sure the water supply is not easily accessible if you are in public open space or at risk of vandalism/misadventure.

Water conservation

We all have a responsibility to conserve mains water – this is to help protect the environment and to avoid wasting valuable drinking water which is under increasing supply stress in many parts of the UK.  Irrigation is an essential part of producing safe cricket pitches but we must make sure we only use the water we need.

There are many ways to reduce water consumption in irrigation but the main ones are:

1. Only water when you need to – the grasses used in cricket pitches can take a lot of stress.
2. Only water where you need to – don’t waste water in areas you don’t need to irrigate
3. Do not water in the heat of the day or when it’s windy – water will evaporate before it can infiltrate into the soil and it is not very effective.  It is best to water at night, if you cannot do that because you do not have an automatic or travelling irrigation system then water in the evening, or if you have to -- early in the morning.
4. Do not apply water so quickly that it does not infiltrate and runs off the target area.  This is particularly important on sloping squares.
5. Fix leaks and defective equipment.

See advice on watering squares effectively and efficiently, including during drought restrictions Click here

Watering newly constructed squares or pitches

Newly constructed squares should be watered throughout the grow in period to prevent cracking as the soils structure.  Excessive cracking will lead to disruption of surface levels that is difficult to repair.  Do not allow a newly constructed square to shrink and crack before the grass plant is well established.  Grass roots are vital in strengthening the soil and resisting the shrinkage forces.  During a new construction you are managing both the grass plant and the soil.

Remember – if you are building a new square, make sure there is a compliant water supply for irrigation.  If there isn’t, include one in your project.

Benefits

• Irrigation is essential to produce safe cricket pitches – this is not just in preparation but also to maintain a uniform grass cover and to prevent excessive cracking.
• The grass needs water to grow, and irrigation will be needed to support this when rainfall is low.
• Water is essential for grass germination and young grass plants are most vulnerable to drought whilst their root network develops so irrigating repaired or renovated areas is necessary during periods of low rainfall.

Practical Tips

• A combination of watering methods is best – something for precise watering and something for covering bigger areas.
• Try to water overnight or in the evening to limit losses from evaporation.
• An underground supply to a hydrant near the square can make watering easier but make sure you comply with the law and that your hydrant box does not create an injury risk.