Football Pitch FAQ 12. What is the best height to cut the pitch?

This does depend on the standard of the league you are playing in and the desired standard of the pitch. However, 25mm for a prepared pitch would normally be considered the minimum height of cut, although elite leagues can be a few millimetres lower, but they do have a considerable number of additional resources which can only be dreamt of by normal clubs and pitches.

The height of cut should also be adjusted to get the most from the grass plant, in particular to develop a strong and resilient root system. For the majority of volunteer-maintained pitches and amateur games a height of cut of 35mm to 40mm would be quite suitable. This would allow the grass to grow to 50mm to 60mm prior to mowing for the match day game/s, assuming that no more than one-third of leaf height is to be removed with a cut. This slightly higher height than the 'common reference height' of 25mm can significantly improve root depth and density as well as improve playing conditions for longer into the depths of winter. It will also reduce the amount of divoting which might take place on a pitch, primarily because rooting will be that much stronger and better able to resist being kicked out.

The desire to have a height of cut of 25mm is often driven by trying to replicate the presentational standards seen on televised matches, however, the situations (and available resources) are totally different. A well-cut pitch at a uniform height of 40mm will be almost indistinguishable from one cut at 25mm during the early part of a season from a visual perspective. Overall, though it will be qualitatively better because the less stress resulting from regular mowing at a higher height will have developed a more resilient sward. Another benefit is that the sward will be more resistant to disease attack.

The aim of pitch maintenance is to provide optimum playing conditions throughout the entire season. This is in contrast to having good conditions for the early part of the season, with higher maintenance inputs, but then quality drops off considerably over the mid to latter part of the season, for example, due to the impact of stress on the sward from consistently short mowing practices, overuse of the pitch and playing matches when ground conditions are unsuitable.

Outside of the playing season and especially just following renovation work, the height of cut will typically be slightly longer to allow better root development but being careful not to allow the grass to grow too long as this will produce a straggly and more open sward. Monitoring the condition of the sward is an important activity that provides feedback to the groundskeeper on whether the mowing regime, including chosen height of cut, is suitable for the prevailing conditions. So, don’t just cut at one height and follow what someone else is doing - decide what is best for your specific pitch.