Football Pitch Grass species

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the preferred grass species for a football pitch and in many cases it will be the only species that is required when overseeding takes place.

It is very tolerant of heavy-duty wear, is very quick to germinate and establish at renovation time and is often a darker green colour throughout most of the year. Cultivar breeding has also produced finer leaved and dwarf species suited to lower heights of cut, although for the latter situation this will also mean less root development where mown short, as less leaf is available for photosynthesis and the production of carbohydrates used in plant development.

Other grass species have been included within a mixture; however, these primarily complement perennial ryegrass in specific situations.

Smooth stalked meadow grass (Poa pratensis) is well adapted to freer draining soils but requires a long period of time to become well established, typically at least 12-months. Where pitches are stripped of their surface on a yearly basis during renovation time then there would be little point in including this species. However, where usage is relatively low, on pitches which are renovated by maintaining sward coverage wherever possible and overseeding is carried out on just thin swards, not large bare areas, and where dry conditions are prevalent during the summer, then the use of this species might be a consideration.

Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa) might be included in either heavy, wetter soils which might be suitable for some amateur club pitches, especially if shade is also a problem on the pitch over the winter period. This could be a common occurrence for some pitches which have shade cast by adjacent trees, especially evergreen ones. For stadia pitches (with sand constructions) which have shade issues this might also be considered as an inclusion.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) has been used as an inclusion within a mixture, especially during the mid-2000s to mid 2010s. However, these haven’t particularly proved successful because they are better suited to swards which are mown at least a height of cut of 150mm, rather than the 25 – 50mm that might be more typical of football pitches, (‘Turfgrass Seed 2022’, p.5).

Newer cultivars, with rhizomes (natural species do not have rhizomes) may be a consideration in some circumstances but in general this species is also coarser leaved, as well as requiring a much longer time to get established (3-9 months depending on if overseeded into an existing sward or a new overseeding of a bare area) and is less wear tolerant but does provide better drought resistance. If a range of issues could be resolved this might be a species for the future, especially where a longer establishment period is available because wear tolerance is much improved in this situation. 'Rhizomatous Tall Fescue. Fact File’, Barenbrug., accessed 15th October 2025)

For pitches that have relatively low usage and double up as cricket outfields during the summer period then the inclusion of strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra ssp rubra) and browntop bent (Agrostis capillaris) or Highland bent (Agrostis castellana) would be beneficial.