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2 Mar 2004 by avfc

rugby grass heights

i provide the pitch for a national rugby league div 2 team. my problem is that they are complaing that the grass is too short once this time of year arrives. after the spring renovation i mow the pitch twice a week with a triple at 37mm. by mid august i then allow the grass to to grow up to around 80-100mm and top it of until winter hits in and mowing is no longer required. however when this time of season arrives although a very good grass coverage still exists the length appears to only be 35 -40mm. the pitch is of a 75/25 sand soil make up. after every game it is brushed divoted and rolled with use of a sisis quadraplay. there is regualar solid coring carried out, and a liquid fertilliser programme adhered to.
can any one help with my problem of how i maintain a sward of 80-100mm throughout the full playing season.

3 Mar 2004 by Hipper

rugby grass heights

I try and maintain the sort of heights you do at my school but inevitably by this time of the season, most of the area of each pitch is at 30 - 40mm. Of course my pitches are not of the higher standard that yours are.

The question to me is, why have the grass at 100mm in the first place? At my school where pitch levels are not as perfect as they should be, and we have no irrigation facilities to soften the ground in the early part of season, we need long grass for safety reasons; we couldn't play otherwise.

But it seems to me that grass at 100mm is not required at the higher levels because of the superior quality of pitches and better facilities. In particular, the sward is probably denser. Presumably that is how some top clubs can share pitches with soccer clubs. The grass here cannot be much more than 25mm at any time of season.

Would it perhaps not be better to aim for a denser but shorter sward?

3 Mar 2004 by PAZ

grass heights

AVFC
In the top flight of the game (inc u19+u21 squads) what you have described is great! What are they moaning about!!

If grass coverage is as good as you can get it then you have done your job!
Sounds to me you are doing a great job!

All the best and tell the players to.........................

Regads
Chris

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