The colour of the sward will be dependant on the time of the year, the growth and vigour of the grass species
absorb shock, which will be governed by the amount of sward present.
Yield: The amount of clippings removed during mowing operations can affect grass growth; the removal of too much growth in a single mowing operation or scalping will stress the grass plant.
Verdure: The amount of aerial shoots remaining after mowing will determine the appearance of the sward.
Ball roll/ball speed: Each sport has recommended standards of ball roll; inconsistent sward height and density will affect ball roll.
Rooting: The amount of root growth will determine and control the rate of top growth produced, the greater and healthier the root system the greater the ability of the grass plant to recuperate and recover.
MOWING operations will have a significant effect on turf grass quality:
The choice and type of mowers will be
dependant, and determined by, many factors.
• Sports type • Standards of play • Grass species • Location, size and topography • Budget • Staff resources
Height of cut can vary depending on the type of machines used. Closer mowing stimulates aerial shoot growth, increased shoot density and finer texture, but can decrease root and rhizome growth. If the sward is cut too short it will cause scalping and lead the turf plant into stress. Different sports require different heights of cut.
The table indicates the length of grass cover recommended for the following sports with a range representing high and low level standards.
Sport
Bowling greens Cricket square Hockey
Cricket pitch Rugby
Cricket outfield Football
Golf greens
Horse racing Golf fairways
Grass Height 3-6mm
6-16mm 5-20mm 2-7mm
25-65mm 8-25mm 25-60mm 4-8mm
Tennis 8-16mm Golf tees
10-15mm
100-120mm 20-30mm
The type of cutting methods (cylinder, rotary, flail) will affect the sward quality. Cylinder mowers generally produce a finer, sharper cut depending on the number of blades used. For fine turf situations (bowling and golf greens)
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