Bowling Green Maintenance: 11a. Mowing - Height of cut

Mowing at a height of no less than 5mm (well 3/16th of an inch which is 4.76mm) is what would be expected for a bowling green as a matter of routine, especially where red fescue is the dominant grass, or where it is wanting to be encouraged. However, in some instances mowing below this height might be desired for tournament play.

Whilst figures are often mentioned of a height of cut of 3mm for some tournament situations, this is really not acceptable as a matter of routine if the aim is to have a bowling green that has an enduring surface which gives a good consistent playing experience without the need for continued high, and costly, maintenance inputs.

It can be argued that one of the main causes of a poor or underperforming bowling green is that of the height of cut setting having been too low. Even mowing at 5/32nd of an inch (3.97mm), which might be a common occurrence at many clubs, and which represents just a 0.79mm difference from the 4.76mm (3/16th of an inch) setting, this still represents just over a 15% difference, which is a significant percentage and also negatively impacts significantly on grass and sward development. Primarily there is an increase in annual meadow grass content, a reduced depth of root penetration and density and an increase in thatch levels.