Grass Pitch Tips

Get your pitch match fit with our top tips. From guidance on when to brush and mow your pitch to advice on what to do pre and post match, we'll help to get your grass pitches looking and playing their best. 

Before a match, inspect your pitch surface, line-markings and goalposts.

Before a match, assess your pitch to make sure its match fit. Inspect your pitch surface, line markings, goalposts and nets.

For a better playing experience, mow your pitch at least once a week in the dry. Just before a game is best, weather permitting!

Regular mowing will help maintain a regular grass height and improve the playing experience. Mow at least once a week in the dry to avoid clumps of grass on the surface. If possible, it's best to mow just before a game, weather permitting.

Avoid the heat of the day when watering your pitch and concentrate on the most worn areas.

Focus on watering the most-worn areas of your pitch (usually this will include the goalmouth) and avoid the heat of the day. Cover areas of the pitch in sheets after watering if possible. Sheeting can insulate the soil, slow the drying process and decrease the time it takes the soil to germinate.

Get those iconic green stripes by brushing your pitch ahead of a game. You'll also get a better quality cut if you brush before mowing.

Brush your pitch before mowing to remove dew and improve the quality of the cut. Brushing also reduces the chance of diseases and debris dispersing. Plus you'll get those iconic green stripes if you brush the pitch before a game.

Prevent pests and diseases like Chafer Grubs by maintaining your grass pitch regularly. Early detection is key!

Maintaining your pitch regularly helps prevent pests and diseases from growing in the soil. Early detection is key so familiarise yourself with the more common issues such as Chafer Grubs and Red Thread.

Keep your grass healthy by using fertiliser.

Using fertiliser on your pitch will keep your grass healthy and improve it's quality. It will help the grass to look great too.

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Repair the pitch straight after a match by fixing divots with a fork.

As soon as you can following a game, use a fork to repair any divots that have formed on the pitch. Divoting will help repair the pitch and lift any depressions in the soil.

Check your goalposts and nets weekly to make sure they're safe for use.

Inspect your goalposts and sockets weekly to check they are safe. Examine the nets for any signs of wear and tear and paint the goalposts if needed. Always adhere to the FA Goalpost guidelines.

Make sure your pitch is match fit for the next fixture by assessing the work needed after a game.

To make sure your pitch is match fit for the next game, start any post-match works as soon as possible. Replace divots, mow the surface to clear up debris, repair worn-out areas and top dress to restore grass levels. Your pitch may also benefit from aeration to ventilate the soil, improve drainage and promote root growth.

Repair goalmouths quickly after a game to keep up the grass coverage.

To ensure the goalmouth is ready for your next game, make repairs as soon as possible after the match. This will make sure you have a good grass cover and level surface around the goalmouth. Gently relieve compact soil with a fork, remove any debris and top dress. Finish off by overseeding and water as needed.

Look after your grass pitch machinery and it'll look after you. It's essential to carry out regular maintenance checks.

Ensure you look after your grass pitch machinery. Carrying out routine maintenance and servicing on your equipment is essential.

Improve grass coverage by overseeding your pitch.

Overseed the playing surface to help combat grass lost through wear or mechanical renovations.

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Ensure your pitch drains well by clearing manholes and ditches.

Inspect and maintain your pitch's drainage channels by clearing any nearby manholes or ditches.

Keep your pitch even by applying sand and soil.

Top dressing (the application of sands and soil to the playing surface) improves moisture and nutrient retention. It also helps with maintaining an even surface and encourages drainage.

Encourage healthy grass growth by lightly combing your pitch using a machinery tool.

Lightly combing the pitch using a proper machinery tool will help to encourage healthy grass growth.

Give your surface that clean, green look by removing loose grass and other debris.

Scarifying is the process of removing decayed thatch on the surface of your pitch to allow the grass below to receive proper air, nutrient and water intake. Proper scarification will help give the turf a green, clean look.

For the best results, carry out end-of-season pitch renovations as soon as you can.

Off-season renovations should take place as soon as possible after the last match is played. Renovation works include scarification, top dressing, over-seeding, aeration and applying fertiliser to the surface. The timing and scale of these works will be determined by the availability of water, your budget and the weather conditions.

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From materials and equipment to machinery and contractor works, our flexible funding options can help you transform your vision into reality

  • Six-year tapered grants available through the Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.
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