Eight grasses were grown under high water table conditions for 14 weeks in a greenhouse experiment. Water tables were maintained at 2 or 5 inches below the soil surface. Differences in water table depth influenced clipping yields only slightly. Although total root weights were not reduced with the 2‐inch water table, there was a trend for fewer roots at lower depths and more roots near the surface with this treatment. The shallowest root systems occurred with annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and creeping red fescue. Elemental composition of the clippings was influenced by species and time of sampling. The greatest effect of water table depth on elemental content of the clippings occurred with Mn.