Mowing Tips
Mowing is an integral part of maintaining a healthy lawn, and if done correctly, allows a lawn to grow thicker and fuller throughout the season. Keeping your lawn in the best shape is as easy as following a few important guidelines. First, be sure to mow at the correct height. When a lawn is consistently mowed too short, the lawn itself compensates by shortening its root system. A shorter root system reduces the plant’s ability to absorb moisture and nutrients from deeper in the soil. Here’s an easy chart to show the proper height to mow a lawn based on the type of grass: - Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Tall Fescue and St. Augustine grass should be cut at 3 inches - Centipedegrass and Common Bermudagrass at 2 ½ inches - Zoysiagrass at 2 inches - Hybrid Bermudagrass at 1 inch If you’re unsure of what type of grass you have in your lawn, send us a photo (or ask your local NaturaLawn of America technician); we’re happy to help. In addition to mowing at the correct height, it is also crucial to mow grass when it’s needed—not on a set schedule. The food production process for grass takes place primarily in the plant’s leaf tissue; if too much of the plant is cut off (which is what we call “scalping”) it will damage the plant and put it under undue stress. It’s also important to keep your mower blades sharp. Dull mower blades rip, shred, and weaken grass, opening it up to disease and insect attacks. As shown here, dull blades also make turfgrass look frayed. Avoid mowing during the hottest part of the day, and also when the grass is wet. Mowing when dew is on the lawn may spread fungus, and it can also cause your tires to lose traction. For best results, don’t bag grass clippings after mowing. Clippings act as a natural fertilizer for your lawn, feeding the grass as they decompose. The only times clippings should be removed are when the grass has grown too long, or when there has been a lawn disease. Avoid mowing your grass in the same pattern. While we can’t argue that a freshly striped lawn looks gorgeous, cutting the same way every time can be damaging to the turf. Rotating the mowing direction will help the grass to stand up straight as well as prevent wearing patterns and soil compaction. Proper mowing techniques go a long way in ensuring a healthy lawn. Many turf problems can be corrected by using these tips in conjunction with a quality lawn care program.
