Mowing

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Mowing is one of the most basic, yet overlooked issues in Lawn Care. Mowing at the proper height for your grass variety and with a sharp mower blade can give you the most return on the overall appearance, aesthetics and health of you lawn.

Each variety of Turfgrass has its specific height for optimum performance. Mowing to keep the grass at its best growing height will increase your lawn’s density and reduce weed, disease and plant density problems while strengthening your lawns ability to withstand foot traffic or stress.

When you mow depends upon how fast your lawn is growing. No matter what kind of lawn you have, there is a simple " rule of thumb " to follow when mowing. Never remove more than one-third of the grass blades any time you mow. When moisture is plentiful and the lawn is well fed, you may have to mow every four to five days to keep it at the desired height. If the weather has been dry, the lawn’s growth will slow down. Delay mowing until after watering or rain. Mowing a parched lawn will open it up to sun and wind leaving it even drier.

During the hot, dry months of summer, it is a good idea to let your lawn get a little taller or mow at the upper range of the recommended mowing height (click here to see recommendations). By letting your lawn grow to the taller end of its range, you will have a deeper rooted turf that is more resistant to both weeds and drought and will shade the roots keeping them cooler in hot conditions.

Collecting the clippings gives a neat appearance, but this also removes nutrients from the lawn. If you can mow often and not let the clippings get too long, a mulching mower does a good job of chopping and blowing the clippings into the turf where they break down and release their nutrients back to the soil.