Regularly mowing your lawn is one of the most important parts of keeping it growing strong and healthy. But keeping it nice is not as simple as just mowing it whenever it gets a little long. Other factors such as the height of the grass, how often you mow, and what kind of lawnmower you use have a very significant impact on the well being of your lawn. But a healthy lawn doesn’t just look really nice. The extra density of grass that it allows also helps you to keep out weeds and assorted bugs that would like to attack your grass. Here are a few tips for keeping your grass looking its best.
Cut off about 1/3rd of the length.
Cutting off more then this at once can damage the root growth. Your grass will then have to regrow at a slower pace to recover. This will leave it susceptible to other problems like weeds, disease and bugs. If it does grow too long. Mow it more often than you normally would and slowly bring it down to the length you want. Cutting more then the preferred 1/3rd is called scalping and is only advised in the spring before the grass starts growing. It is used to prepare the grass to turn green quickly in the spring.
What kind of grass do you have?
Kentucky bluegrass
- Cut at around 2 inches tall. It cannot grow enough leaves at a lower height.
- Generally needs to be mowed about once per week
Bermuda grass
- Has more leaves and needs to be kept about .5 to 1.5 inches tall.
- If it gets too high it will become less sturdy and more unattractive.
- You should mow this one in intervals of around 5 to 7 days.
Fescue
- There are two types of fescue.
- Tall fescue should be mowed about every 5 to 7 days because it grows pretty quickly.
- Keep tall fescue at a height of 2 to 2.5 inches.
- Fine fescue is a slower grower and should be maintained at about 2.5 inches, cutting every few weeks.
Zoysia
- If you have Zoysia grass you should cut it at least weekly to about 1.5 inches. The more often it is mowed the healthier it will be and the nicer it will appear.
Other tips:
- Grass should be cut more in springtime when it grows quicker. During the summertime it often slows some because of heat and less rainfall.
- Before you mow always remember to look around your lawn for any sticks, rocks, or other types of debris that could damage your mower.
- Mow your lawn when the surface of the blade is dry. This will keep the grass from clumping.
- Sometimes alternate the directions that you cut your lawn. Grass likes to start leaning toward the way it was cut. So alternating the angle will keep it healthier over time.
Recycle
When you mow often enough it is better to leave behind the clippings because they decompose very fast and resupply the ground with nutrients. However if your lawn has a problem with diseases or weeds then you may want to dispose of the clippings another way until it is healthy again. If the trimmings are removed from a healthy lawn they can also be used as a fertilizer for other things like a garden.
Mowers
It is very important that you use a sharp mower that has been set up properly. You want to trim your lawn rather than tear it so it is recommended that you replace your blade about once a month during growing seasons.
Reel mowers are better for grass of shorter heights. They shear the grass in order to cut it. They are generally more quiet and easier to keep along the flow of the land. But be careful to sharpen the blades properly.
Rotary mowers are the most common kind of mower chosen by homeowners. They work best when cutting grass to about 1.5 to 3 inches tall. They use a fast rotating blade to cut with. They have a reputation for being noisy but are much simpler to sharpen and maintain then reel mowers are.
It is very important that a lawn be mowed properly. A lawn that is properly cared for will be more healthy and have less weeds. Also make certain that you have good irrigation, use fertilization, and apply weed and pest controlling substances to keep your lawn the way you want it.
Or if you would prefer to let the professionals do the work for you, we can! Proactive Landscaping has the tools and experience to keep your lawn at its best. Give us a call today to learn more!
