Mow Your Way to a Better Lawn!

The Magic of Mowing – Getting a Perfect Cut Every Time

Of all the lawn care practices homeowners use throughout the year, mowing is the most vital to achieving an attractive, problem-free turf.  Proper mowing height and frequency is the cornerstone of all yard care programs, from the tiniest of lawns to the home of the U.S. Open Golf Championship.

It is estimated that 70 percent of lawn care problems can be attributed to improper mowing techniques.  Deviation from a good mowing plan will predispose the lawn to other problems, such as weeds.  Proper mowing practices can also make the lawn more attractive, allowing homeowners to maximize curb appeal.  Here's some advice on how to achieve the perfect cut.

Get the Right Height

When determining grass height, never scalp the lawn.  Grass needs to be long enough to absorb sunshine to grow and develop (a process known as photosynthesis).  The rule of thumb is to never cut more than one-third of the leaf blade off during any single mowing.  This may mean mowing more often, but the results will make the work worthwhile.

Keeping the grass higher will provide several advantages to maintaining a healthy lawn.  First, it will make the one-third rule easier to follow.  If a lawn is kept at two inches, mowing has to occur after it grows one inch.  In the spring, this could be every other day.  However, if the lawn is kept at four inches, the amount of time that passes between mowings can be twice as long.  The higher grass level also reduces water use, improves the lawn's tolerance to pests, and allows the turfgrass plants to spread laterally and increase in density (much like a plant that has been properly pruned), which will help to reduce weed germination.

Each grass species has different ideal mowing heights.  Grass should be kept at the higher end of the recommended height.  The following chart outlines recommended grass heights for each species:

Staying Sharp

Keeping the mower blade sharp is another rule that cannot be overlooked.  A dull blade will shred or tear the grass blades, making them more prone to external stresses and pests.  These wounds will not heal as quickly as they would from a sharp blade's clean cut.  It is best to sharpen a mower blade once a year, especially if the blade has been abused by hitting foreign objects. (Keep a spare blade on hand in case the original is damaged.)  When replacing the blade, make sure to insert it right side up, as many Yard Doctor visits to ailing yards have revealed upside down mower blades from blade replacements.

A Change of Pace

Always mowing in the same direction may also cause lawn problems.  Doing so will contribute to unnecessary soil compaction and wear, particularly in small areas.  Mowing patterns should be changed at each mowing, using the face of a clock.  Mow 12 to six (north to south) one day, nine to three (east to west) the next, and then diagonals, 10 to four and eight to two, if possible.

Mowing patterns not only prevent problems, but can also make an average lawn look more distinctive.  Aiming for the professional look of a baseball field or the checkered look of lawns on television?  "Striping," or creating a pattern of alternating dark- and light-colored grasses, can be achieved by a back-and-forth mowing pattern.  Doing so bends the grass blades in opposite directions and causes sunlight to reflect oppositely, giving the appearance of different colored grasses.  Newer rotary mowers are equipped with rollers to provide this feature, but rolling kits are also sold separately to attach to older mowers.

Recycling Nutrients

Another mowing practice that will improve a lawn includes leaving grass clippings on the lawn.  One reason to do so is to avoid the endless chore of bagging.  But the important reason is that the grass clippings return valuable nutrients to the soil, saving at least one fertilizer application per year.  These clippings will not cause thatch, as they primarily consist of water.  Although some homeowners do not like seeing the leftover clippings, the pieces should be small enough to fall to the ground if the one-third rule is followed.  Mulching mowers are also great at chopping up the clippings.

The next time you see a gorgeous lawn and wonder, "How did they do that?" just remember that proper mowing is the heart and soul of a lawn's success.  Every good-looking, healthy lawn centers around this practice.