Mowing is more than
just cutting grass
Proper mowing contributes to the
appearance of a home lawn more than most people realize. Here are
some basic mowing practices to follow if you want to have the best lawn
in the neighborhood:
-
Cool
part of the day
Mow
during the cooler part of the day in order to get a clean cut. Grass
blades cut better when they aren't overly stressed out by heat. That
being said, dew complicates
early morning mowing, especially if you are mulching,
so late morning or evening mowing is usually the best. Wet grass will
also aid in the spread of disease pathogens.
-
Grass whacker
Rotary mowers "whack" grass off instead of making a clean cut, so
it's extremely important to keep your
mower blades sharp. Balance the blade following sharpening
using a blade balancer.
-
Tall
and deep
The
taller the grass, the deeper the root. Cut grass at the highest
possible setting, without grass laying over. A 2½ to 3 inch
mowing height is ideal for most home
lawns. Grass in the shade should be cut as tall as
possible for a second reason as well -- allowing it to intercept
more light due to an increased leaf surface area.
-
It's
not a golf green!
Don't
remove more than one-third of the grass at a time. Therefore, if you are mowing at 3 inches, always cut
your lawn before it
grows beyond 4½ inches
tall.
-
Pit stops
Never refuel a lawn mower that's parked on the lawn, since any gas
spill will cause a brown spot. For safety sake, never refuel a hot
engine.
-
Mulching is good
By mulching your clippings, you return nutrients to the soil. Mow often enough under the right conditions
to prevent clumps of
grass from remaining on the lawn surface. If you already have a
thick thatch layer, it's probably best to bag and remove your clippings.
Keep the underside of your mower deck clean.
Keeping your blade sharp is very important if
you want the best lawn in the neighborhood
Fertilizer
applications
Lawn disease
problems
Lawn links
Mulching mowers / grass
clippings
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