Most homeowners may not know this, but improper mowing is one of the most common causes of lawn problems. Fortunately, it's an easy problem to solve. It's much easier than trying to diagnose a disease or pest problem or fix mold or weed problems. Custom Lawn and Landscape has put together some basic lawn mowing tips to keep your lawn healthy and looking its best.
Related reading:A complete guide to the best garden tractors
1. Don't cut too often
In the Kansas City area you will typically find cool season grasses such as fescue, ryegrass and even some bluegrass. With these grasses, most of the growth will occur in the spring and fall, and may not be needed as often in the summer, depending on the weather.
Although there is no set number of days for how long you should wait between mowing these grass types, you should mow often enough that you don't need to remove more than 1/3 of the grass's height to keep it in optimal condition . length.
Most cool season lawns in Kansas City should be mowed at 3-1/2 -4 inches. If you have a warm season Zoysia or Bermuda lawn, it can be shortened to 1-2 inches. Mowing according to this schedule will keep your yard looking fuller and your grass will maintain a healthier root system, while leaving less space and nutrients for weeds.
2. Don't cut too low
“Scalping” a lawn – or mowing more than the suggested ⅓ of the height – is the biggest lawn care mistake homeowners make. They do it because they think it will help them cut less often.
What this actually does is expose your lawn to weeds and make it less able to withstand drought or other environmental events.
Grasses have a balance between the size of their root systems and the length of their blades. When the roots and blades of grass are in balance, the plants are healthiest and can cope with all kinds of stress.
Mowing makes your grass thicker because the tip of each leaf contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you mow the lawn, remove these tips so the grass can spread and grow closer to the roots.
Related reading:What type of grass is right for your Kansas City lawn?
TIP:If your grass has grown very long, do not try to cut it to the ideal length in one go. Follow the rule and mow it to a third of the grass and then let it recover for three or four days before mowing it again.
3. Do not mow wet grass
Avoid mowing when it is wet. The blades tend to stick together, making the cut very uneven. The clippings can clog the lawn mower and it may need to lie on the grass and block the sunlight. Your mower's blades will miss the grass that has been matted by the wheels, and that grass can later appear and make your lawn look uneven.
Mowing the lawn when it is wet can also spread small fungal spots and trigger disease attacks. In addition, grass is slippery when wet and mowing is more dangerous, especially if you have slopes in your garden."
4. Don't rush to mow
Your busy schedule may tempt you to rush the mowing job, but this measure can leave your lawn looking patchy. Additionally, hasty mowing can leave uneven clumps of clippings on the lawn, making it look messy.
5. Don't cut the same way every time - change the pattern
Varying the pattern in which you cut makes the blades straighter and healthier. Blades of grass tend to grow in the direction they are mowed. The alternating pattern allows the blades of grass to return to a more upright position. This also ensures that no marks are left in your lawn by the mowing wheels.
6. Do not cut with dull knives
Do not mow with dull mower blades. Make sure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades will tear instead of cutting cleanly, leaving the blades open to diseases and pests that can enter them. It is a good idea to have your knives sharpened every two months. If you haven't had them sharpened in years, it's definitely time. (If you are already a customer with us, Custom Lawn offers free knife sharpening!)
7. Don't collect your grass. Mulch as you mow
For decades, homeowners have collected clippings and thrown them away.
But today, plant experts recommend leaving the clippings on the lawn so that they can act as mulch to retain moisture in the soil and add nutrients as the clippings break down.
Grass clippings can generate up to 30% of your lawn's nitrogen needs. Leaving clippings on the grass reduces the amount of work you have to do and provides better growing conditions for your lawn.
As long as you mow your lawn according to the 1/3 rule, the clippings should be small enough to break down quickly.
If you're concerned about thatch build-up, make sure you clear the grass on the side you haven't mowed yet so you can cut the pieces even smaller when you mow over it again.
Or consider a mulching mower or add a mulching attachment to your current lawn mower, designed to cut areas even smaller than regular lawn mowers.
8. Don't space the rows too far apart
For even coverage, it is best to overlap each pass at least two inches. It's better to overlap than to look back and see strips of grass you missed.
9. Don't blow grass on driveways and sidewalks
Freshly cut blades of grass and stretches of concrete driveways and sidewalks. Instead of blowing grass on them, simply change the direction you mow at the edges of these hardscapes so that the grass clippings blow back into the garden. It keeps your garden tidy and saves you time blowing it clean later.
10. Don't buy an edger
While you can certainly use an edge trimmer, why invest in this one-trick pony tool when you can use the string trimmer head in a vertical position to cut clean edges along curbs and walkways.
TIP: You can also hold the trimmer horizontally to prune shrubs and hedges. Try to find a natural way to trim and trim in one pass to make the trimming process smoother.
For lawn care, call Custom Lawn and Landscape at (913) 648-9404 orcontact us online. We can advise you on lawn maintenance and we also offer lawn mowing if you decide that DIY just doesn't work for you anymore.
