Mowing Mistakes To Avoid
Scalping your lawn
Cutting your lawn too low will leave it more prone to weeds, and unable to cope with extreme weather conditions. Over mowing really needs to be avoided as its unhealthy for the grass resulting in unappealing look.
Wet grass
When the grass is wet the blades of the mower may get blocked producing an uneven cut. Mower wheels can flatten the grass which will then be missed by the blades. Any patches of fungus can be spread when mowing a wet lawn and can create disease infestations. The grass also tends to be slippery and can be a cause of garden accidents.
Mowing the same way.
Grass blades tend to grow in the direction that they are mowed, so alternating the mowing pattern will let the grass grow straighter as they return to a more upright position. Vary the way you cut the grass every mow to ensure the blades stay healthy. For an even coverage overlapping by at least three inches will prevent any strips of grass being missed.
Mowing with blunt blades
Blades that arent sharp will tear the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. Torn grass can harbour pests and diseases. Mower blades ideally need sharpening every two to three months to ensure a clean cutting blade.
Mowing too quickly
Removing the clippings
Gardening experts recommend that leaving the cut grass on the lawn actually helps the lawn top retain moisture in the soil and act as a nutrient. Clippings can generate up to a third of the lawns nitrogen requirements as they gradually decompose.
Dont Mow The Same Way Every Time Alternate The Pattern
Varying the pattern in which you mow will help to allow the blades to grow straighter and healthier. Grass blades tend to grow in the direction in which they are mowed. Alternating the pattern allows the blades to return to a more upright position. This will also ensure that you dont develop ruts in your lawn from the mower wheels.
How Often Youd Mow Warm
Bermuda grass grows best during the warm months, so it must be cut more frequently in the summer.
States in the south and southwest of the United States, where the summers are hot, and the winters are moderate, are the most likely to have warm-season grasses.
The warmest part of the summer is when warm-season grasses like Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Buffalo grow the most, but they do not endure the winter as well.
Also, in the rainy season, warm-season grasses will need to be mowed more frequently.
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Clear Rubbish And Debris
A lawn mower is not a vacuum cleaner! If you use the mower to pick up leaves and twigs etc this will blunt the blade rapidly. This will cause the blade to tear at the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. Tearing grass leaves it susceptible to disease and fungus so its always best to rake up or use a blower to clear any rubbish first.
What Is The Best Time Of Day To Cut Grass
Mid morning or late afternoon is usually the best time to mow the lawn. If done too early in the morning the lawn will be damp with dew which can cause the grass to tear rather than cut cleanly, leading to disease.
Midday can be too hot, the intense sun can stress the newly cut grass but it is not too bad a time.
Late evening can be too late. Once cut the plant produces sap which helps it heal, this takes time and if cut too late the plant is open to attack from fungus and disease in the dark damp night.
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Common Problems Caused By Improper Mowing
If your grass looks unhealthy after cutting it:
- The blade setting on your mower could be too low causing scalping that exposes the crown and soil to excess heat
- Your mower blades may be dull causing a tattered leaf or yellow appearance
- You may be letting your grass get too long before cutting it causing the leaf blade to become bleached
Mowing your lawn properly requires attentiveness and planning. Done properly, you can achieve a lush and beautiful lawn that looks healthy. Mowing is just one piece of the lawn care pie, but our lawn care experts know Colorados soil, common lawn problems, and specialize in plant health care. Contact us today!
Lawn Mowing Little And Often
For 99% of us little and often means once a week. This will produce a much denser turf than if your grass cutting is every two weeks. A dense turf is the best looking and a great form of natural weed control as it prevents weed seeds from contact with the soil. If the seed doesnt contact the soil then there is a very good chance that no weed grows perfect! Follow these simple guidelines:
- When growth is good mow at least every 7 to 10 days if using a rotary and AT LEAST every 3 to 5 days if using a cylinder mower
- Mow at least every two weeks in dry summers if using a rotary and every week if using a cylinder mower
- THE LAWNSMITH RULE: Never remove more than one third of the grass blade on any one occasion
Thin patchy lawns are often the result of infrequent mowing or removing too much of the grass when you cut. Mow infrequently AND mow short and before long you wont have a lot of lawn left to mow!
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How High Should You Cut Your Lawn In The Summer Season
In the summer, the recommended length for your grass lawn is three inches. Longer grass helps your lawn survive droughts, which can occur during the summer months.
The average length should stay right around the ideal grass height to keep your lawn healthy and hydrated during the hotter months of the year.
Best Height To Cut Grassmowing Height Chart
The best height for your lawn is 34 inches .
This mowing height is suitable for most grass types and soil conditions. It allows enough sunlight to reach the roots, which encourages deep root growth and helps combat weeds.
If you have thick-bladed lawn grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia, though, you may need to cut it more often than every two weeks. Avoid suggestions to mow lawn only once a month unless its in the winter months or being subjected to a deep drought.
For the most popular grass types in the U.S. try:
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How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn In The Spring
Most grasses spend winters in dormancy. However, as the spring season approaches, grasses begin to prepare themselves for the summer months, when the growth of grass reaches its peak.
This information may make you too eager to pick your mower and start mowing. However, resist.
Before you decide to mow your lawn, take some time to analyze the current condition of your lawn. This is essential as the decisions you will take now will affect the health of your lawn throughout the year.
Here are a few things to consider before you start mowing your lawn during the spring season.
First things first, do not mow your lawn if the grass has not reached at least two inches in height.
- If the grass is shorter than two inches, wait for it to grow to the ideal length.
- If the grass has reached this optimal height, set the mower’s height to comply with the one-third rule, and mow the grass.
- If your grass is still recovering from a harsh winter and is still thawed, mow only after giving it some time to come back properly to life.
The right time to mow also depends on when you fertilize your lawn:
- If you have only recently fertilized your lawn, make sure to give the soil and plants ample time to absorb the fertilizer before beginning with the mowing process.
- If you have overseeded your garden, mow late in the spring as this will give ample time to seeds to develop roots.
To keep your garden green and healthy, make sure to mow your lawn every three to five days during the Spring Season.
Fertilizer May Help Improve Grass Growth
If your grass isnt growing as quickly as it used to, it might need a layer of fertilizer to help restore the nutrients it needs to grow. Most lawns should only be fertilized about once a year, preferably when the grass is growing its roots more than its blades.
In Northern climates, youll typically want to fertilize in the Autumn, just before your grass goes dormant for the winter. However, warmer climates with a less severe winter usually prefer Spring fertilization.
Using a good fertilizer spreader can help make sure you get an even layer across your whole lawn, without over-fertilizing the grass.
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How Often Should Grass Be Mowed In The Summer
You should mow your lawn every 4 to 6 days during the summer.
The one-third rule can help determine how frequently to mow your lawn.
If theres a lot of rain or if you fertilize heavily, mow your grass every four days to keep it from getting too long. You should never have to wait a week to mow your lawn during the summer.
One exception to the rule is during periods of extreme drought when grass essentially stops growing for a few days you should wait around ten days to mow. Maintaining your regular mowing schedule during a drought will result in a dry-looking lawn.
What Happens If I Mow New Grass Too Soon
We know that you want to get your new lawn established as quickly as possible but this is a process that requires patience. If you mow your new grass too soon then youre only going to be putting it under enormous stress that it may not be able to recover from.
On the other hand, it is possible to leave it too long which means that youll miss the opportunity to thicken the grass up during its early stages.
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Does Frequent Mowing Thicken Grass
The tip of each blade has hormones that suppress horizontal growth, so mowing helps make your grass grow thicker. These tips allow the grass to spread when you cut it. If you dont mow your lawn regularly, it can be difficult to control weeds. Mowing is a great way to get rid of weeds, but its not the only way.
Grass Type: Cool Season Grasses Vs Warm Season Grasses
Cool season grasses, such as fescue, ryegrass and bluegrass, have their growing season around spring and fall and tend to grow much slower during the hotter months. You will also need to adjust your mowing schedule according to the amount of water your cool grass is getting, as it generally needs to be cut more often during higher rainfall.
Generally, if you are not sure about the number of days you should wait between mows, it is recommended that you cut your green lawn frequently enough that you do not need to cut more than one-third of the height of the grass blades. A number of the cool season grasses can be mowed between 3 ½ and 4 inches.
Warm season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, zoysia grass and centipede grass, have their growing season in the hotter months of the year, such as the summer season, therefore, as with cool season grass, they will not require as much mowing during their off seasons. Warm season grass can generally be mowed to 1 to 2 inches in height.
As with cool season grass, warm season grasses require more frequent mowing during high rainfall months and dont grow much over the winter months.
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When Is The Best Time To Mow Your Lawn
Generally speaking, the best time to do any gardening job is in the early hours or late in the day, to avoid the sun. This is as crucial for your lawn and best garden plants as it is for you because the powerful rays can be harmful.
While mornings are a prime time to mow you should avoid cutting in the mornings if there have been showers or frosts overnight, Dom advises, “don’t cut wet grass to avoid causing unnecessary stress.”
Kate also advises on when is best to hydrate the grass. “If you are going to water your lawn, do this in the evening. It is often too hot during the day so the water will evaporate, and you will scorch the lawn.”
Where To Go For Gardening Services
Remember, individual lawns can greatly differ, depending on your locality and weather conditions. If you live in Oxfordshire BeClean in Abingdon provide fully insured, trained, and experienced gardeners.
Garden maintenance in Oxfordshire is also carried out by this team of professionals. Youll be able to request planting, hedge pruning, leaf collection, and garden waste removal. A lawn mowing service is also available in Abingdon on a weekly or monthly basis whenever you choose your gardening services in Abingdon to be performed.
Need some landscape gardeners in Oxford? Experts from BeClean will level land, construct sheds, add new features to your garden, and will take on any small-scale landscaping projects. When youre looking for a garden service in Oxford from a team who go the extra mile BeClean are the company for you. You can even select an appointment and not be there! Keyholding facilities will allow you to have your gardening completed whilst youre out.
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Dont Mow With Dull Mower Blades
Dont 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 to invade them. Its a good idea to have your blades sharpened every couple of months. If you havent had them sharpened in several years, its definitely time.
When You Should Not Mow
There are also times when you should not mow your lawn. For example, if there has been a lot of rain and the ground is wet, its best to wait until it dries out to avoid damaging the grass. You should also avoid mowing at the hottest part of the day. It is better to mow in the late afternoon or early evening.
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Mow Frequently For A Healthy Lawn
People ask me all the time how I keep my lawn healthy and lush. If I had to give only one piece of lawn care advice to a green lawn, it would be proper lawn mowing aim for mowing once a week.
Most problems can be mitigated or sometimes even solved by increasing the mowing frequency. Improper mowing can become a big deal, so try to follow these mowing tips as much as possible.
What If My Yard Has Some Weeds
If weeding is something that you are struggling with, then aerating may be the solution to all of your problems regarding keeping your garden looking great during the hot months. Aeration allows air and nutrients to reach areas underneath where they otherwise wouldnt get any attention from natural rainfall or irrigation systems. You can do it by hand using a core aerator, but I recommend renting an electric one which will make short work of long hours spent on hands and knees without harming trees nearby. The process usually takes about two hours per acre, so plan accordingly when choosing between methods of aeration because even though it sounds like a lot of work, its worth the effort and will make your land look brand new.
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Should You Mow Wet Grass
It is better to let wet grass dry completely before cutting it. If you mow wet grass, theres a chance that youll leave behind clipping clumps that could smother the grass below.
Wet grass can also block the mower, and if you mow right after it has rained, the weight of the mower may leave tire ruts.
How Often To Mow Lawns In Fall & Winter
Unlike in the Summer, grass will not grow as quickly in the fall or winter months .
Even if you dont get snowfall during the winter, it may seem like your lawn has stopped growing altogether in the cooler months.
The truth is, when the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, mowing your lawn every week becomes a thing of the past.
Especially in cooler climates, you might not need to mow your lawn at all.
Here are some things to consider when thinking about mowing your lawn in the autumn or winter months:
- Try to avoid mowing your lawn when it is wet. Maybe it has just rained, or the ice is melting on your grass. Whatever the case, try to avoid mowing your wet lawn. Mowing a wet lawn leads to uneven mowing because of an unsettled base under the grass. The cooler temperatures can also cause issues with mold or mildew growth.
- Dont cut your grass on the one hot day of the Winter. Just because it is hot for one day, does not mean you should rush out and mow your dormant lawn. I recommend a short mow for your lawn at the end of the season, but once thats done, leave your lawn alone to ensure it will be able to handle the cold to come.
- Proceed with caution is you do mow your lawn at this time of the year.
The amount you should mow your lawn in the Winter differs greatly from the recommendations Ive made for mowing frequency in the Spring or Summer.
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