Lawn care and maintenance are key components in keeping your yard looking its best. Proper lawn mowing techniques are an essential part of any lawn care plan. Lawn mowing will keep your landscape looking manicured and will also help to promote a healthy and lush lawn.
Lawn Mower Maintenance
The equipment that you use on your lawn is the first thing you need to consider before any lawn mowing schedule is implemented. You should have your lawn mower blades sharpened at the beginning of each season and as often as necessary depending on the size of your lawn and how often you mow. A sharp mower blade produces a clean edge on the tips of grass blades, while a dull blade frays the ends, causing them to turn brown. Using a dull blade will ultimately create a lawn that has a haylike appearance.
Lawn Mowing Frequency
There are no set rules as to how often you should mow your lawn. When you mow depends on several factors, including the climate in which you live, the type of soil that you have and the type of grass you have. One good rule of thumb is to never cut more than one third of your grass off during any given mowing. Even if you have waited too long between mowings and find that the grass has grown much higher than you generally like it, divide your mowing into two sessions. Cut one third off on the first mowing, wait a few days, then finish the job.
Best Grass Heights
How tall should your grass be? When in doubt, cut your grass when the grass height is between 3" and 3 ½" tall. Remember to only cut one-third off, or about one inch.
Mowing your lawn too short may lead to unhealthy grass and weed invasion. Mowing to the correct height, along with proper watering, will encourage your grass to have deeper, healthier roots, leading to a lush, healthy lawn.
The best time to cut individual species of grass is when the grass reaches the following heights:
Seasonal Tips
In the spring, focus on yard cleanup and clearing any debris like leaves and twigs from your grass to get it ready for new growth. A quick raking will help to remove objects like acorns or pebbles that may have become embedded in your lawn.
In the dead heat of summer, allow your grass to grow a little longer. Longer grass during the summer months stays healthier by slowing down evaporation, providing shade and lessening heat stress.
In late fall cut the grass lower as it goes into its dormancy stage, to prevent disease. Use the same rule of thumb of only cutting a bit at a time, doing this over a period of days. Make sure your lawn is free from leaves.
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When designing an irrigation system, it's important to specify the right type of sprinkler heads to use in each zone. Sprinkler heads come in many styles, sizes and spray patterns. Careful planning will guarantee that you select the right types of sprinkler heads to cover your lawn. |
Mowing the lawn sounds like the easiest thing in the world. You can either hire the local kid or do it yourself, but before you mow take some time to consider a few things. There is a correct way and an incorrect way to mow your lawn. |
Mowing the lawn is one of the key steps to having a green, healthy lawn. Grass that is regularly cut will from a dense mat of growth that will inhibit the germination and spread of weeds. |
