If you’re interested in a lush and thriving green lawn then you probably understand the value of a great lawn care program. You know that fertilization to feed the lawn is really important as is proper weed control and insect and disease management.
However, chances are, you may not have given much thought to how mowing impacts all of this. Mowing is a seemingly simple task that you probably assume “can’t go wrong.”
But the truth is your mowing habits can absolutely impact your lawn’s performance. Since you want you to be getting the best results possible, we’ve rounded up some essential mowing tips to help.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to assume the answer to this question is so straightforward that they’ve never even thought to ask it. Whether you mow your lawn yourself or you hire someone to perform that service, you might think there’s really not much to it.
But the truth is, mowing is more complex than most people tend to realize and there is actually a “right way” and a “wrong way” to mow. This is a big deal because making mowing errors can have a negative impact on your lawn’s overall health.
Here are some important considerations that will set you up for success.
Mowing height is an important consideration. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they cut their lawn too short. But it’s actually healthier to keep your grass a little bit higher. The exact height that is ideal for your lawn will depend on the primary grass type.
Here are some of our recommendations:
Cut height matters because of the fact that mowing puts a lot of stress on your lawn. The more you cut off, the more stressed your lawn will be. When you cut too short, it’s more challenging for your lawn to recover. That’s one reason why you may see a dull, green or yellow color or an overall loss of vigor.
By weakening your lawn’s health, you also make it more likely to be invaded by weeds. These opportunistic invaders love thin lawns where they don’t have to compete with thick and healthy turf.
Life gets busy and you might end up mowing your lawn bi-weekly as opposed to weekly. But this means that the lawn grows much longer in the process and you’re making more of a cut (which again, is more stress). If you were to mow more often, you’d be able to cut less of your grass. We recommend cutting no more than one-third of grass blades at a time to minimize stress and achieve optimal color and performance.
In terms of mowing tips, mowing with sharp blades is another important one. When a lawn is mowed with dull blades or even an unlevel mowing deck, it’s another major stressor for the lawn. You want a crisp, clean cut in order to minimize the stress.
You would think that having your lawn professionally mowed would help and with the right company, it can. Unfortunately, even some professional lawn mowing companies utilize outdated equipment or don’t stay on top of sharpening their blades. When this occurs, it can absolutely impact the health of your grass.
Of course, mowing is just one part of lawn care. You also want to make sure that your lawn is being properly fertilized and cared for through a professional lawn care program that’s providing your lawn with everything it needs, when it needs it.
But it’s important to recognize the impact that mowing will have on your results. Even if your lawn care company is performing all of their services properly, if your lawn is mowed extremely short, too infrequently, or with poor equipment, it could impact your lawn care results.
At Master Lawn, we are serious about partnering with you for success. That’s why we’re always available to offer mowing tips or other cultural recommendations that will help perform your lawn’s overall performance.
We know that you can’t be expected to know everything there is to know about your lawn, even for the services you’re handling yourself. That’s why we’re here for you. When you partner with Master Lawn, you never have to feel as though you’re on your own. We’re always here to answer questions.
Ready to let Master Lawn handle your lawn care needs for your Memphis, TN or Northern MS home? Talk to a lawn care expert, choose from 3 program options, and become the master of your lawn.
Image sources: up close grass and mower
