Lawn Care Basics
Although pretty much anyone can do it, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to mow a lawn.
And it's important to mow the right way. Mowing correctly and regularly encourages grass to grow low and thick rather than tall and sparse. Tall, sparse growth invites weeds to come in and fill in where the grass isn't growing. Mowing badly also damages grass, inviting in pests and diseases and sometimes even resulting in dead grass.
Mow regularly.
As a rule, mow often enough that you never have to remove more than one-third of the blade. During wet weather or soon after fertilization, that can be twice a week. During the rest of the growing season, you can mow about once a week. In dry weather, you can probably get away with once every couple of weeks.
Letting grass get too long and then mowing it radically stresses the grass, making it thin and weak and thereby encouraging weeds to fill in the bare areas.
Mow high.
Taller grass shades the soil, keeping it cooler and moister and preventing weed seeds from germinating. That said, most lawns are mown too short because homeowners think it will help them mow less often.
You can mow lower during times when grass is growing fast, but mow higher during the heat of summer when grass growth slows down. Mow cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, hard fescue and chewings fescue, at about 3 inches high in summer and 1 1/2 inches in spring and fall.
Warm season grasses, such as bermuda grass, zoysia, and St. Augustine grass (prevalent in the Southern third of the U.S.) should be cut about 2 inches in summer and 1 inch the rest of the year.
Mow smart.
- Avoid cutting wet grass. It clogs the mower and cuts unevenly. Wait until dew dries in the morning and let grass try thoroughly after a rain.
- Safety first! If using a power mower, be sure to wear heavy-toed shoes or boots. Wear thick garden gloves to absorb vibrations from the mower. Wear earplugs to minimize potential hearing loss.
- Mow slopes on a diagonal line, for safety's sake. However, if a slope is very steep, it's probably not meant for mowing at all. Instead, plant with shrubs, perennials or groundcovers.
