Basic Lawn Care - Mowing
Cutting your grass is an obviously important task for maintaining your lawn. But proper mowing can go along way to developing a healthy lawn that requires less maintenance. Less weeding, less watering, less fertilizing can all be the ongoing result of proper mowing. Here are some basic steps for proper mowing that can help bolster an all around healthy and visually appealing lawn.
How Short to Mow ?
Do not cut too short. Try to leave grass length on the longer side, about 3" for many grasses under normal conditions. This will help crowd out weeds and build a stronger root system. Grass cut too short can be more susceptible to insects, weeds and drought. Note: Make sure you keep your mower blades sharp for a good clean cut.
How Often to Mow ?
This of course varies by region and weather but normally once a week in the spring and once every two weeks in the hot summer can be the case in many areas. Try to only cut a max of 1/3 the height of the grass at one time while maintaining your ideal length as noted above. If your grass gets too tall it may be necessary to mow a couple times, taking off a small amount each time, to achieve the desired height. Note: Don't mow wet grass.
Bag or Leave Grass Clippings ?
I agree with many lawn experts that contend that leaving grass clippings on the lawn can be a win win for you and the lawn. It alleviates the need to bag and it redistributes nutrients back into the soil. The clippings breakdown and provide regular feeding that help maintain a healthy lawn while minimizing fertilization requirements. Extra Tips: Make sure you are mowing frequent enough so that you are not leaving large clumps that are difficult to break down. Also, a mulching mower and blade are highly effective as it chops up the cut grass into smaller, easier to break down clippings.
