Lawn mowing is a core component of lawn care. Your mowing habits have the potential to make or break your lawn. Here’s the top 5 mistakes to avoid when mowing your lawn.
Mowing Too Short
The ideal mowing height for a lawn varies by species. The majority of lawns in the Mile High City are composed mostly of Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky blue grass thrives when it is mowed to approximately 3 inches. Cutting it shorter than this and you risk exposing the crowns of the grass.The crown is where growth originates for grass. When cut too short the crown will not be protected from the sun. Often these damaged crowns are expressed as thin yellowing grass.
Mowing Frequency
Some people think that their lawn does not need to be mowed every week. While this may be true during times of heat and drought stress, the average lawn benefits from frequent mowings. Whenever mowing a lawn you never want to remove more than one third of the blade at once. Any more than a third of the blade being removed can be extremely stressful to the grass. If you have gotten behind in yard work and the lawn is overgrown it can take two weeks to get to the point of looking manicured.
Although it may be tempting to handle the tall grass all at once it is best to hold off. Beyond risking exposure of the crowns or stressing out the lawn, mowing tall grass is a messy job. There will be many clumps of thick grass all over the lawn. This will need to be collected or mowed over again until the clumps turn into fine clippings.
Mower Maintenance
In order to do a great job mowing your lawn it is important to take care of your equipment. The deck (underside) of the mower can get grass clumps or dirt built up. It is also important to maintain sharp blades. Check on them regularly and sharpen as needed. Another great way to maintain your mower is a yearly tune up before the growing season begins. A tune up includes checking and/or changing the air filter, spark plug, and oil.
Not Mulching
Mulching is incredibly beneficial to your lawn. We see so many bags of lawn clippings end up in landfills every year. These same clippings could be free food for your lawn. If a proper mowing height and mowing frequency are maintained the clippings will not be large or messy. They will just settle back into the lawn and may even become part of the thatch layer. Thatch is the layer between the grass blades and the soil. It provides shade to the soil and root system.
Mowing Wet Grass
Wet grass clippings clump like crazy. They can also clog your mower. If you watered your lawn or it has rained, it is important to wait for the lawn to dry. This will spare you from so much mess and the headache of dealing with it all.
Good mowing habits are important in lawn care. This practice extends further when paired with weed control and fertilization. Call Erbert Lawns today and one of our friendly team members will help you get the lawn of your dreams and leave you with a smile on your face.
