Mowing for a beautiful green lawn
What is the proper height to mow my lawn? When should I mow my lawn? These are just a few of the
questions often asked to lawn care professionals. The answers can vary by grass types, weather and
characteristics of your turf. Mowing lawns is one of the most basic cultural practices that can be
performed on lawns. Mowing heights and frequency of mowing will directly influence the quality of
turf. Proper mowing will be a great way to deter many weeds from invading lawns and improve the
overall quality of your lawn.
Most cool season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, Rye grasses and the fine fescues) should be mowed at a
height range of 2 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 inches. Mowing too low will reduce leaf exposure thus reducing
photosynthesis which will, in fact, reduce lawn quality. Mowing short can have a negative impact on the
root system as well, resulting in shallow roots which require more water.
Recent research has shown that cutting lawns shorter will result in lower tolerance of disease or insects.
Lawns can also be more prone to weeds and crabgrass invading. A lawn cut too short will also succumb
to dry conditions more quickly and require more water to stay green.
MissionGreen always recommends the 1/3 rule as a guideline. Never remove more then 1/3 of the grass
blade at any cut. Sometimes this may require two mowing’s in one week.
We also recommend you alternate mowing patterns, this helps promote upright shoot growth. Varying
the direction of mowing each week will help reduce wear and tear, and soil compaction.
Clippings should be recycled back into the lawn whenever possible. This helps return necessary nutrients
to the soil.
Keep your mower well maintained and your blades sharp. Keeping blades sharp will prevent the tear of
grass blades and provide a nice, clean cut. Dull mower blades can result in injury to the turf and cast a
brownish tint. Dull mower blades can cause increased disease activity and require an increase in
watering.
