Mow like a pro this summer

One of the unique features of turfgrasses is that unlike most other plants in the landscape lawn grasses tolerate regular mowing at amazingly close clipping heights. Regarding mowing, there is nothing done more frequently in lawn maintenance, and also nothing done more wrong on a regular basis either! Here are some mowing tips that will improve the quality of your lawn.

Keep mower blades sharp — Mowing with a sharp blade on a standard rotary mower is one of the best ways to improve lawn quality and turf health and it also improves fuel-use efficiency and extends engine life. When is the last time the blade was sharpened and balanced? I recommend homeowners sharpen the blade at least three times per growing season: start the year off with a sharp blade, sharpen it again in late spring, and then once more in mid-late summer. 

Match mowing heights according to species and situation — Most mowers have adjustments for raising and lowering the mowing height. If the lawn has a light green to white hue after cutting, it is a good bet it was mowed too low. Most grasses do well in the 2-3 inch cutting height range. For cool-season turfgrasses, frequent mowing on the lower side of the recommended height is fine in the fall and early spring months, and this height actually promotes better turf density. However, by early June it is recommended to raise cutting heights prior to the summer stress period to optimize rooting depth to help the plant survive the heat and drought of summer. Many of the best lawns are mowed at 4 or more inches during the summer and some are rarely mowed at all
Follow the “1/3rd rule”— Research many years ago clearly showed that when mowing at an appropriate height for the grass, if no more than 1/3rd of the leaf blade is removed during mowing, then the grass plant will maintain a healthy balance between roots and shoots. Removing most of the foliage forces food resources to the leaves instead of the roots and stems.

Finally, return clippings to the turf whenever possible and if they are collected, compost them rather than placing them in the landfill. Clippings are simply organic fertilizer for the lawn and do not contribute to thatch build-up. Almost 1/3rd of a lawn’s seasonal fertility requirement can be met by returning clippings. Treat clippings just like granular fertilizers – keep them on the lawn!

Need further information? — For more best management practices in lawn and landscape management contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office, search the VCE website (ext.vt.edu/ ), or log on to the VT Turf Team’s ‘Turf and Garden Tips’ blog at weblogs.cals.vt.edu/.