What Happens When You Mow?
When you mow your lawn several things happen to your grass. The first thing that happens is the root system temporarily stops growing. Next, nutrients are cut off from the grass which causes stress. This is why you shouldn't mow your lawn every other day.
It sounds like mowing is bad for your lawn doesn't it? Fortunately, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. After you mow, the grass produces new plants from the crown and stem nodes which increase the lawn's density. Now, that is a good thing!
Mowers are Weed Killing Machines
Don't go running to the chemical store just yet! Mowing your lawn is one of the easiest and most effective ways to kill weeds. Why is it effective? Mowing weakens weeds and stops seeds from spreading and germinating. Also, mowing tall will allow your grass to crowd out weeds.
Mowing Height
The most important rule when mowing is to never mow more than 1/3 of the length of your grass. Cutting more than 1/3 shocks the grass plant and harms root growth. This will completely negate all the benefits of mowing. Not a good thing.
As a general rule of thumb, you should cut higher. This helps soil retain more moisture and encourages more stress and heat tolerance with your grass. Tall grass also shades the soil surface which reduces weed seed germination (especially with crabgrass).
An exact height range to mow can only be determined by the type of grass that you have. Below are some common grass types and recommended height ranges:
1. Bermuda grass ---> ½ - 1 inch
2. Buffalo grass ---> 2 - 3 inches
3. Kentucky bluegrass ---> 2 - 3 inches
4. Creeping bent grass ---> ¼ - ¾ inch
5. St. Augustine grass ---> 2 - 4 inches
6. Zoysia grass ---> ¾ - 2 inches
7. Centipede grass ---> 1 - 1 ½ inch
8. Bahia grass ---> 2 - 4 inches
Mowing Frequency
You should try to avoid having a set schedule to mow your lawn. You need to be flexible to follow the 1/3 rule. If your grass is actively growing, you will need to mow more often. If the grass growth slows down, then you extend the time between each mowing. Focus on the lawn growth in relation to the optimal height of your grass.
What happens if you let your grass grow too long? Don't panic. Raise the mowing height and only cut 1/3 of the grass. Several days later you can lower it and cut another 1/3. Repeat this process until the grass is at the proper height.
The best time of day to mow is in the evening when there is still plenty of light and the grass is dry. This keeps stress on the grass to a minimum.
Bagging vs. Mulching
There are three instances where you should bag the clippings:
1. Maintain a sharp appearance for guests.
2. Collect weed seeds to prevent spreading.
3. The grass is tall and produces excess clippings.
Every other time you will want to mulch the clippings. This feeds your lawn with nitrogen-rich clippings.
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