The Importance of Regular Mowing

There are many reasons why lawncare should be a part of your routine. One reason being for the health of your grass, to ensure it is not only being mowed routinely but also properly. When your lawn is mowed regularly, this process allows the blades to remain at the ideal height for nutrient absorption and photosynthesis. Therefore, the blades are getting the exact amount of nutrients to spread and further ensure the grass grows evenly throughout your entire yard.

Another reason would be the knowing the importance of your grass height. Proper mowing height plays an important role into lawncare because it increases turfgrass density and promotes deep root growth. Both of which lead to a stronger turf that is more competitive against weeds and better able to persist under environmental stresses.

Tip: Turfgrass density is measured by the number of leaves or shoots per area.

Whether you are interested in replacing your grass or just want to make sure your new lawn looks perfect, it’s a smart idea to choose a selection with a higher density and a fine leaf texture. Overall, these grasses generally produce high-quality lawns.
Normally weekly mowing is the rule of the lawncare world, but some lawns might need
cutting more often than most.

This is where it is important to keep an eye out on your grass growth. When your grass growth is allowed to go unchecked, it means that it can’t be mowed properly. It will have to be mowed by more than one-third of the blade’s height and that affects the process of grass getting proper nutrients. Another pro to making it a part of the routine is, it allows or signsof diseases or insect infestations to be spotted. When lawn disease occurs, it is important to treat
it before it overtakes the entire yard-nip it in the butt before it has a chance to grow!

Tip: Fungal diseases can quickly kill your yard as they spread. Common insects such as white grubs can also rapidly destroy your yard. Grubs attack your grass at the roots, effectively cutting off its ability to retain nutrients.

Signs of lawn disease and insect infestation include brown patches, dug up areas of the lawn, and more. Without regular lawn mowing and inspection, it would be difficult to stop these issues before they became a bigger problem. As they say, practice makes perfect.

Some good mowing practices to ensure you have a healthy yard are listed here:

Practice #1 requires a sharp, properly installed mower blade.
As one would cringe at a dull razor, a lawn will similarly cower from the hacking treatment delivered by a dull blade. Even worse than a dull blade is one installed upside down causing the blunt backside of the blade to be the cutting edge. A dull blade won’t provide a clean cut, causing grass to look ragged. The resulting injury will also allow more entry points for insects and disease, says Laurie Trenholm, University of Florida urban turfgrass specialist. A clean cut from a sharp blade provides a nice, even look that is far healthier for the grass.

Practice #2 requires the determination of the species of your grass. There is no universal perfect mowing height for grass. Each species thrives at different heights based on their physiology-finer bladed grasses can be mowed shorter while wide bladed grasses do better with a little more height (3.5-4 inches tall and 1-2 inches tall for fine blade).

Practice #3 requires you to set the mower deck height. The species of grass may be the first clue to where to set the mower, but it’s not the only consideration. The general rule of thumb when mowing is to try not to remove more than one third of the leaf tissue present in a single mowing.

Tip: The lower you go, the more frequently you have to mow to maintain the desired height.

If lawns are continually allowed to grow too long and then cut back dramatically, it can stress grass. Stress will cause the grass to pull nutrients from the root system-degrading the lawn altogether. The best plan is to keep the mowing height consistent throughout the year.

Practice #4 requires you to mow at the right interval. In order to maintain the desired height,mowing should occur when the grass needs a trim, not when the weekend falls. If a lawn is heavily fertilized and irrigated, or in its active growth period, it may need mowed twice a week.

If the grass has entered its dormant season or is suffering from drought stress, it may not need to be mowed at all. Again, it’s about following the rule of never removing more than one-third of the leaf tissue at a time. If the desired lawn height is 2 inches, it needs to be cut when it grows to 3 inches tall.

Practice #5 requires you to plan for clippings. In most cases, lawn clippings should be deposited right back onto the lawn. They’re full of nutrients the lawn can recycle and put to good use.