Mowing your lawn may seem like a straightforward task, but the WAY you mow makes a big difference to your lawn’s overall health. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you mow:
Don’t mow too short Most growth happens in the top 2 inches of a blade of grass because that’s where photosynthesis (converting of sunlight to energy for growth) takes place. If you scalp your lawn, you take off all the growing parts. New growth then has to come from the crown, which robs energy from the roots.
Set your mower blade so that you leave grass between 2 and 3 inches long. During periods of drought, go for the longer length. Research shows a yard mowed consistently at 2 inches has a root mass twice as great as a yard mowed at .75 inches. Leaving grass longer thickens your turf in the long run, and thick turf means less weeds.
How often to mow? Ideal mowing frequency is closely tied to the growth rate. Spring and fall generally are times of faster growth, and you may need to mow more than once per week. Just never remove more than 1/3 of the total blade height in a single mowing.
Alternate Directions It’s a good idea to vary your pattern from mowing to mowing to avoid the grass being mashed down the same way each time. Mowing at a right angle to the previous mowing’s pattern works well to keep your lawn “standing tall.”
Stay Sharp Sharpen your lawn mower blades often to avoid your mowed grass having a “chewed” or ripped appearance.