Have you ever taken the time to consider how you mow your lawn? No? Well, it's time you do. How and when we mow our lawns can actually make a difference in how it appears, fights disease, and stands up to the droughts of summer. Following these basic rules will help you have the best lawn possible:
- Mowing Height: We start here because mowing height is vital to a healthy and vigorous lawn. Blue grass is usually the grass of choice here in the Midwest and it prefers to be mowed quite high. In spring and fall, set your mower height to no less than 2.5 inches. When the heat of summer arrives, raise the mowing height even further to 3-3.5 inches. Remember that the depth of the lawn's roots will usually match the lawn's mowing height. The taller the grass, the deeper the roots and the more stress and drought tolerant the lawn will be. Taller mowing heights will also act to shade out many weeds, lessening the need for chemical herbicides.
- Mowing Frequency: How often you mow should not be based on the day of the week or your son's sports schedule. Lawns are best mowed when no more than 1/3 of the grass blade will be removed by the mowing. For example, a lawn which is mowed to a height of three inches should be mowed when the turf has reached a height of 4.45 inches. This may mean a mowing schedule of every 3-4 days in spring and only as-needed during hot, dry weather.
- Direction: If possible, change the direction of your mowing frequently. One week mow in a north to south direction. The next week, go east to west. After that, try a diagonal pattern and so on. This will help limit soil compaction and make sure the grass is actually being cut instead of simply being laid down underneath the mower blade.
- Mower Blades: Finally, make sure your mower blades are sharp and balanced. For most people, this will mean caring for the blades once per year in spring. For very large lawns or in situations when the blades have been dulled or nicked by unforeseen obstacles, you may need to maintain the blades multiple times through the year.
