Summer Lawn Height
Summer lawn height is especially important in the scorching central valley. I noticed my neighbor’s lawns with burned or thinning out spots making weeds more likely in the future. In both cases, the lawns are being mowed short. If you don’t compensate for the increased summer temperatures that nice green lawn you have in the winter will be a burned out mess in summer.
Bluegrass lawns need a higher mowing height in the summer to keep the lawn’s roots and the ground shaded. The lawn should be maintained at it’s tallest recommended height. This additional height requires additional roots to support the height, and this is a good thing. This additional height provides the shade to reduce water evaporation and shades out weed seeds from invading your lawn. Besides, a bluegrass-fescue lawn does like a taller height in sunshine or shade. Taller grass equals more and deeper roots. These deeper roots can get to water easier keeping your lawn hydrated and healthy.
Grass Roots Lawn Aerator- Amazon.com
Good Mowing Practices
Mulching
My mower has a mulching blade on it. The blade basically has a second cutting edge above the cutting edge for the grass. The first or lower edge cuts the grass and throws it upwards. The second higher cutting edge catches the rising grass and cuts it even finer. The finely chopped grass is deposited back on the ground. It’s important to mulch the lawn clippings as they will return important minerals back to the plant roots and promote growth. Since lawn clippings are rich in nitrogen you can reduce your fertilizer use just by mulching.
Mulching Universal Replacement Blade – Amazon.com
To see a mulching blade in action (click here).
Wet or Dry?
For best mulching results, mow when the turf is dry. This makes the mulching type blades more efficient and results in much finer cuttings eliminating clumping.
Related Article: Lawn Aeration and You
If you can’t wait until the lawn is dry. Get ready for some work. The mower will deposit the clippings in clumps and these clumps will need to be removed from the lawn. (think leaf rake) Do not leave any clumps on the lawn as they will likely shade out any grass below the clump killing it.
A sharp blade
Good mowing height requires a sharp cutting blade. If your lawnmower blade is dull this results in the blade tearing the grass blades rather than cutting them. Maintaining the cutting edge of your lawn mower is essential to good grass health.
Related Article: Removing and Installing a Lawn Mower Blade
Related Article: Sharpening and Balancing a Lawn Mower Blade
All Angle Grinder Disks – Amazon.com
Turfgrass Height Sweet Spot
Every turf grass has an ideal height. My lawn loves a 2.5′” height in the winter and a 3.5″ height in the summer. To find the sweet spot for your lawn you will need to find out what types of turfgrass you have in your lawn. Then adjust the mowing height to the most prevalent species. After this, it’s a wait and see type thing. You made a judgment of the kind of lawn you have and set a height, now observe the lawn and see if it is responding favorably to the new height. If it’s not responding you need to adjust the height and watch for changes. Do this until you have the sweet spot you’ve been looking for.
A good paper on lawn practices in pdf form(click here)
To see a mowing height table for different turf grasses (click here).
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