Proper Lawn Mowing
Proper lawn mowing involves the interaction of the
height and frequency of mowing.
Most lawns should be mowed no lower than 1 1/2 inches
and up to 3 inches. Shaded lawns need the taller mowing
height. The personal preferences of the homeowner usually
determine the exact height selected.
The lawn should be mowed often enough so that no more
than 1/3 of the leaf area is removed at one time. For
example, a lawn mowed at 1 1/2 inches should be mowed when
the clippings will be less than 1/2 inch long.
It is not necessary to remove the clippings at each
mowing. Clippings do not contribute to thatch development.
Collect the clippings from diseased lawns to help prevent
the spread of the disease. Also collect excessively long
clippings to prevent them from piling up and shading spots
of grass.
Dull mower blades shred the grass blades rather than
cut them. The shredded ends dry out giving the lawn a
brownish cast.
Dead grass appearing in the tire tracks from riding
lawn mowers can be a hot weather problem. These occur when
the lawn was mowed during a time when it was dry. The
injury is most evident where the mower turned corners or on
slopes. The lawn will recover once it starts growing again.
