Mowing and watering

Proper mowing is important for maintaining a healthy, well groomed lawn. Mowing should provide a uniform, aesthetically pleasing surface, while improving the density of the turfgrass. Homeowners need to follow a few simples guidelines to assure their lawn is being mowed properly.

• Height of Cut:
  For most lawns, a mowing height between 2 to 3 inches is suggested; the upper range is best for summer. Lawns mowed at higher heights tend to have deeper roots, less weed problems, and look much better. Mowing to close invites problems, such as weed invasions. Simply raising the mowing height can have a major impact on the quality of your lawn.
• Mowing Frequency:
  A general "rule of thumb" in determining mowing frequency is never to removed more than one third of the total leaf surface at any one mowing. This may required mowing twice a week in the spring, every two weeks in the summer, and once a week in the fall. If more than one third of the total leaf surface is removed, the grass may be stressed. Scalping may occur if most of the green leaf each is removed. When scalped, the lawn will appear brownish or yellowish because all that remains are the stemmy parts of the plant. If an area is scalped too frequently, the grass may die.
• Clipping Removal:
  As long as the lawn is mowed on a regular basis and the clippings readily filter back down into your lawn, clippings no not need to be collected. Grass clippings are made up of leaf blades that contain mostly water. Clippings break down very rapidly and do not contribute significantly to the thatch layer. By returning glass clippings, nutrients in the leaves are recycled.

The most common error committed by people is light irrigation. Too little water too often encourages a multitude of problems, such as shallow root system. The need for watering depends mainly on your soil and of course, the weather. Rainfall is no guarantee. Light showers and short downpours merely wet the surface. Most water is lost in runoff before it can soak in.

• How much water is needed?
  A lawn will use as much as two inches per week in hot, dry weather - a fraction of that when it is cooler. If you decide your lawn needs water, you should put on enough to wet the entire root zone (see diagram).



• When is the best time to water?
  If you can, avoid late afternoon or evening irrigation. Grass that stays wet for a long time favors disease development. However, do not avoid watering at these times if it this is the only time you can water. The important thing is water. Avoiding late afternoons is secondary to providing the needed water. In heavy clay soils, prevent watering to the full amount at one time, frequent watering is then necessary.