11 March 2022
Lawn mowing – best practice in summer
Six suggestions that make summer mowing easier and keep your turf at its healthiest, from cutting height to what to do with the clippings.
Sometimes mowing may seem like the bane of your existence during the summer months. It is actually one of the most important home lawn management practices. It is important to keep up a regular mowing schedule during the summer to maintain your turf’s maximum health. Here are six suggestions to make your mowing life easier.
1. Mow at the highest recommended height for your grass species
- Bahiagrass: 3.5–4"
- Centipedegrass: 1–2"
- St. Augustinegrass: standard cultivars 3.5–4"; semidwarf cultivars 2–2.5"
- Zoysiagrass: the majority of these cultivars should be mowed at 1.5–2"
2. Never remove more than a third of the leaf blade
‘Scalping’ — mowing too low — can badly stress your turf, leaving it vulnerable to disease, drought, and insect or weed invasion.
3. Leave grass clippings on the ground
These actually act as compost, returning valuable nutrients to the lawn. They can reduce your fertility requirements and add organic matter to the soil.
4. Keep mower blades sharp
Dull mowers tear leaf blades, stressing the grass and making it more vulnerable to pests and disease.
5. Do not mow when your lawn is wet
Wet grass clippings keep your mower blades from making the cleanest possible cut.
6. If you miss a mowing, come back down slowly
Bring the height of the grass back to the recommended level gradually. Raise the mower height so you do not remove too much leaf tissue at once.
← New lawn water restrictions in Sarasota and Manatee Counties
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