Lawn Mowing Tricks That Make Turf Tough

Let it Grow_Mow High

• Set mower blades to 3 inches.

Growing your lawn taller is an excellent way to reduce herbicide use.

Tall grass:

• Is more stress tolerant especially important during the intense summer heat;
• Has a larger root structure, which increases uptake of water and nutrients;
• Provides shade-reducing weed seed germination, particularly crab grass.

Twice a Year_Mow Low

• Twice a year your lawn should be cut to a height of 2 inches.

The flrst cut in the spring and the last cut in the fall should be low. In the spring this
removes any winter fungus and in the fall prevents fungus from getting established
during the winter.

Give The Grass a Clean Cut

• Keep your mower blade sharp;
• Mow when the grass is dry;
• Mow in the cool part of the afternoon or evening.

Mowing when the grass is wet or with a dull blade can cause the tip of the grass to shred, giving the lawn a brown appearance as the tips dry out, and making the grass more
susceptible to disease. Cutting the grass in the intense heat can cause stress to the plant.

Mulch Clippings

• Leave grass clippings on the lawn.

Mulching reduces the need for fertilizer since important plant nutrients are returned to the soil. A mulching mower circulates the grass clippings in the mowing chamber to produce smaller clippings, which break down more easily.

Wise Watering

• Turn on sprinklers or set timers to water between midnight and 8 a.m.;
• Water deeply and only when needed (every few days, not every day);
• Cancel a scheduled watering if a recent rainfall has occurred;
• If a fertilizer has just been applied, only water the lawn lightly.

Watering prevents the grass from becomihg dormant during summer's high temperatures. Proper watering ensures a denser lawn, allows the turf to compete more effectively with weeds. A healthy lawn will also reduce pest problems.

Watering should take place before intense sunlight causes too much water to be lost to
evaporation. Watering in the early evenings will leave the lawn damp all night, and may increase the lawns susceptibility to fungus and molds. Deep watering encourages deep
root growth. However, when fertilizer has just been applied it is better to water lightly to prevent the fertilizer from leaching past the root zone, where it will not be useful to the grass.