Some Tips For Proper Mowing

• How to mow a yard, improper mowing causes more lawn care problems than any other yard maintenance practice. Most lawns are mowed too short, not often enough, or with a dull blade.

• Proper Height for mowing your lawns range depending on the type of grass you have, too low restricts root growth and increases the chances for damage from insects, disease, drought, and traffic. Cutting too low also leaves the grass wide open for weed seeds and infestation.

• Here are some common verities of different grass:

Kentucky Bluegrass at 2.5 to 3.5 inches

Perennial Ryegrass at 2.5 to 3.5 inches

Fine Fescue at 2.5 to 3.5 inches

Tall Fescue at 3 to 4 inches

Bermuda at .75 to 2 inches

Buffalo at 2 to 5 inches

Blue Grama at 2 to 4 inches

ST. Augustine at .5 inches

• Knowing when to cut you grass depends on how fast the grass is growing. To have a clean cut you should mow often enough that you don’t remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in a single mowing. For instance, if your grass reaches 3 inches, don’t cut any lower than 2 inches. If the grass has grown too tall, raise the mowing height and gradually lower it back to the original height after a few mowings.

• Keep Your Mower Blades Sharp You should check your blade every few times to take care that it remains sharp. A dull mower blade will tear the grass blades in your lawn leaving a brown dying look on the surface.

Grass Clippings

As long as the lawn is mowed on a regular basis, clippings don’t need to be collected. Grass clippings contain about 80% water and easily decompose back into the soil. They do not cause thatch. Clippings recycle needed nutrients, in particular nitrogen, back into the soil so less fertilizer is needed.

Direction

Mow in whichever direction is safest. Some people like to mow in a criss cross pattern. Some like to mow a second time in the opposite direction. I personally like to mow parallel to the street that the home faces. This gives the yard a professional look and feel. There really is no right or wrong direction.

The most important tip to remember when mowing your yard is to always be safe! Use your head when working with lawn mowing equipment. Just be safe.

For more tips about mowing visit my website at Southern Illinois Mowing.