Spring is the time of year where many homeowners start working to get their lawn looking great. There are some things you should be aware of when you mow it that will help you get a beautiful lawn and keep it all summer!
Mowing Your Lawn Properly
Don’t shave your lawn – If you allow your grass to grow and then mow more than 1/3 of the leaf blade it is called “scalping” and will only hurt your lawn. When homeowners mow the grass very low it further damages it because it cuts into the crowns of the plants.
Sharpen lawn mower blades – It’s important to make sure that your lawn mower is well maintained. This will have it working correctly and will cut the grass cleanly. If the blades are dull, it will shred to blades of grass and lead to discoloration. This happens because the grass blades are frayed and will lose moisture easily. The blades on rotary mowers should be sharpened several times during each growing season and the blades of reel type mowers only need to be sharpened once a year. The blades also need to be adjusted to make sure the blades cut cleanly. You also need to be aware of the type of grass you have because some blades of grass are very tough and will wear the blades of the mower more quickly.
Be careful with grass that has grub & other damage. If you have a lawn that has suffered drought damage, insect damage or disease, you need to make sure the height of the mower is adjusted to a higher height.
Utilize grass clippings on lawn – If you recycle grass clippings it will reduce water loss, make soil temperatures lower and bring nutrients back to the soil. You will also save the step of having to bag them up and help the landfills by preventing clogs. There are even some communities that will not accept household trash that contain grass clippings anymore.
Do not cut grass that is wilted or wet after rain etc – Brown spots can be the result of cutting grass that is wilted or wet. This happens because the clippings will clump together and smother your lawn and if you do it during the hottest part of the day it will further damage your lawn.
Best time to cut grass & mow lawn. The growth of your grass is the best way to determine how often you’ll need to mow it. The key is to only remove one-third of the grass at a time. The type of grass you have will also come into play. Some types of grass like Bermuda need to be cut closely to keep it healthy. If Bermuda grows too high it will develop thatch. If your lawn is growing quickly you will need to adjust the frequency of mowing. This might be every three to four days. If you can’t get to it right away make sure you adjust the height of cutting. It will need to be higher to avoid taking too much off and make sure you reset it back when you can get to it more regularly.
Professional Lawn Care in Greater Morrisville, Stowe & Lamoille County, Vermont
If you want your lawn to be the envy of the neighborhood, get to know your lawn and the best ways to take care of it. This will be the best way to prevent damaging it and keep it looking beautiful! If you find yourself struggling to keep up with lawn care, call Matt Myette Landscaping for help! We also offer complete landscape design and construction if you are desiring a makeover!
