How you mow your grass can significantly impact the overall health and appearance of your lawn. Much like gardening, there are certain practices you should put into place to ensure your grass looks its best during the hot summer months.
Want your lawn to be greener than your neighbors’ envy this season? Keep reading for our top five tips to help you establish an effective mowing routine!
If you want to achieve a lush, healthy lawn, it’s essential to set your mower height to the highest preferred setting for your grass type. This practice allows the root system to grow deeper, providing more nutrients to the plant. A more elevated deck height also prevents bald spots, scorching, and reduces weed growth—leaving you with a visually appealing landscape. Since you never want to cut off more than one-third of the blade at a time, you may have to mow more frequently than you’re used to, but trust us, the results will be worth it.
Just like you shouldn’t use a dull razor to shave your body, the same goes for mowing your lawn. A dull mower blade will rip and tear your grass, causing discoloration and making it more susceptible to disease. To avoid this, we recommend sharpening your blades after every 8-10 cuttings during peak season.
When it comes to cutting the grass, timing can make a big difference. Mowing in intense heat and sunlight can stress your lawn, and it’s not very pleasant for you either. Mowing in the early evening (around 7 pm) is not only much more enjoyable for you, but it also allows your lawn to recover before being subjected to extreme temperatures. Of course, be sure to avoid mowing when the grass is wet, as it can result in an uneven trim and unsightly clumping.
Out of habit, many people tend to stick to the same pattern time and time again when they mow. Unfortunately, this can cause the grass to lean permanently in one direction rather than growing straight and tall. For optimal lawn health, try periodically varying your mowing pattern!
Many people choose to bag their grass clippings and dispose of them without realizing how beneficial those clippings can be for their lawn. Grass clippings contain 80-85% water and decompose quickly, which returns valuable nutrients back into the soil. For best results, be sure to use a sharp blade and mow frequently so that your clippings are short and fertilize the grass below rather than smothering it.
Falling into a consistent mowing routine can be a challenging process in the summer months. If you’re unable to keep up with mowing your property this season, our team can help! Send us an email at sales@alcde.com or complete our digital contact form for more information about our commercial and residential lawn maintenance services.
