Lawn Mowing – Best Practice in Summer

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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's important to keep up a regular mowing schedule during the summer to maintain your turf's maximum health. Here are 6 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 1/3 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 do happen to miss a weekly mowing, bring the height of the grass back down to the recommended level slowly. Raise the mower height so you don't remove too much leaf tissue at once.