How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

 

Summertime is the main growing season for your lawn.  Knowing when, how often, how tall to cut your grass, and other factors are important in growing and maintaining a lush, thick, green lawn. We must ask the question, “How often should you mow your lawn?”

When to Start

In early spring, as your lawn is coming out of dormancy but before it begins turning green and growing, give the grass its first seasonal trim.  This tells your lawn that it’s time to wake up and start growing, and you want to get an early start on your lawn’s growth before weeds begin to germinate and crowd in.  

How Often Should You Mow?

Most people will say that mowing weekly during the growing season is best but it really depends on your lawn itself.  It may need to be cut more often or less often.  No matter what length you want your cut lawn to be, it is important to never cut off more than a third of the blades’ height.  Cutting more than that can cause your grass to get sunburned because the more tender lower parts have lost their shade.

Your lawn’s growth rate will also depend on what type of grass it is.  Cool-season grasses grow most in the fall and spring, whereas warm-season grasses grow during the summer.  How much you water and fertilize will also have an impact on your lawn’s growth.   

How Long Should Your Lawn Be?

The longer the grass, the longer the roots.  Longer roots are stronger, hold moisture longer (less watering required), and are better able to fight off weeds and pest infestations.  Longer grass blades mean more surface area for photosynthesis to take place which gives your lawn the nutrients it needs and keeps it healthy and green.      

How Often Should I Water?

Watering your lawn in the morning will allow it to be absorbed further into the turf before the sun is high in the sky, causing it to be evaporated.  New lawns should be watered often so they don’t dry out but if you have an established lawn, a good rule of thumb is that you should water long enough so it soaks into the soil to 6 inches.  Watering to 2 inches often will tell your roots they only have to grow 2 inches.  

Lawn Mower Blades

Sharp lawn mower blades are vital to a healthy lawn.  Dull mower blades rip the blades of grass which causes them a lot of stress and makes them much more susceptible to disease.  Even with sharp blades, mowing your lawn when it is wet can also cause the blades of grass to tear so it’s best to let it dry first. 

To Mulch or Not to Mulch 

If your lawn is healthy and doesn’t have a lot of built-up thatch, allowing your clippings back into the lawn provides it with precious nitrogen as they break down as long as they’re not too long and lay in unsightly clumps on your lawn.  If it is too much, it can damage your lawn.  Don’t mulch every time, alternate mulching and bagging your clippings.

Fertilizer

If you have a healthy lawn, you should fertilize it twice a year during the growing season which depends on the variety of grasses you have.  If you’re mulching your clippings, your lawn will be getting a lot of the food it needs to be healthy.  

Growing a beautiful, lush, and healthy lawn isn’t rocket science but it does take some work and dedication.   At Taylor Anthony365, we offer lawn maintenance programs for both residential and commercial properties.  Our maintenance services include mowing, trimming areas the mowers cannot reach, weed and pest control, edging, fertilizing, and everything needed to make your lawn a showstopper.

We treat every lawn like it is our own and pride ourselves on the relationships we have developed with our clients and we’re so sure you’ll love us, that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  Call us today at (904) 230-3386 for a free quote or visit our website to find out all of our landscape services we have to offer.