Proper Lawn Mowing
How to take care of your summertime lawn.
Nashville, Ark. – Summer is here and the grass is growing. Taking proper care of your lawn is very important to the appearance and quality of your lawn. You should use the appropriate mowing technique, equipment, frequency and height of the cut.
Anyone taking care of a lawn should mow as often as needed but never cut more than one-third of the leaf blade at one time. Removing any more than one-third of the leaf blade can be harmful to the health of the grass. Sharply cut blades of grass will increase the health of the plant by improving the recovery rate, decreasing water loss and increasing photosynthesis. The height at which you should mow depends on the species of grass in your lawn. Approximately three inches is the best mowing height for tall fescue and St. Augustine grass. Bermudagrass and zoysia grass should be mowed at heights from one to two inches. Mowing below this range can result in a rapid decline in lawn health and can allow weeds to invade your lawn. Scalping can occur when more than one-third of the leaf blade is removed. Scalping decreases the health as well as the appearance of the lawn. Mowing frequently at higher mowing heights and alternating the pattern at which you mow will lower the risk of scalping. Some species including bermudagrass are more prone to scalping than others, like zoysia grass or tall fescue.
Recycling the grass clippings will improve the health of your lawn when you mow regularly at the proper height. If you allow the grass to grow too long before mowing, excessive clippings will damage the lawn. According to a study performed by the University of Rhode Island, leaves and clippings returned to the lawn do not contribute to thatch buildup. Returning the clippings to the lawn can supply up to two pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year. Clippings contribute to the organic matter which makes the soil softer and plants more drought tolerant.
The best time to mow a lawn is when the turf is dry. The clippings will be more easily distributed and there is less risk of slipping and being injured by the mower. It is also best not to mow when your lawn is not actively growing during drought conditions. During the fall you should only mow until the first frost on warm-season grasses, and mow until turf growth ceases on cool-season grasses.
For more information on lawn care, you can contact the Howard County Extension office at 870-845-7517 or find helpful fact sheets on our website at www.uada.edu.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
By Dawson Bailey
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Dawson Bailey
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
421 N. Main Nashville AR 71852
(870) 845-7517
dbailey@uada.edu
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity institution. If
you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another
format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office)
as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment)
without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital
or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other
legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.