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Mowing Your Lawn brought to you by the Scotts Company

Mowing Your Lawn brought to you by the Scotts Company

Article Author Home & Garden Showplace

Proper mowing can mean the difference between a so-so lawn and a great one.

How High to Mow?
Grass generally performs best when mowed at one of the higher settings on your mower -- especially in hot summer weather.

 

  • Avoid scalping at all costs.
  • Never cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades in a single mowing. If lawn growth gets ahead of you, mow it at a higher length, then lower blade and mow again a few days later.

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    Recommended Mowing Heights by Grass Type (in inches) Cool-season Grasses Grass
    Bentgrasses
    Fescue
    Kentucky bluegrass
    Ryegrass Min. Height
    1/4"
    1-1/2"
    1-1/2"
    1-1/2" Max. Height
    3/4"
    2-1/2"
    2-1/2"
    2-1/2" Warm-season Grasses Grass
    Bahiagrass
    Bermudagrass
    Buffalograss
    Carpetgrass
    Centipedegrass
    St. Augustinegrass/Floratam
    Zoysiagrass Min. Height
    2"
    1/2"
    2"
    1"
    1"
    1"
    1/2" Max. Height
    3"
    1"
    3"
    2"
    2"
    3"
    1"

    Blade Sharpness
    Keep mower blade sharp. Mowing with a dull blade tears the ends of grass blades, leaving ragged ends which later turn brown, giving the lawn a dried-out look. Such grass blade damage also encourages the spread of fungus disease.

    How Often to Mow?
    Once a week is usually sufficient. In spring, when grass is growing more rapidly, mowing twice a week may sometimes be necessary to avoid removing more than 1/3 the length of the grass blades.

    What About Clippings?
    Ideally, clippings should be removed after mowing. However, they can be left on the lawn if they are not heavy enough to pile up on top of the grass. Heavy clippings can smother the grass. Using a mulching mower is recommended if you want to leave clippings on the lawn.

    Information and images courtesy of Scotts lawn care.