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- Is the Mow Height Right?
Sometimes our grass needs special attention. With all the rain over the last few weeks, the lawn is starting to stand a little tall. How you mow your lawn determines its overall health and appearance. Each species of turfgrass has its own recommended mow height. One way to manage your lawn’s health is to make sure you are mowing at the proper height.
The general rule of thumb is to cut your grass when it has reached the maximum recommended length and to only remove one-third of the grass at a time to prevent scalping. Scalping happens when grass is cut too low, and the stems of the grass are exposed. Scalping usually results in a yellow-brown patch, visible soil, and a decline in plant vigor.
When choosing your mow height, it is important to consider your commitment to your lawn. How often do you want to cut? Shorter grasses will reach their mow height before longer ones resulting in more frequent mows while longer grasses result in fewer mows but are generally harder to get a rotary mower through. With either method, it is imperative to maintain consistency.
If you lose your grip on your lawn, whether you forgot to mow or the rain cancelled your plans, bag excessive growth rather than mulching. This is going to help prevent excessive thatching and help your lawn stay healthy. Thatch is the layer of decaying trimmings between the soil surface and the turfgrass. Mowing at the right height and frequency will help reduce thatch build-up.
If all fails, the grass goes wild, and blades supersede the desired height, remember to knock-down mow only one-third of the height at a time. Your lawn will need time to recover. Mow after new growth is visible and slowly reduce your mow height back to the recommended settings by increasing the frequency in between mows and staying on top of your lawn maintenance routine.
Scalping present on St. Augustine.
Excess clipings can lead to thatch build-up.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture