Texas Lawn Mowing Tips

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Lawn Mowing Tips for Healthy Grass

Selecting the right mowing height

All grass varieties should be mowed at or near their optimal mowing height. This will keep grass healthy and dense (highest number of shoots per unit area). Higher density means more soil surface shading, which severely restricts the germination of many annual grassy and broadleaf weeds. Maintaining a dense and healthy lawn is the best weed control.

Don't cut your grass too short, particular for our cool season grasses. Higher heights usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have weeds invading, particular crabgrass.

Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bight the bullet and break it down into several mowings to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings.

Try to avoid mowing when the grass is wet.

When cutting only a third with each cutting, you can safely leave the clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.

Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.

Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season. A good idea is to keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand.

Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.

If you didn't drain your gas tank in the fall, or use a fuel stabilizer, don't use that old gas, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

A properly trimmed lawn not only looks better, but it is also more likely to resist weeds, insects and disease. Whether you cut your own lawn or have a service, please take note of the following mowing guidelines:

St. Augustine: If you have a St. Augustine lawn, you should be mowing once a week, maintaining an average height of 2½ to 3½ inches.

Common Bermuda: With this lawn type, you should be mowing between 1½ to 2¾ inches. Mow once a week, or if possible once every 5 days, for greener grass immediately after mowing.

Hybrid Bermuda: Set your mower at ½ to 1 inch for a hybrid Bermuda lawn.

All other grass types: Should be mowed between 2 and 3.

Note: Research has shown a direct relationship between mowing height and root depth. When grass grows too high, and is then cut, it will expose the stems to direct sunlight and the lawn may burn. If the lawn is yellow or pale after you mow, you have waited too long. The grass will recover, but the root system may be severely shocked. When grass is mowed at the recommended height, the root system develops better.

If possible, do not mow wet grass: When wet grass is mowed, it cuts unevenly, and the clippings form clumps that create a barrier, preventing your lawn from receiving sunlight.