Best Lawn Mowing Tips
Regular mowing is a vital part of lawn care. A quick whiz with a sharp and well-adjusted mower will only take you a few minutes if you do the job every week. Mowing as often as you can will encourage the fine grasses and allow the grass enough energy to thicken up to become an area to be proud of.
Lawn cutting can be simplified into the following rules:
- Never remove more than 1/3rd in any one cut
- Mow frequently – weekly is best when the lawn is actively growing
- Check your mower regularly for cutting height and blade sharpness
Regardless of your mower’s cutting action being Cylinder, Rotary or Hover, the principles remain the same….
The ‘One Third Rule’
Never remove more than one third of the grass blade on any one mowing. Therefore, if your lawn mower is set for a 3cm (1”) cut then you must mow at or before the grass gets to 4cm (1½”) whether that’s 4 days or 8 days between cuts.
Regardless of the mowing height, we recommend never leave your lawn more than 10 to 14 days between cuts.
The chances are that if it is very dry in the summer (as is currently the case) you won’t need to cut the grass too often, as there will be little growth. However, don’t go over two weeks between cuts because some weed grasses will take advantage of the lack of lawn mowing and spread or seed profusely.
Cutting at the correct height encourages healthier roots, helps conserve water during dry periods, and ensures the grass plant remains healthy, whilst at the same time discouraging weeds
Why Mow Little and Often?
For many of us little and often means once a week. This will produce a much denser and more aspirational turf than if your grass cutting is every two weeks.
A dense turf is the best looking and a great form of natural weed control as it prevents weed seeds from contact with the soil. If the seed doesn’t contact the soil then there is a very good chance that no weeds will grow; perfect! You will NOT benefit the grass by giving it a severe hacking less often.
If I don’t follow these rules, what happens?
Thin patchy lawns are often the result of infrequent mowing or removing too much of the grass when you cut. Mow infrequently AND mow short and before long you won’t have a lot of lawn left to mow!
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