The Importance of Properly Mowing Your Grass this Spring

Spring is on the way. If you haven’t started to get your yard spring ready, now is the time to act. The question is – what should you do first? Mowing is typically one of the first things you should do this spring. While it may have been several months since you got out in your yard, don’t wait any longer. Mowing will help you keep your grass green and healthy and can help to prevent diseases – but this is only true if you do it right.

The proper height for mowing in the spring is dependent on the grass type in your yard, along with the conditions of your lawn.

Regardless of what type of grass you have, make sure to use a sharp mower blade. If the blade is dull, it will just tear the blade, instead of making a clean, even cut. This is going to weaken the health of your grass and make it much more susceptible to disease, which results in a browned and dull appearance. This is the perfect doorway for pathogens.

Tips for Mowing Warm Season Grass

If you have a warm-season grass, you need to mow it frequently enough so that no more than one-third of the grass blade is removed when it is cut.

If you have Bermuda grass, it needs to be maintained between .75 and 1.5 inches tall. During the spring, you need to perform a cutting technique called “scalping.” To do this, put your mower on the lowest setting, which makes it easier to maintain the proper height through the growing season, which will help your lawn get green faster.

You should maintain the Zoysia lawn at the same height (.75 and 1.5 inches). However, there are some types that have wider blades, which can be maintained at taller height. Even though having a sharp blade is crucial for any grass, the density and susceptibility of this grass to patch fungus make it particularly crucial to use a sharp blade.

If you have St. Augustine grass, it needs to be maintained at a height of two to three inches tall during the warmer months of the year.

Tips for Mowing Cool-Season Grass

For Fescue grass, you need to keep it at a height of three inches. As the grass gets hotter, it needs to stay under three inches. Make sure you never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade when you are mowing. If you cut off too much of this blade, it is going to deplete the energy reserves it has.

Get Help with Mowing Your Lawn This Year

If you want to ensure that your lawn remains healthy throughout the year, there are more than a few factors to consider. If you are confused or if you aren’t sure you can handle the job, contact Kansas Turfmasters. We can ensure your lawn is properly mowed and that it doesn’t suffer any of the most common mowing related issues.