- Mow according to the recommended mowing height for your grass type for the summer. The growing habits of your lawn dictate the best time to mow. Gardeners should avoid ever taking off more than one-third of the grass blade at one time. When grass is mowed too low in the summer, it is unable to retain moisture. Gardeners experience grass turning brown, going dormant or dying out after low mowing. In addition, grass is more susceptible to pest and disease damage.
- All grass types have their own specific mowing height. For example, the mowing height for fescue is 2 1/2 to 3 inches, bermuda is 3 to 4 inches, zoysia is 1 to 2 inches, Kentucky bluegrass is 2 1/2 to 3 inches, and centipede grass is 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Mow your lawn when the grass is higher than its recommended mowing height. For example, mow bermuda to 3 inches when the grass grows to 4 1/2 inches.
- Take environmental factors in account when the weather is hot outside. Avoid mowing the lawn when the grass is wet. This means morning time mowing when there is still dew on the grass should be avoided. When gardeners mow wet grass, grass clippings clump up on the yard. These clumps of grass shade turf, which causes problems. In addition, mowing in the heat of the afternoon is difficult for both gardeners and turf. Grass blades hold soil moisture, which is used by the grass to survive hot temperatures. Mow your lawn in the late afternoon when temperatures have cooled to prevent causing your grass stress.
- While gardeners should take environmental factors such as dew into consideration, grass should be prevented from growing too high. While mowing your grass when it is dry is optimal, avoid prolonging your mowing due to rain or dew, as recommended by Ohio State University. Go ahead and mow your lawn in the morning before the heat of the day if your grass has grown tall. Rake up clumps of grass clippings and distribute evenly over the lawn.
previous post
next post