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Lawn, Garden & Landscaping

2011-07-01 08:19:00

How frequently should I mow?

Answer: In answering your first question, it really depends on if you laid sod down, or if you seeded the lawn. With sod, it is already conditioned to mowing and you should not have any trouble mowing it as soon as it starts to look healthy. If you seeded your lawn, you need to remember that the shoots (new growth from seed germination that grows upward) are much more delicate and you should wait until the area is fully established. Once your lawn is established, developing a regular mowing schedule is very beneficial to its appearance. In fact, how often you mow and how high you keep your lawn is key to the development of a top quality lawn. As a general rule, it best to keep ornamental lawns should be 0.75cm in early spring, fall and winter and 0.3-0.5cm mid-spring and summer. Utility lawns should be higher and kept between 2-2.5cm in spring and summer and 3-4cm the rest of the year. Here are some things to consider: •The roots will not receive adequate food if you mow too short •If you bag your grass, mow when the grass is dry, as it weighs more in the bag which weighs down the mower and can cause damage to the lawn. Occasionally, bagging grass has its benefits but the grass clippings also contain great nutrients for the growth of your lawn (this is a whole other topic for a different day)! •Waiting too long to mow allows weeds to establish •Mowing regularly helps stimulate shoot development The frequency with which you mow will depend on the type of grass, weather conditions and watering patterns. If you follow these simple rules of thumb, you should be on the right track for a fabulous lawn that is easy to maintain.