{"id":1270,"date":"2021-01-21T17:47:20","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T17:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawndoctor.com\/leander-tx\/?p=1270"},"modified":"2021-01-21T17:48:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T17:48:01","slug":"how-to-mow-a-lawn-the-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawndoctor.com\/leander-tx\/how-to-mow-a-lawn-the-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Mow a Lawn: The Ultimate Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Use an Edge Trimmer before Mowing\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before mowing your lawn, take an edger around the perimeter of the lawn. You can also use an edger around permanent backyard structures such as air conditioning units, playsets, or flower beds. You want to do this before you mow the lawn because the lawn mower will mulch the large clippings. Ultimately, the edge trimmer will help to create a straight and refined edge around your newly mowed lawn.<\/p>\n

Mow a Dry Lawn (Ideally)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ideally, you will want to mow your lawn while the turf is dry. Schedule your mow before the sprinklers turn on. Dry grass is also preferable for mulching because it is less likely to clump.<\/p>\n

While mowing a wet lawn is not bad for the grass, the wet grass will result in a longer mowing process. Wet grass can easily get stuck in the mower causing you to stop and clean the blade multiple times. The bag will also be more difficult to empty. If you do decide to mow wet grass, avoid soggy soil. Soggy soil can result in lawn divots that end up damaging your lawn. If the soil is too wet, postpone your mow until a later time or date.<\/p>\n

Pick the Right Mowing Height\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proper mowing height is critical to the overall health of your lawn as well as ensuring that it looks great.<\/p>\n

Mowing at the proper height encourages root growth and contributes to a healthy and flourishing lawn. Most lawn mowers come with multiple height settings. The optimal setting will depend on the type of grass that you have and the season of the year. Warm season grasses such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia should each be mown at different heights. Common Bermuda should be mown at 1 to 2 inches and hybrid Bermuda\u2019s should be mown at \u00bd to 1 \u00bd. St. Augustine should be at 2 to 3 inches and 3 to 3 \u00bd inches in shady areas. Zoysia should be mown at 1 to 2 inches. As a general rule of thumb, no more than 1\/3 of the total leaf blade should be removed during single mowing.<\/p>\n

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When to Mow<\/strong><\/p>\n

Routine mowing should begin as soon as the grass begins to turn green in the spring. This typically takes place around the beginning of March. The lower the mowing height, the more frequently you will need to mow. The grass will be much better quality if you mow frequently at a lower height. The first cut of the year, Bermuda lawns should be cut extremely low (scalped) and bagged to remove the dead grass and to allow the new grass to grown in quickly. Zoysia and St. Augustin shouldn\u2019t be scalped. When the grass goes dormant, it doesn\u2019t need to be mowed on a routine basis.<\/p>\n

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Avoid\u00a0<\/strong>Scalping Your Lawn<\/strong><\/a>(in the Summer)<\/p>\n

Grass can allocate energy to two functions\u2014growing roots or growing new blades.\u00a0Frequent cutting grass\u00a0too short can cause weak root systems, eventually causing the grass to die. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to use proper lawn mowing habits to avoid frequent scalping your lawn.<\/p>\n

Mowing the lawn\u00a0too short (\u201cscalping\u201d)\u00a0at the wrong time of the year leaves your grass more susceptible to the high temperatures and drought.\u00a0 Scalping your lawn in the heat of summer will seriously hinder the grass\u2019s ability to recover. Since hot weather already stresses lawns, scalping will most definitely make matters worse.<\/p>\n

Additionally,\u00a0cutting grass\u00a0too short will limit the grass\u2019s nutrient supply, giving weeds free reign. The sunlight will also reach the weeds providing photosynthesis for growth.<\/p>\n

Not sure if you\u2019re scalping your lawn? If your grass is so short that its stem is exposed, it\u2019s too short. This stem is usually brown in color. Typically, most warm-season grasses should be at least 1 inch high and most cool-season grasses should be at least 2.5 inches high.<\/p>\n

Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you mow your lawn, you want to\u00a0cut the grass, not tear it. The next time you mow, take a look at the grass afterward. If it looks torn and frayed, your mower blade needs sharpening. Tearing can make your grass more vulnerable to pests and diseases.<\/p>\n

Proper lawn mower maintenance, like sharpening your mower\u2019s blade, will ensure even mowing and healthier clipping distribution. A blade sharpener can be bought at most home and garden centers. You should sharpen a blade every few weeks throughout the mowing seasons. You can also keep a spare mower blade on hand to alternate using.<\/p>\n

Mulch Your Lawn (Grasscycling)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cGrasscycling\u201d<\/a>\u00a0is a technical-sounding word that means leaving your grass clippings behind when you mow. It\u2019s a common practice that helps build a healthy lawn and save on fertilizer.<\/p>\n

Grass clippings are good for lawns because they turn into natural fertilizer. Clippings contain the same things as the rest of your grass \u2013 including water and the nutrients (especially nitrogen) that your lawn needs to stay healthy. When you leave your clippings on your lawn, you give them the chance to decompose, releasing water and nutrients back into your lawn\u2019s soil.<\/p>\n

This helps grass grow greener, healthier, and thicker. That being said, make sure you don\u2019t let your grass get too long, as the clippings will pile up and take longer to decompose, leaving piles of grass everywhere.<\/p>\n

You can use either a push mower or mulching mower for grasscycling. If using an electric or gas mower, choose one powerful enough to cut your grass evenly.<\/p>\n

Alternate Mowing Patterns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you are mulching or bagging your grass, you will want to rotate directions every time you move your lawn. There are three main mowing patterns:<\/p>\n