Tips for Better Mowing

• Don't cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher heights usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.

• Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowing's to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings.

• Try to avoid mowing when the grass is wet.

• When mowing only a third with each cutting, you can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.

• Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.

• Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season. Keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand.

• Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.

• If you didn't drain your gas tank in the fall, or use a fuel stabilizer, don't use that old gas, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

Selecting the right mowing height

All grass varieties should be mowed at or near their optimal mowing height. This will keep grass healthy and dense (highest number of shoots per unit area). Higher density means more soil surface shading, which severely restricts the germination of many annual grassy and broadleaf weeds. Maintaining a dense and healthy lawn is the best weed control.

Grass Variety	Mowing Height Range (inches)	Optimal Mowing Height (inches)	Normal Mowing Frequency (days)
Buffalograss	2.0 — 4.0	2.5	7 — 14
Centipedegrass	1.5 — 2.5	2.0	7 — 14
Common Bermudagrass	1.0 — 3.0	1.5	3 — 7
Hybrid Bermudagrass	0.75 — 2.0	1.0	3 — 7
Kentucky Bluegrass	1.5 — 3.0	2.0	5 — 7
St. Augustinegrass	2.5 — 4.0	2.5	5 — 7
Tall Fescue	2.0 — 4.0	2.5	7 — 14
Texas Bluegrass (Reveille)	1.5 — 3.0	2.0	5 — 7
Zoysia japonica (coarse bladed Zoysia)	1.0 — 2.5	1.5	7 — 10
Zoysia matrella (fine bladed Zoysia)	0.75 — 2.5	1.0	5 — 7

Read: How to Choose the Right Mower