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Proper Mowing

Mowing is one of the most important cultural practices performed in lawn maintenance. Regardless of whether the lawn is fertilized, irrigated or receives applications of control products, proper mowing practices are essential if a high quality lawn is to develop. Properly mowed lawns will have fewer weed populations, better moisture stress tolerance and generally better quality than lawns not properly mowed.

Lawn Mowers

Lawn mowing is a partial defoliation of the turfgrass plant. The blades (leaves) of the grass plant are cut with mechanical machines called mowers.

The primary type of mower used on most home lawns is the rotary mower. This mower uses an engine (gasoline or electric powered) to horizontally rotate a blade. The blade is designed to create a vacuum resulting in the grass being lifted then sharp edges of the blade cut the leaf blades. Rotary mowers are constructed to trim close and are useful for mowing at higher mowing heights. Height adjustments of rotary mowers is relatively easy. Many sizes and models are currently on the market ranging from small push models to large riding units capable of mowing large areas in a short period of time.

One of the most recent advancements in rotary mower technology is the refinement in mulching mower design. Recently, a number of manufacturers have introduced mulching mowers into their product lines. These introductions are in response to the demand of homeowners to assist in making the return and recycle (i.e. "Don't Bag It") programs an aesthetically satisfactory option. In general, the mulching lawn mowers are modified standard rotary mowers designed to cut then recut the clippings many times to allow the filtration of the fine pieces into the canopy of the lawn and not remain on the surface. The design modifications intended to assist in this recutting include the use of high lift blades with expanded cutting edges and restrictions on the grass discharge ports.

Reel mowers are still used by a limited number of homeowners. If properly adjusted, reel mowers will provide a higher quality cut than the rotary mowers. The advantage is most apparent at close mowing heights. A study conducted at The Ohio State University compared the reel and rotary mowers on Kentucky bluegrass at a 1 and 2 inch mowing height. Plots cut with the reel mower consistently rated higher in quality than those mowed with the rotary model. A reel mower is also better at following the contour giving a uniform height of cut. In Ohio, reel mowers have limited popularity today due to the inability of some models to adjust mowing heights, difficulty in sharpening, and reel mowers are not well suited to the higher mowing heights now recommended. Additionally, the current marketing emphasis of most manufacturers is on the rotary models.

Cutting Heights

Mowing height is probably the most important parameter of mowing. Turfgrasses, like other plants, must manufacture sugars through photosynthesis in the leaves if they are collectively to develop into a high quality lawn. Turfgrasses mowed at low heights have limited leaf area to sustain photosynthesis rates necessary to maintain good plant vigor.

In addition to leaf area, a direct relationship exists between the height of the turfgrass and the depth and total mass of the root system. Research with Kentucky bluegrass has shown that root growth was more than twice as great when the grass was mowed at a 2.0 inch height verses a 0.75 inch height. In general, a lawn mowed too short will have a shallow root system with little total root mass. The impact of shallow, weak root systems is most apparent during summer stress periods. When soil moisture becomes limiting, the closely mowed lawns usually exhibit stress first and the loss of turfgrass plants is more likely. Higher mowing heights during the summer period will keep soil temperatures cooler, preserve soil moisture and help maintain turfgrass quality. Recommended mowing heights of cool season turfgrasses cultured in Ohio include:

Turfgrass mowed at the recommended height will have deeper, stronger root systems.

Mowing height can play an important role in prevention of lawn weed establishment. Research has shown that higher mowing heights result in fewer weeds per unit area. This is due to higher grass providing more shading and competition to the weed seedlings during the initial establishment phases.

Mowing Frequency

The lawn should be mowed frequently enough so that no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade length is removed during any one mowing. For example, if Kentucky bluegrass is normally mowed at 2 inches, the height should not be allowed to grow beyond 3 inches before it is mowed back to 2 inches. If 1 inch is mowed, 1/3 of the total blade length is removed and the 1/3 mowing rule has been followed. During periods of active turfgrass growth, many lawns will require mowing more than once per week if this recommendation is to be followed. Proper mowing frequency is a key to successful implementation of the "Don't Bag It" clipping return program. If extended wet periods prevent timely mowing and the turfgrass gets excessively tall, move the mower height adjustment to the highest setting and mow the lawn. Once the clippings dry, lower the height adjustment to the desired height and then mow the lawn a second time in a different direction. This approach is termed "Double Cutting."

Additional Mowing Considerations

Mowing Directions

The direction of mowing should be altered every one to two mowings. Mowing at right angles (90 degrees) to the previous direction will help prevent the grass from repeatedly being pushed in one direction and laying over, an important consideration at high mowing heights. Also if scalping areas of the lawn is a problem, the different mowing directions will help minimize continual scalping in any one area.

Mower Maintenance

All mowing equipment should be kept in good working condition. Having the mower serviced prior to the heavy spring mowing period will help ensure routine, maintenance-free mowing. Mower blades should be sharpened each spring and as needed during the season. A dull mower blade frays the ends of blades and results in brown tips which are unsightly and indicate damaged turfgrass.

Mow When Dry

Turfgrass should be mowed when it is dry. Wet grass is more difficult to cut and has the tendency to clog under rotary mowers. Mowing should not, however, be delayed for long periods of time because the grass is wet.

Fall Mowing Practices

During the Fall period, mowing should continue as long as the turfgrass is actively growing. If the maintenance height is 2.5 inches during the fall period, it is permissible to lower the height to 2.0 inches during the last 1 to 2 mowings of the year. A lower mowing height going into the Winter is important if the lawn is in a region susceptible to outbreaks of winter diseases.

Clipping Return

Turfgrass clippings contain measurable amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Research has shown that when clippings are removed, 20 to 25 percent more fertilizer was necessary to maintain comparable color and quality as areas where clippings were returned. Contrary to popular belief, turfgrass clippings do not contribute to thatch accumulation if proper mowing practices are followed.

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