You might think that lawn care is straightforward, but there are many things you have to consider. First, there’s the fertilizer. They come in many types and formulations, depending on the needs of your lawn. The lawn care equipment you use also plays a role in better lawn care. But one aspect that people often overlook is mowing.
Whether you own a lawn care franchise or do the work yourself, you need to know how to mow correctly. People often think that mowing is as simple as starting the lawnmower and cutting grass. But you have to observe proper mowing techniques and follow sound lawn management practices to ensure that your grass remains healthy and green.
Here are a few factors you should consider when mowing the lawn:
1. The height of the blade
Many homeowners often mow their grass too low, thinking that cutting the grass short means that they won’t have to mow as often. Some people also prefer the look of short grass. This practice is known as scalping. Scalping will destroy your lawn, however. The correct mowing height is cutting only the upper third of the grass blade every time you mow.
When you mow the lawn, the blades will cut the upper third of the blade. The grass uses the blade to produce nutrients by photosynthesis. If the blade is too short, the grass plant will not be able to produce food for the system.
The root systems face increased pressure to extract nutrients from the soil to make up for the shortfall. The result is a cycle where the plant’s systems are weakened every time you mow, leading to death by starvation.
2. The sharpness of the blades
One of the most critical factors in proper lawn management is the sharpness of the lawnmower blades. Always cut with sharp blades, and never with dull ones. Dull blades cut poorly and can destroy the entire blade system.
You will get grass blades with ugly, brown tips due to a nasty cut. And with inconsistent cut heights, you will get portions where the lawn is too thin and areas where the grass has barely been touched.
3. The leftover clippings
People often throw away the leftover clippings after a mowing session. Do not do this. Grass, like most plants, still hold nutritional content that you can use after cutting. Instead, leaving the grass clippings behind to decompose provides the lawn system with a source of nutrition.
The leftover clippings also prevent the growth and spread of weeds. With clippings covering the soil and blocking sunlight, weed spores might fail to germinate. You can also use the grass clippings as a free and organic source of fertilizer. Instead of using potassium fertilizer, you can spread grass clippings all over your plants.
With the right tools and tricks, you can practice proper lawn management. Keeping your lawn is not as simple as watering the grass and mowing it once in a while. There are rules you have to follow and mistakes you have to avoid. Factors such as grass height, blade sharpness, and leftover clippings all play a role in keeping your lawn healthy, green, and thick.
