Tips for mowing your lawn

Almost everyone has cut the grass at one point or another. The general idea of it is beyond simple. Grass gets too tall, use a mower to cut it shorter. Couldn't be easier right? Then why are there some lawns that look so much better after a cut? You weed, fertilize and water your lawn. The secret is in the cut.

how to mow your lawn

1. Remove no more than one-third of the total height of the grass in any one cut. Doing so will damage your grass.
   
2. Recycle clippings back into your lawn. Removing clipings will remove nutrients from the soil and will lead to you fertilizing more often, which is unnecessary. Mowers with a mulching deck do a great job at this while leaving your lawn looking great.
3. Change the direction you cut your lawn each cut. Doing so reduces the chance
   of creating ruts or divits in your lawn. It also looks
   good.
   
4. Keep a sharp blade. Sharpening your mower blade or replacing it with a new
   one will give a better looking cut and the cut will be cleaner. A dull blade
   will leave your grass with brown tips. If you see a lot of brown tips, its time
   to sharpen your blade. Grass has a lower risk of disease when cut with a sharp
   blade. At the very least, replace or sharpen your blade each spring. If you have
   more than an acre of grass, do so more often.
   
5. If you have inflateable tires on your mower, check the PSI. If the pressure
   is off, your mower can scalp the grass more easily, especially on
   turns.
   
6. The proper height to cut your lawn is based on what type of grass you
   have.

Grass Type
Bermudagrass, Common
Bermudagrass, Hybrid
Centipede
Rye
St. Augustine, Common
St. Augustine, Improved
Zoysiagrass

Mowing Height
1.0"
0.5"
2.25"
2.0"
4.0"
3.0"
1.5"

Frequency (in days)
4
3
7-14
7
5-7
5-7
7-10

Mower Type
Reel
Reel
Rotary
Rotary
Rotary
Rotary
Reel