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Mowing
properly is one of the most important
factors in the overall health of your
lawn.
The first item to be considered when mowing
is height. Lawns in our area contain blends
of cool season grasses and should be cut
at the ideal 3 inch height. By mowing
at this height you are shading the soil
beneath the plant and thereby reducing
moisture loss. Mowing height also has
a direct impact on the root system of
the plant. The higher the cut, the deeper
the root, and therefore the healthier
the plant.
Mowing
frequency depends on growth. Cutting
should be done often enough so that no
more than one third (approximately one
inch) of the plant is removed at one time.
Mowing once a week may not be enough.
Removing more than one third of the plant
can injure the root system which could
take some time to recover. Mowing should
not be done during the heat of the day
as this will also stress the plants.
Your
mower blade should be sharpened regularly
to ensure a clean cut. A dull blade will
shred the leaf of the plant opening it
to disease. If possible change the direction
you mow each time to prevent compaction
and wear of the turf.
Clippings
should be left on the lawn whenever possible
since this adds moisture and nutrients
back into the soil. Mulching mowers are
ideal. They are designed to cut the clippings
multiple times before depositing them
on the lawn. If clumps of clippings are
left behind, they should be removed as
this can smother the underlying turf.
This can be avoided by mowing frequently
and mowing when the turf is dry.
Watering
is important in the overall health of
your lawn.
A frequently asked question is, when and
how often should I water? The simple answer
to this is when the lawn needs it. There
are a few ways to determine this. There
is the footprint test. Walk across
the lawn and if the turf does not spring
back after a short time, this is an indication
that watering is needed. Another way is
by observed appearance. Irregular patterns
with a purplish hue will appear as the
turf begins to show signs of drought.
This is caused by the leaf turning over
and beginning to wilt so that you are
seeing the underside of the grass leaf.
A lawn usually requires between 1 and
1 1/2 inches of water per week. Water
heavily and infrequently to promote a
deeper root system. Light watering
should be avoided since this will only
dampen the soil surface and can easily
evaporate. Areas in full sun will require
water more often than areas in the shade.
When watering, place an empty plastic
container with a one inch marking so you
can determine how long to leave the sprinkler
in one area. For larger lawns, consider
watering the front one day and the back
another day. Lawn watering is best
done in the early morning to prevent evaporation.
If this is not possible, another time
would
be early evening.
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