The Importance Of Mowing Frequency

The Importance Of Mowing Frequency

Mowing is the single most important part of lawn care. Mowing frequency is the single most important aspect of mowing. Sure the mower height is important, too low, and it will scalp the lawn, and cause other problems. Mow it to high, and a different set of problems arise, but with any reasonable mowing height, it will be fine. It is the amount of time between cuttings that makes the real difference. It is very simple. For a great lawn, you should mow more often!

A well known plant scientist and turf expert was fond of saying in his lectures that he had a 3 point plan for growing great lawns.

His plan was a simple one:

1. Mow
2. Mow
3. Mow

Now, he knew that it was not exactly that simple, but, it is pretty close to the truth. The fact is, that if all other factors are equal, the lawn that is mowed most frequently will be superior to all the others. This is not guess work, this is not supposition, this is not estimation, this is a stone cold fact!

I hate to put too fine a point on it, but this one factor is the key to producing a high quality lawn, and it also works in reverse. The less a lawn is mowed, the worse it will be. Wait long enough between cuttings, and a weed patch will result. The fact is, that this can not be emphasized enough. In day to day dealings with park managers, rental property owners, and homeowners, it has become obvious that most people don't understand this simple fact.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

• "Mow more often? Why, all I have is weeds?"

Yes, and if you continue to mow once a month, you will always have nothing but weeds.

• "Can you spray it with something to get rid of the weeds?"

Yes, but unless you change your mowing frequency, they will be back.

• "You got rid of all my weeds for me a few months ago, but now they are all back again, what happened?"

Did you mow at least once a week?

• "No"...

Ad infinitum...

How often should I mow?

Under most conditions, in most parts of the country, mowing at least once a week is the minimum for healthy grass. Mowing more often will produce better results, mowing less often will produce worse results. The more you mow, the better the product.

Mowing frequency importance: The reasons

1. The more frequently you mow, the “tighter” your lawn will become, because the grass will start to grow laterally rather than upward. This will create a more resilient lawn with more competition for weeds.
2. Mowing more frequently will providing less cover for insects, and less cover means fewer pests.
3. As a result of the tightening of the turf, it will be more durable as well. Mowing heavily trafficked areas more frequently can help to prevent those ugly bald spots in your lawn.
4. Since there is less leaf blade to transpire water, the lawn will need less water, and irrigation can become less frequent.
5. Less frequent irrigation will help to keep fungus and bugs from becoming a problem.
6. The clippings you have will be smaller, and will degrade more quickly, putting more nitrogen and organic matter back into the soil, so less fertilizer is needed to keep the lawn green and healthy.
7. Thatch, and the insects that use it for cover, will be less of a problem.
8. The need for bagging will disappear.
9. It will help your lawn to be more healthy, and healthy lawns ward off lawn disease bugs, weeds, and fungus, can withstand more traffic, and suffer less from insect damage, recovering more quickly when these problems do occur.
10. You will have fewer weed problems, because they can’t go to seed between mowing’s, and because the weeds will be competing with a healthy opponent.

Conclusion:

I understand that mowing can be a little expensive, either in time or money, and for that reason most people don't do it as often as they should, but, because you will save money on fertilizer, pest control, and irrigation, you will be able to defray the added expense of mowing more often, and have the benefit of a better lawn!

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