How to Grow a Healthy Lawn Through Proper Mowing

Your lawn is often one of the first things that people notice about your house. A green, lush lawn can improve your curb appeal and make your home stand out in the neighborhood. Routine and proper mowing of your grass will keep it looking healthy all year long. Understanding proper mowing techniques will enable you to create a beautiful, appealing lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Proper mowing is one of the most beneficial things that you can do to keep your lawn healthy and green. The key to a beautiful lawn is mowing often and at the proper height. It is important that you never mow more than one-third of a grass's blade at one time.

There are recommended height ranges for most grasses. When the temperatures are hot or there has been very little rain, you should try to keep the height toward the upper end of the range. When you mow the grass too short, you are depriving it of nutrients as you are removing a large part of its food-producing leaf surface. This can weaken the grass, making it more susceptible to disease and insects. The ideal length for most grasses is between 2 and 3 inches. Lawns grown at these lengths tend to have deeper roots, fewer weeds, and look thicker and lusher.

It is important that you mow your lawn frequently, even during the winter months when there is not much growth. Once a week is a good recommendation for most lawns. During peak growing season, you may want to mow every 4-5 days. When growth is slow, mowing your lawn every 8-9 days will be fine. You will not need to remove grass clippings if you are mowing at proper intervals.

Frequent mowing will get rid of weeds before they are able to seed and take control of your yard. Your grass will grow thicker as competition for valuable nutrients is greatly decreased. There will be less cover for insects and pests as well.

When your grass is kept short, you will need less water because there is less leaf blade to transpire water. This is especially important during those hot summer months when water shortages tend to occur. Plus, less irrigation can prevent fungus and bugs from becoming a problem.

To avoid injury to your grass, be sure that you are using a mower with sharp blades. For an even cut, only mow when the grass is completely dry. Vary your mowing pattern each week. This will allow the grass to grow in an upright position.

Consider hiring a landscaping company that provides lawn-mowing services each week. These companies have the equipment and knowledge to make sure that your lawn looks beautiful and stays healthy. They also offer a variety of other services including thatching, reseeding, fertilization and more to encourage growth and improve the overall appearance of your yard.

When your lawn is healthy, it is better able to recover from drought conditions, disease and insect damage. It can withstand foot traffic without resulting in bald spots. Proper mowing encourages a lush, thick lawn that will be healthy and look beautiful all year long.

Kostas Menegakis is the owner and manager of Landscapes R Us, based in High Point, NC. His company provides comprehensive routine landscaping services as well as specialty services for homes and commercial properties around the Piedmont Triad area.