Mowing seems simple: you just cut the grass short so you don’t have to do it often, right? Wrong. It’s actually one of the more complex lawn care routines that can impact your lawn’s growth. It always puts stress on grass; that’s why proper mowing is important for a healthy lawn. But don’t feel overwhelmed by it—it isn’t as hard as it seems, and we have some tips to get you on the right track.

But why should you care about mowing properly? Most importantly, it’s an alternative to chemical methods for fighting weeds, as we discussed in our weed prevention blog. At StaGreen, we care about the environment, so we are big proponents of mowing properly instead of overly relying on chemicals. Follow these mowing tips to ensure you have a weed-free, healthy lawn.

You might have heard this rule countless times, since it’s the number one thing every lawn care professional advocates for proper mowing. It’s as simple as this:

Your first instinct is likely to cut the blades short. Understandably, no one wants to cut their grass frequently, but the health of your grass depends on this tip.

Sticking to the one-third rule, your lawnmower should be set to cut the blades higher. Higher settings ensure that grass grows thick. As a direct result, grass takes up more space, making it harder for weeds to take root and reducing their access to sunlight and nutrients. Lawns left unmown or cut too short leave grass vulnerable to diseases in addition to weeds. The bottom of the grass blades, the crown where the roots come together, can become damaged, inhibiting their ability to sprout new growth and take in nutrients. Moreover, water loss is common in blades cut too short, and photosynthesis is not as efficient with the loss of surface area to take in sunlight.

Shaded areas of your lawn receive less sunlight, so photosynthesis is less efficient. Grass here may not grow as fast, so cutting on higher setting than you normally would makes sure these areas are not overcut.

Instead of following a set calendar-based schedule, you should cut the grass as soon as you notice it has grown too high. Optimally, when it first grows in the spring, you let it grow about a third higher than the grass’s ideal height—there’s that rule again! After the first cut, continue to mow once it reaches this initial height throughout the spring and summer. 

If you cut your grass in the same pattern every time, you create grooves and tracks of compacted soil and grass can become thinner. Grass will grow straighter and thicker with different mowing routines.

Make sure never to cut grass when wet, if you can help it. Wet grass clumps, gets stuck in the mower blades, and can flatten areas of grass and block sunlight, making those areas less likely to grow healthily. For an even lawn and less hassle, only cut dry grass.

People often overlook this simple, yet crucial practice. Overlapping each mown row ensures an even cut. We recommend overlapping by a few inches.

Dull blades can damage grass, leaving them vulnerable to disease and inhibiting growth. For even, healthy grass, sharp blades are a must.

In addition to preventing heat exhaustion to yourself, mowing when it’s cooler, rather than during the hottest part of the day, reduces heat stress to the grass.

Last but not least, if you use a bagging mower, consider using one that doesn’t bag the grass blades instead. The Lawn Institute defines grasscycling as “the act of allowing grass clippings to remain on the lawn after mowing to return nutrients back to the soil.” This is crucial for healthy growth because throwing the cut blades away wastes all of the nutrients left over in them.

Ultimately, your lawn’s look and health can drastically improve just by practicing these simple mowing tips. Take care of your grass and reduce the stress it feels by adopting these methods for thicker, disease-free lawns. If you have any questions, or need a professional lawn mowing service, we are here for you. Reach out today!

Get out there, and mow like a pro!