Yard Rules: Do's and Don’ts of Lawn Maintenance and Cutting Grass

Once you have your lawn looking great, it would be nice if all one had to do was sit back and enjoy its beauty. Unfortunately, it is not that way. Rather, it just means that you now have the job of turf maintenance.  From cutting the lawn to maintaining the edges, edging and weeding and watering or spreading mulch turf management can be a full time job.

Perhaps one of the most time consuming, and often most commonly misunderstood is how to mow the lawn. This turf maintenance job may seem very straightforward, but there is actually a variety of rules, that professionals use when mowing. So, if you want a yard that looks as though it is cared for by a professional Minneapolis lawn care company, then you will want to keep the following Do’s and Don’ts in mind as you cut your grass.

Don’t

• Cut more than one third of the height of the grass in a single mowing. If you need to cut more than that, wait 2-3 days and then cut again. To ensure you cut the grass at the correct height, be sure that your lawn mower is set correctly. If you are not sure what the best height is for your lawn talk to a turf maintenance professional.
• Cut the lawn so that it is below the plant crowns (base of the grass blade) as this will cause the grass to die. 
• Cut grass with a dull blade. Your lawn mower blade should be re-sharpened after every 10 hours of cutting time. It is best to take the blade to a professional sharpening service at least once a year. When necessary, replace the whole blade. Cutting grass with a dull blade causes the grass to tear and makes it susceptible disease, weeds and doing even worse in drought conditions.
• Leave wet or long (more than the recommended 1/3) grass clippings on the ground. Use a rake to move them so the grass continues to grow.

Do

• Only mow when the grass is dry.
• Change mowing patterns often as this prevents soil compacting and aids in turf maintenance.
• Leave grass clippings on the ground to decompose naturally as they will serve as fertilizer. 
• Rinse clippings off your mower after it has cooled down to prevent the spreading of lawn disease.
• Cut grass to the recommended height, based on variety.
• Make the last cut of the season at the lowest height for that variety.

Turf maintenance can be a time consuming process. Rather than you spending all your free time making sure that your grass is properly cared for, why not hire a turf maintenance company. Here at Classic Lawnscape, we would love to help you keep your turf looking beautiful year round. Contact us today to learn how we can take turf maintenance of off your list of yard work. We’re here to help!