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	mowing florida lawns

Mowing Your Florida Lawn

(Printed with Permission, University of Florida)

Correct mowing practices can affect the overall health and appearance of your lawn.

florida lawn mowing landscape genie florida lawns mow The main components of proper mowing are:

Mowing at the proper height for your grass species
Mowing frequency
Following good mowing practices

Mowing at the proper height

Mowing at the proper height is very important for the physiological functioning of your lawn. Grass plants use their green leaf blades for the process of photosynthesis, by which the plant takes in carbon from the atmosphere for use in growth.

When too much leaf material is removed in a mowing event, the grass plant is not able to photosynthesize rapidly enough, and the plant undergoes a period of severe stress as it tries to outgrow the defoliation.

This leaves the grass more susceptible to stresses such as insect, disease, and weed attack. It also reduces the vigor of grass growing in any type of environmental stress such as shade, drought, low fertility, or other problems.

Each species has a range of heights at which it can be maintained with good results. In the case of St. Augustine grass, there are different mowing heights for some cultivars. For example, the "dwarf" cultivars such as Seville, Jade, and Delmar, and the "semi-dwarf" Palmetto can be mowed at lower heights than the standard cultivars.

This is one reason why it is important to know which cultivar you are dealing with. The following table shows the recommended mowing heights for common Florida lawn grasses.

Turf grass Species	Optimal Mowing Height (inches)	Mowing Frequency (days)	Preferred Mower Type
Bahia grass	3.0-4.0	7-17	Rotary/flail
Bermuda grass	0.5-1.5	3-5	Reel
Carpet grass	1.5-2.0	10-14	Rotary
Centipede grass	1.5-2.0	10-14	Rotary
Seashore Paspalum	1.0-2.0	5-10	Rotary/reel
St. Augustine grass	2.5-4.0*	5-14	Rotary
Zoysia grass	1.0-3.0	10-14	Reel

mowing florida lawns landscape genie ft lauderdale
Two St. Augustine lawns showing the effect of mowing height. The lawn on the left is maintained at a proper mowing height (3.5-4 inches).

The lawn on the right has just been mowed at too low a cutting height for this grass. Not only does it look bad, this grass is also susceptible to any other stress as it regrows enough shoot tissue for photosynthesis.

mowing florida lawns landscape genie ft lauderdale A Bahia grass lawn that has grown too tall. The owner is attempting to mow the grass at its normal cutting height (3-3.5 inches), but is removing too much tissue.

In this case, it is best to gradually lower the mowing height to the recommended level. Never remove more that 1/3 of the leaf tissue with any mowing.

Frequency of Mowing Your Florida Lawn

The growth rate of the lawn determines how frequently it needs to be mowed. The growth rate is influenced by grass species, weather conditions, and level of management.

Slowest growth rates occur in the winter or under low fertility and irrigation, while fastest growth rates occur in the summer or under high fertility and watering practices. Mow often enough so that no more than one-third of the blade height is removed per mowing.

mowing florida lawns mow landscape genie florida For example, if your St. Augustine grass lawn is mowed at a height of 3 inches it should be mowed when it grows to a height of 4 to 4½ inches. Stress to the grass caused by mowing can be minimized by removing only one-third of the leaf blade at each mowing.

It is important to always leave as much leaf surface as possible for photosynthesis to provide food for regrowth. On most lawns, grass clippings should be left on the ground to help recycle nutrients to the soil. If the lawn is mowed frequently enough, clippings cause few problems.

Although many people believe that clippings contribute to thatch, research has shown that clippings are readily decomposed by microbial action. Problems with thatch may arise when turf is mowed infrequently and excess clippings (e.g., clumping) result. When this happens, clippings can be raked to distribute them more evenly.

Good mowing practices

Follow these procedures and precautions for safe, good mowing:

Pick up all stones, sticks, and other debris before mowing to avoid damaging the mower or injuring someone with flying objects.

Never mow wet turf with a rotary mower because clippings can clog the machine. Mow only when the turf is dry.

Sharpen the mower blade frequently enough to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.

Mow in a different direction every time the lawn is cut. This helps prevent wear patterns, reduces the grain (grass laying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.

Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute these by re-mowing or by lightly raking. A leaf blower can also be used to distribute clippings.

Check your mower every time it is used. Follow manufacturer's recommendations for service and adjustments.

Adjust cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
Never fill a hot mower with gasoline.

Always wear heavy leather shoes when mowing the lawn.
Wash mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.

Call the Landscape Genie today for all of your mowing needs!

Landscape Genie | Fort Lauderdale Florida