How high you should allow the grass on lawns to reach before cutting it is perhaps the most frequently asked question about lawn care that people have. Grass started from seed takes about two months to reach a height suitable for mowing, while grass started from plugs or stolons and sprigs needs about three to six weeks before mowing. The reel mower allows you to tidy up the lawn’s appearance without damaging the blades. I suspect that I may be cutting it too short--especially in the summer heat. Not only would you be letting the grass go to seed, but the weeds will do the same. In general, wait until your grass grows just past its highest height range, such as 3 inches for cool-season species. Sure, the grass will still grow if it is not maintained, but in order to get the most out of your lawn, extra steps should be taken. Lush turf relies on healthy grass blades for maximum photosynthesis -- longer blades produce … When the mower sits idle for extended periods, the health and appearance of the lawn suffers. Most lawn grasses are going to be grown laterally if left uncut, less vertically. If you cut the lawn too short during dormancy, the grass cannot photosynthesize properly to encourage root spread. It’s important to reduce the height of long grasshow to. Grass should be allowed to grow to one-and-a-half times its recommended height before its first mowing, or about 4 to 5 inches if the recommended height for grass is about 3 inches. When using a mower to cut grass, it will produce a lot of compaction. Cool-season grasses prefer the mild temperatures of fall and spring for active growth -- they enter dormancy during the summer. That means if you like your grass 2 inches in height, you want to cut the grass when it is 3 inches long. Unlike establishing a lawn from seed, installing sod gives you grass that's already mature. Kentucky Bluegrass and Creeping Red Fescue are lawn grasses (also used in It may seem like its too long but this will allow it to build up a good root system. Her writing has appeared on various websites. This means you might find yourself mowing wet grass , despite it appearing dry on the surface. Mowing grass can be tedious and time consuming, and it's tempting to let your grass grow" and grow" and grow. Clippings will be longer When to Mow Grass started from seed takes about two months to reach a height suitable for mowing, while grass started from plugs or stolons and sprigs needs about three to six weeks before mowing. By letting your grass grow tall, you’re inviting weeds to grow out of control as well. If you let your grass grow to about four inches and then mow it down to two, for example, you may open the door to disease or further weed growth—even if two inches is the proper height for the grass. Grass & Grass Seed Find out how to grow a new lawn or repair the one you have. If you dramatically lower the height of cut or let the grass grow too long before cutting it, you can injure or even kill your lawn. It may seem like its too long but this will allow it to build up a good root system. Grass should be allowed to grow to one-and-a-half times its recommended height before its first mowing, or about 4 to 5 inches if the recommended height for grass is about 3 inches. Sod should be in place for at least two weeks before running the mower over it. Frequency: With warm soil temperatures and recent rains, grass grows quickly in early summer I have cut it to a length of three inches for several years now. But it’s not all serious, as long as you know the first mowing height and the recommended mowing height for your mixture going forward, everything will be just dandy. If you live in an area that gets very hot summer sun, cutting the grass too short may cause it to turn yellow and die under the sun's heat. This is the perfect time to start reducing the height of your lawn mower if you like a shorter cut. When starting a new lawn, early maintenance is critical for its long-term health, and mowing is no exception. Only take off about one-third of the grass’s total height, even if this doesn’t bring it down to the recommended height for the particular type of grass. Following its natural growth cycle, you need to cut your cool-season grass to a 2 to 2.5 inch height during the spring and fall. Cutting Grass Experts suggest that you should never cut more than one-third of the height of your grass off at any one time. You need little lawn care during the cold months of winter. Firstly, you should know what kind of grass you're growing, warm-season grasses or cool-season grasses, then you will know what the best soil temperature is. Patiently waiting for tall grass helps ensure your new planting has lush growth through the years. There’s a lot of debate about how high to mow your lawn in the fall. Mowing a lawn too low is not the only scalping danger—cutting off more than one-third of the height of grass in any single mowing also is very stressful and damaging to lawns. If you've let your newly seeded grass grow exceptionally tall, keep in mind that grass should never have more than a third of its total length removed in a single cutting. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, University of California Integrated Pest Management Program; Mowing New Lawns; 2009. Here is how long you should let your new grass grow before thinking of cutting it to increase its chances of surviving If you just planted a new lawn, you must be eager for it to grow enough so you can mow it and have it look… Just because the weather is cooler doesn't mean you should stop cutting your grass. This could take one to two months, depending on the type of grass in your lawn. Cutting the grass when it’s wet causes it to tear instead of cutting cleanly and this can open the door to … With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities. By mowing properly, you preserve the turf's health for consistent lush growth. Growing vigorously in late spring and summer, warm-season grasses enter dormancy during the cooler fall and winter months. Take gentle turns, as sharp turns will also tear out the grass, even if the soil is dry. These heat-loving grass species can be cut much lower than cool-season species. Cutting your grass at the proper height encourages weed suffocation, cool soil temperatures and water conservation. She writes about green living, careers and the home garden. What Happens if You Let Your Grass Grow Too Long?. It is critical to remove only one-third of the turf's height at a time -- cutting more creates stress and shock, which encourages stunting and possible pathogen or pest infiltrations. But I think you need to cut lower.Specifically, I think you should wiggle your cutting height down all year long, not just in the Fall. All Rights Reserved. How Long After Planting Do I Cut Sod?. Also, cut the grass when it’s dry as cutting wet grass is never recommended. When giving the grass its first cut, set your mower blades to a height that's slightly higher -- 6.5 mm (1/4 inch) -- than the maximum mowing height for its species. And unfortunately, weed seed has a quicker, more successful New lawns are susceptible to mowing damage if you cut too early during their establishment. As a result, you see dieback across the turf as grass succumbs to drought and heat stress. That all depends on the species of grass you’re referring to. How Long Does Grass Need to Grow Before You Mow?. When cutting grass, you want to make sure you reduce each blade of grass by approximately 1/3 of it’s original length. This means you must get it right the last chance you have to cut your grass before winter. When starting a new lawn, early maintenance is critical for its long-term health, and mowing is no exception. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Lush turf relies on healthy grass blades for maximum photosynthesis -- longer blades produce more energy for vigorous foliage and root growth. Dull cutting blades cannot Reel mowers make a clean cut across the grass blades, while the often dull blades of a power rotary mower have a tendency to tear the grass. On a new lawn, it's best to use a hand-powered reel mower over a gas-powered rotary mower. Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Only take off about one-third of the grass’s total height, even if this doesn’t bring it down to the recommended height for the particular type of grass. Because of summer's heat, trim the lawn to a higher range of 2.5 to 3 inches tall. It’s not often you hear that mowing your grass can save water. Sticking to the one-third rule slows the development of thatch in the lawn, which is an accumulation of dead plant material that can suffocate the grass. Let your grass grow long and tall until small, oval-shaped seed heads develop on the tips. Reel mowers make a clean cut across the grass blades, while the often dull blades of a power rotary mower have a tendency to tear the grass. Once established, your lawn may need twice a week mowing sessions during the most active growth periods. Mowing Height to Promote Grass Root Growth, Instructions on Using a Dethatcher on Your Lawn, The Lawn Institute: Mow it High and Let it Lie, University of California, Davis: Mowing New Lawns, Ohio State University Extension: Lawn Mowing. Depending on the species, cut warm-season grasses to an optimal range of 0.5 to 2 inches. Their vigorous spreading makes them acclimate to short heights while still retaining a dense growth pattern. In this short article, let us tell you when to cut new grass and how to do this properly. If you allow grass to grow beyond 3 inches before mowing, clippings become a problem. The roots are still pretty weak and mowing wet grass not only clogs the mower, but it also tears new grass from the soil with even the slightest pull. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Allowing clippings from long grass to settle on your lawn causes similar issues to letting grass grow beyond 3 inches. You should leave the grass for around 5/6 weeks before cutting. Sometimes, you just don't want to pull out the lawn mower. Always remove no more than one-third of the grass and leave the clippings on the lawn to act as a mulch/compost. Once the grass is truly established, it’s OK to use a gas-powered mower. 5 Reasons Why I Let My Grass Grow Too Long David Oblas September 28, 2018 5 Minute Read “It’s just because you’re lazy.” Well, no. Dark green leaves can withstand the intense rays of the sun, but those parts of your turf near the soil New grass is more tender, flexible and finer than more established grass. Your grass should have a firm root establishment at this point to support a mowing session. As you periodically mow, change your direction each time to keep the grass blades upright for clean cuts. Mow new grass when it is dry. Your lawn will continue to grow thicker as long as growing conditions are favorable. Once you’ve made the first pass, let the grass sit for a few days then mow it again, this time to the recommended height. You say that you're cutting at four inches, but a three-inch cut is ideal for like fescue and Kentucky Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Dannah Swift has been writing since 2009. You always want to cut grass with clean, sharp mower blades but this is particularly important when mowing new grass or lawn. Mowing before the grass is fully established slows root development and could ruin your hard work. It happens. How High Should You Set Your Mower Blades? This short height allows air to circulate around the blades for cooling. Most warm-season grasses spread through above-ground stems, or stolons. Once the grass and flowers have been allowed to grow, the key to maintaining your mini-meadow is through your diary of mowing. Cool-season grasses grow ideal in the middle of 60 degrees and 75 Grass that's too long is also hard to mow, and the extra-long She holds a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of New Hampshire and is currently pursuing a certificate in paralegal studies. We recommend that the ideal height of your grass should be around 5 – 7cm before you cut it, and this goes for all of our grass … So here’s the long and short of mowing, blade height and watering. Sod installations may only need up to a month to establish, whereas seeded areas need as much as 8 weeks before mowing can be tolerated. Therefore- after cutting off one-inch (one-third of three-inches), you should be left with about two-inches of lush green common Bermuda grass. When you leave grass to grow long before mowing, it holds on to moisture. That will leave plenty of leaf blade for photosynthesis. If you've let your newly seeded grass grow exceptionally tall, keep in mind that grass should never have more than a third of its total length removed in a single cutting… In dry ground, the soil is firmer and the roots more secure. Find everything you need to know about grass and grass seed at Scotts. An attractive healthy growing system needs supplemental feeding, proper mowing and watering and Because you must wait for seeds to germinate, you cannot cut the grass until two months have passed. The fescue grass in my yard is not doing well. While cutting its height, you should still allow its roots to grow deeper into the ambient soil and ensure a healthy establishment process. Let your grass grow too long between cuttings, and you run the risk of creating an ideal habitat for insects like mosquitoes and critters like voles, mice and snakes. 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