HELPFUL HINTS HELPFUL HINTS


HELPFUL HINTS


FROM THE LAWN INSTITUTE FROM THE LAWN INSTITUTE


FROM THE LAWN INSTITUTE MOWING AND TURFGRASS HEALTH


fescues, ryegrasses, bentgrasses, etc.) grow faster and require more mowing during the spring and fall months than the summer and winter months; while warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, etc.) require more frequent mowing in the summer months. As a result, it is important to adjust mowing frequency, and perhaps even height, according to growth rate.


Few things are as important to turfgrass as proper mowing. It is one of the most frequently performed cultural practices that has the ability to make an immediate impact on the beauty of a lawn, athletic field, or other turfgrass site. When walking into a baseball, football, or soccer stadium and getting that first glimpse of the playing surface, what stands out the most? Is it the latest fertilizer application or irrigation cycle? Te soil pH or particle size analysis? Probably not. Many fans would tell you it’s the intricate mowing patterns or field uniformity and consistency that hits them first.


Turfgrass is only turfgrass because it is mowed. With over 10,000 species of grasses in the world, only about 30 to 40 of them form dense turf when mowed. Tese species, which evolved under grazing from animals, create the fabric that is found in many urban landscapes, holding disturbed soils in place, capturing stormflow and rainwater, cooling our homes, creating fresh oxygen, and providing a safe place for kids and athletes to play. Perennial turfgrasses are one of the few species of plants that can tolerate mowing, and it is because of their adaptation to regular defoliation, aka grazing.


Turfgrasses have a recommended mowing height range that varies by species. For most home lawns, these height ranges vary from 1 inch to 3.5 inches (2.5 cm to 8.9 cm). Te frequency at which lawns require mowing typically increases as mowing height decreases. Tis is because it is important to not mow off more than one-third of the leaf blade at any one time. Mowing frequency also depends on temperature, moisture, fertility, and any other factor impacting growth. Cool-season grasses (bluegrasses,


For more information on lawn care and helpful “How to” tips, visit The Lawn Institute at: www.TheLawnInstitute.org.


TPI Turf News May/June 2019 9


It also is important not to overlook the physiological impacts of mowing on turfgrass growth and health. While mowing is a good thing and necessary for turfgrass growth, any type of defoliation (mowing or grazing, for example) reduces the amount of leaf surface that serves as the photosynthetic apparatus for plants. Leaves, after all, capture sunlight to serve as energy for converting atmospheric carbon dioxide to sugars and carbohydrates for growth and storage in roots and stems. Mowing grasses too short or too frequently can reduce this capacity and be detrimental to plant health, especially during stressful periods. However, mowing too high results in turfgrass leaves that shade each other out, which reduces lawn density and traffic tolerance.


Tis makes it important to find the balance of the proper mowing height and frequency that encourages lateral growth while also leaving enough leaf tissue in place to support photosynthesis. Other tips for healthy mowing include using sharp blades, not mowing when lawns are excessively wet or drought stressed, and leaving behind clippings when possible, especially when using mulching kits. Finally, who doesn’t recognize the smell of fresh cut grass? From weekend warrior to professional athletic field manager, tips for proper mowing allow everyone to enjoy fresh natural grass.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76