Resources
How Often Should I Mow?
Mowing is the primary practice in lawn management. Growth rate largely determines the mowing schedule for your lawn. Several factors influence mowing frequency. Environmental factors influence mowing frequency through their effect on growth rate. Temperature has the greatest impact on growth rate. When temperatures favor growth, mowing frequency needs to be increased. When temperature slow growth, mowing frequency can be reduced. In the warm season grasses growth (leaf extension) begins at about 65°F . As temperatures increase above 65°F, the rate of leaf extension increases, as long as other requirements such as light, moisture are met. The use of fertilizer also affects growth rate. High rates of nitrogen in fertilizer promote vegetative growth likely increasing the need of mowing frequency. When deciding to mow growth rate and mowing height must be considered. The general "rule of thumb" is only remove 30 percent of the leafs surface. By following that rule, the leafs ability to turn water and carbon dioxide into food is marginally affected. The density, texture, color, root development, wear tolerance and other aspects of your lawn quality are all enhanced by proper mowing. Without regular mowing a fine lawn can become just another weed patch.
Mowing Height
Without a doubt the more often you mow your lawn the better. However mowing is time consuming and can be expensive therefore as homeowners we often compromise between what is best and what is practical. Factors such as mowing frequency, shade, mowing equipment and the season of the year need including turf and frequency of use need to be considered when determining the best mowing height for your lawn. For example, during long periods of drought stress, it may benefit your lawn to raise the mowing height and reduce the frequency of mowing. Similarly, following the application of fertilizer, it may be necessary to increase the frequency of mowing to avoid excess accumulation of leaf clippings. The season of the year may also influence recommended mowing heights. In early spring, close mowing is recommended to control thatch and to increase turf density. Mowing heights may be raised slightly during summer months to reduce the frequency of mowing and to reduce watering. Higher mowing heights in the summer also help compensate for the more upright growth of leaves during long days.
Grass Clippings
Management of grass clippings is critical to the quality of turf produced. On very dense, closely mowed turf areas such as sports fields and golf greens, grass clippings are routinely removed for aesthetic purposes and to prevent interference with the ball. On turf areas mowed at .5 inch or higher, clippings do not need to be removed if they do not interfere with the use of the turf. If the turf is mowed at appropriate intervals and clippings are uniformly dispersed, the clippings do not present a problem. In fact, by leaving the clippings in place, the nutrients they contain are recycled through the turf and the need for fertilization is significantly reduced. By catching and discarding grass clippings each time a turf is mowed, about 100 to 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre are removed each year. If a homeowner does not want grass clippings left on the lawn, they can be used for compost in a garden or as a mulch around plants. But, other than for aesthetic purposes, there is no need to routinely remove grass clippings from lawns.