Mowing

Mowing your lawn tall is one of the most important things you can do for your lawn. Mowing short (or “scalping”) is the most common mistake we see people making. If you cut your grass too low, especially during the hot summer months, it can cause your lawn to burn out and turn brown. We recommend the following:

Time of Season Mower Height
First Mow of Season (Early Spring) 2 – 2 1/2 inches
Rest of the growing season 3 inches or higher
Last Mow of Season (Late Fall) 2 – 2 1/2 inches

Having a sharp mower blade is another “must” for your lawn. If your blade is dull, it will tear off the tops of the blades and cause them to turn brown.

If possible, use a mulching mower. Mulching helps keep the moisture in the soil from evaporating and also returns nutrients back to the soil. However, you might want to bag your clippings the first mow of the season to avoid large piles of mulch on your lawn.

Do not mow in hot, dry weather. When you mow in these conditions, it can stress your lawn and once again cause it turn brown. Water evaporates more quickly off of short grass. To help your lawn retain the moisture that it needs, allow it to remain long in hot, dry weather conditions.