 |
|||||||||||||
| How High to Mow so the Lawn will Grow Mowing, the partial removal of grass blades is one of the most important cultural practices in lawn maintenance. The routine of partial removal of grass blades also serves as a trigger for each grass plant to produce tillars and rhizomes, resulting in a thicker, denser lawn. |
 |
||||||||||||
| Fescue. These varieties needs can vary when it comes to summer feeding and watering, but there is a constant rule when it comes to mowing heights. Research has shown that all the above species should be mowed at 3 inches with the lawn being mowed again as the grass grows to 4 inches. You should not remove more than 1/3rd of the grass blade when mowing. Why so High Many homeowners are under the impression that the shorter you mow the lawn, the less it will have to be mowed during the summer and the less water needs the shorter grass will have. The fact is that all grass blades are food making machines for each individual grass plant. In addition, all grass varieties produce some type of alkoloids, a natural ingredient produced to help grass plants defend themselves against insects. Some varieties of perennial rye and all turf fescue varieties also produce endophytes that give those grass plants even greater protection against insects. The longer the blade the more alkaloids are produced through the food making process referred to as photosynthesis, the manufacture of the plants food (carbohydrates). The longer the blade, the more food produced. High mowing also has several other benefits on the health and appearance of lawns. Studies at Ohio State University in Wooster show that lawns mowed at 3 inch height had lower air and soil temperatures reducing the hot temperature stress on grass plants. The shading effect of taller grass also reduces weed seed germination by preventing sunlight to reach the soil. Lawns that were mowed at 3 inch in height had fewer dandelions, clover, and other weeds than the lawns mowed at 1 ½” to 2 inch heights. By comparison, golf courses have to spend a tremendous amount of money to keep the very short greens and fairways healthy. This answers a golfer’s question about why the rough always appears greener than the fairways during the summer. That’s a result of the roughs being mowed at 3”. |
|||||||||||||
 |
More Reasons to Leave Long After you’ve digested the above information, there are additional benefits to mowing your lawn at 3 inches. In addition to the grass blade making food and insect protection, the grass blade is also a water reservoir. The longer the grass blade the greater the water capacity of each plant. The only exception would be grass that’s mowed with a dull mower blade. The rough cut that’s made by an unsharpened blade prevents the cut blade from resealing itself allowing stored moisture and food to escape. Please, sharpen that blade. A big thank you to Parwinder Grewal, Ph.D., Urban Landscape Ecology Program, at O.S.U., Wooster OH for some of the information in this article. |
||||||||||||
| A summer reminder for fall lawn feeding Just dropping the first on many reminders about the two most important feedings your lawn can receive. You want to feed your lawn with a high nitrogen quick release fertilizer around Labor Day and again around Thanksgiving. Please refrain from any lawn fertilizer till then. Feeding your lawn twice in the fall will finally give you the lawn you always wished for. More on this topic in future articles. |
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
| Special Note: The Hamilton County Fair, August 9th -13th holds one of the oldest flower shows in Hamilton County (158 years). The show is large, open to the public contest which allows amateur and professional horticulturists the opportunity to enter their homegrown flowers for judging. The best flowers and arrangements in each category are awarded ribbons and premium money. This event is also educational; over 10,000 visitors view the individually labeled entries on display and learn about horticulture. Large crowds come to view the best floral specimens in the county, most of which are grown in our home area. | |||||||||||||
|
07/21/11 Topics: Plants of the week(Annual-Lantana), Vegetable (Swiss Chard), Insects affecting lawns and plants now (Cicada, Hornworms, Weevils),
07/14/11 Topics: Plants of the week(American Sycamore, Horseradish, Chicory), Vegetable & Herb Gardening, Early Spring Rains affecting lawns and plants now , Insects, 07/07/11 Topics: Denny's Tip of the Week, Summer bloomers that wear well, Misunderstood Plants, Universal watering of your landscape, Some Popular Landscape Myths, Insects (Fourlined Plant Bug Update, Fall Webworm)
|
|||||||||||||