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Height of Cut Continued Part 3

June 26th, 2009

In previous posts, I’ve primarily talked about the height of cut for warm season grass which is mostly Bermudagrass, and why shorter is usually better.

Let’s now look at cool season grasses:

Think for a minute about where you see the shortest mowed grass in the world…typically on athletic fields and golf courses – equally cool season as warm season grasses. It is also the most beautiful grass you will find. This in itself is enough to dispel the notion that grass has to be long to be high quality; in fact just the opposite is true as long as several general principals are applied.

Firstly, consider that golf greens are mowed shorter than 1/8th of an inch in today’s game and yet still have good quality roots systems and are incredibly dense. How is this possible? Sound cultural practices.

The grass isn’t allowed to grow up to two or three inches and then chopped to an 1/8th. It’s mowed everyday and just a small amount of leaf blade is removed. You can do the same thing in the realm of residential cutting, get great exercise, and have the best lawn on the block! I’m not suggesting that you mow every day, that wouldn’t be necessary even if you wanted to. But assume you mow your lawn at 1½ inches. You may need to mow it every 5-7 days, but it will not be difficult and your lawn will respond exceptionally well.

The reel mower cut has significant advantages over a rotary mower. Reel lawn mowers leave behind clean-cut grass, as if the grass had been cut with sharp scissors – this cylinder cutting method reduces disease, reduces clipping accumulation and other negative environmental factors we have discussed before. Another added benefit to the reel mower and a lower mowing height is the extra density you will see in your lawn. When each grass blade is able to stand straight up on its own and not shade the blades around it, more blades will develop generating a lusher stand of grass. The thicker the lawn, the harder it is for weeds to invade. The best defense against weeds is not a bag of weed killer but a strong stand of turfgrass to prevent their encroachment. A frequent cut with a reel mower will insure that clippings do not accumulate at a negative rate and keep the lawn looking good all the time. You can tailor a program to whatever you have time for and exactly how long you want your grass to be. If you can find a little extra time to mow frequently you will be amazed at the results. Trust me.

Please don’t be fooled, a higher cutting height is NOT better for the grass!!

Rating: 10.0/10 (6 votes cast)

Tags: clippings, cultural practices, cutting, frequency, grass height, mowing practices, reel mower

Posted in Height of Cut, Lawn and Turf Care, Mowing Height

Height of Cut Continued Part 2

June 2nd, 2009

4 Comments

In my opinion, one of the reasons many so called ‘experts’ recommend a three inch cut for rotary lawn mowers is that they know it is NOT really a three inch cut. The reality is that the length of the grass blade left after mowing with a rotary lawn mower set to cut at three inches will always be much closer to two inches…read more.

What is the best HOC for the grass plant? If you look around the internet you may find that three inches seems to be a favorite recommendation. Why? There are many reasons for recommending a three inch cutting height, especially when using a rotary lawn mower. Interestingly, three inches is not the best HOC for the grass plant for many agronomic reasons.

What is the best height of cut for the grass on your lawn? There is no perfect or exact answer to this question so let’s discuss some of the variables that will impact this decision and why longer is often not better when mowing your yard. The very first thing to consider is what type of grass you have. This will be directly influenced by where in the country you live. If you live in the south or the west, you probably will have what we refer to as warm season grass, most typically a Bermuda grass variety, although there are many non Bermuda warm season grasses as well. If you live in the north down through the heart of the country or the mid-Atlantic, you probably have cool season grass, most likely Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass or a blend, although others exist here as well. The growth habit and physiology of these two types of grasses differ dramatically and we will discuss the differences elsewhere, but for now the important thing to remember is that warm season grass can tolerate and actually thrive at a very short mowing height, while cool season grasses generally prefer to be mowed slightly higher. What is not true is that either likes to be kept at an excessively long length and excessively long can legitimately be described as anything above three inches and shorter for warm season grass. Grass plants develop chlorophyll, the property that gives them their green color and nourishes them through a process called photosynthesis. This process is encouraged by sunlight. That is one of the reasons you have such a hard time growing grass under those large shade trees in your yard, no sun. Three inch grass blades and longer only serve to shade themselves, like when we wear a hat and this shade inhibits photosynthesis. At two inches, you have 33% less shade and a better developed leaf blade…

Rating: 8.9/10 (8 votes cast)

Tags: cutting, grass height, mower information, Photosynthesis, reel mower, rotary mower

Posted in General Lawn Topics, Height of Cut, Lawn and Turf Care, Mowing Height

Recommended Turfgrass Mowing Heights

May 30th, 2009

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Recommended Mowing Heights

The following reference chart is helpful for determining the proper height of cut for your reel mower. It is also important to remember the “1/3rd” rule so that you do not stress the grass.

Species	Normal Weather	High-Temperature Stress Period
Colonial bentgrass	0.30 – 0.80	0.50 – 0.80
Creeping bentgrass	0.125 – 0.80	0.188 – 0.80
Fine fescue	0.50 – 2.00	1.50 – 3.00
Kentucky bluegrass	1.50 – 2.25	2.25 – 3.00
Perennial ryegrass	1.50- 2.00	2.00 – 3.00
Tall fescue	1.75 – 3.00	2.50 – 3.50
Bermudagrass	0.25 – 1.50	NA
Bahiagrass	1.50 – 3.00	NA
Buffalograss	1.00 to unmowed	NA
Carpetgrass	1.00 – 3.00	NA
Centipedegrass	1.00 – 3.00	NA
Seashore paspalum	0.45 – 2.00	NA
St. Augustinegrass	3.00 – 4.00	NA
Zoysiagrass	0.50 – 2.00	NA

Source:

Christians, Nick, Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management: Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, Michigan: 1998.

Rating: 10.0/10 (3 votes cast)

Tags: Add new tag, clippings, cutting, frequency, grass height, mowing practices

Posted in Lawn Mowing Frequency, Mowing Height

Measuring Lawn Mower Height Of Cut

May 30th, 2009

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Measuring Your Lawn Mower’s Height of Cut

How do you determine more accurately what the true reel mower height of cut is? On most residential and commercial turfgrass surfaces this is not an exact science. Using three very simple steps it is possible to make close approximations with any push reel mower.

Step 1.

The height of cut (HOC) must be measured on a freshly mowed lawn. Take a few minutes and push your reel mower using the height setting of your choice, or the setting of which you intend to measure.

Step 2.

Take out a ruler or a tape measure and push the end down into the grass until it sits firmly on the soil or on the thatch layer of the lawn.

Step 3.

While making sure the grass is standing upright measure to the top of a freshly mowed blade. The resulting number will be the approximate height of cut that you are actually mowing at. It is sometimes a good idea to measure 5+ grass blades using the average length as the final HOC.

Suggested Mowing Heights

Species	Normal Weather	High-Temperature Stress Periods
Colonial bentgrass	0.30 – 0.80	0.50 – 0.80
Creeping bentgrass	0.125 – 0.80	0.188 – 0.80
Fine fescue	0.50 – 2.00	1.50 – 3.00
Kentucky bluegrass	1.50 – 2.25	2.25 – 3.00
Perennial ryegrass	1.50- 2.00	2.00 – 3.00
Tall fescue	1.75 – 3.00	2.50 – 3.50
Bermudagrass	0.25 – 1.50	NA
Bahiagrass	1.50 – 3.00	NA
Buffalograss	1.00 to unmowed	NA
Carpetgrass	1.00 – 3.00	NA
Centipedegrass	1.00 – 3.00	NA
Seashore paspalum	0.45 – 2.00	NA
St. Augustinegrass	3.00 – 4.00	NA
Zoysiagrass	0.50 – 2.00	NA

Source:

Christians, Nick, Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management: Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, Michigan: 1998.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Tags: cultural practices, cutting, grass height, mowing practices, reel mower

Posted in General Lawn Topics, Height of Cut, Lawn Mowing Frequency, Lawn and Turf Care, Mowing Height

What is Grasscycling?

May 13th, 2009

6 Comments

What is “Grasscycling” ? It is simply leaving your grass clippings on the lawn!

10 Reasons Why You Should Grasscyle

1. Grassclippings are a large portion of the waste stream so grasscycling will help reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.

2. When properly clipped, grassclippings decompose quickly and release nutrients back into the soil.

3. You will have a healthier looking lawn.

4. Eliminates the necessity for collection and disposal.

5. It’s easy and can save time.

6. Grasscycling greatly reduces the need for fertilizer because grass clippings return nitrogen to the soil.

7. Frequent mowing at a low cutting height deprives the root system of nutrients and moisture. Longer grass blades create more shade, providing the soil protection from the sun.

8. By mowing at a raised height, you reduce stress that can retard root growth.

9. If you have a gardener, grasscycling will save your gardener time because there are no clippings that require collection and disposal. Encourage your gardener to grasscycle!

10. Grasscyling is good for your lawn.

How to grasscycle

Basic Rule: Do not cut any more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade at one time.

Proper mowing is the key to grasscycling. Grass should be dry and the mower blades sharp. In the fast growing season you may have to cut every seven days-but in the slower growing season you might only need to cut your lawn every 7-14 days.

During a “wet season” or at a time your grass cannot be mowed as frequently as desired, you might have an excess of clippings. This is an excellent opportunity to put your clippings in a backyard compost pile.

Watering
Water in the early morning if possible. Do not over-water. Too much water will cause your lawn to develop shallow root systems. Water less frequently but deeper.

Fertilizing
Do not over fertilize. Proper fertilization is important, however, over fertilization can weaken a lawn by causing excessive growth. It is best to apply smaller quantities more frequently.

Lawnmowers:
There are several brands of recycling mowers available that cut grass into small pieces and force them into the soil. However, you do not necessarily need to purchase a recycling mower to grasscycle. Almost any mower will work by raising the cutting height. If your mower has a collection bag, remove it to allow clippings to drop into the soil. However, if your mower does not have a safety flap covering the opening where the bag fits into the chute, or a plug for the chute, contact your local retailer to purchase a retrofit kit.

Most Common Misconceptions:

Grasscycling causes thatch build up.
No! Studies have shown that grass roots are the primary cause of thatch, not grass clippings. And, a small amount of thatch is actually beneficial. It serves as a mulch, preventing water evaporation and soil compaction.

Grasscycling spreads lawn disease.
No! The primary cause of disease spread is improper watering and fertilizing. If a disease is present, infestation will occur whether you are grasscycling or not.

My lawn will look bad.
No! Grasscycling will give you a healthier looking lawn if it is mowed, watered, and fertilized properly.

Grasscycling is not new. Many parks and golf courses have been practicing grasscycling successfully for years.

Grass Clippings

Many homeowners remove grass clippings after mowing to prevent thatch buildup. However, it has been shown that grass clippings do not contribute significantly to thatch buildup. Clippings can remain on most lawns, and help to keep them healthy, as long as the grass is mowed often enough.

Source:

“Grasscycling,” Recycle Works: A Program of San Mateo County:
http://www.recycleworks.org/compost/grasscycling.html [accessed on May 6, 2008].

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Tags: clippings, cutting, grass, grass height, lawn mowing, mowing practices

Posted in General Lawn Topics, Lawn and Turf Care, Mowing Height, Quality Of Cut

Reel Mowers vs. Rotary Mowers

May 13th, 2009

2 Comments

Reel mowers have curved blades that produce a cutting action alongside a stationary steel plate. The blades form a spiral around the reel axis, and as they spin, the spiral of blades forces grass past the stationary plate. Reel mowers leave behind clean-cut grass, as if the grass had been cut with sharp scissors. Unlike the cutting action of scissors, however, it is not necessary for the blades of the spinning reel to contact the stationary plate. A clean cut is still possible if the gap between the blades and the plate of the rotary mower is less than the thickness of the grass.

Reel Lawn Mower Diagram Drawing

Rotary mowers, typically powered by gas or electric engines, cut with a single horizontal blade revolving at high speed. As it travels under a rotary blade, grass is torn and its edges are frayed. Consequently, grass blades are often left jagged as a result of rotary mowing. Grass with jagged edges will have a more difficult time healing from mowing and is more susceptible to disease and moisture loss.