When and how you mow can make a huge difference in the health and aesthetic of your lawn. At StrathAyr, we’ve put together these simple tips to help you get a nice even cut, without ripping, scalping, or smothering the lawn.
Find the Right Mowing Height
Avoid mowing too short, as this can put your lawn under stress and lead to browning or patches. As a rule of thumb, never remove more than a third of the leaf in a single mow. Examples of more specific ideal mowing heights for specific turf varieties include:
- Sir Walter grass: 20 to 40mm
- Eureka Kikuyu: 20 to 40mm
- Sir Grange: 15 to unmown
- TifTuf Turf: 15 to 30mm
- Fescue: 35 to 50mm
Another general rule is to keep grass shorter in summer and longer in winter. Maintaining grass at its optimum height encourages a deeper root system while shading the soil to suppress weeds.
Leave the Right Amount of Clippings
Clippings are a great source of nitrogen and can act as a natural fertiliser for your lawn. Make sure any clippings you leave on the lawn are evenly distributed and don’t sit in clumps.
Vary Mowing Direction
Change up your mowing direction to encourage individual grass blades to grow straight. This provides more space for new blades to grow and ultimately helps you achieve a thicker, healthier lawn.
Mow When Dry
Make sure the lawn is dry before you mow to avoid making tracks. Mowing wet grass can damage the leaf blades, creating a tearing rather than cutting action that leaves an uneven edge.
Mowing After Installation
Wait about 3 weeks after installation to do your first mowing, as the lawn should be firmly rooted into the soil. You can test this by grabbing a handful of grass turf and pulling it upwards to make sure the lawn stays fixed to the soil by its roots. Mowing should commence when the grass is about 6 cm high.
Mow During Cooler Hours
Aim to mow earlier in the day or as the sun starts going down. The hot sun in the middle of the day is more likely to cause stress to your freshly cut lawn. Mowing when it is cooler will minimise the risk of damage to the leaf.
Your Trusted Grass Turf Experts in Victoria and Tasmania
At StrathAyr, we know grass. Our Victorian and Tasmanian turf farms a wide range of popular Australian grass varieties, including Sir Walter grass, Eureka Kikuyu and more! Find out more about lawn care or get in touch with our team if you’re interested in buying new turf.
