Mowing the lawn regularly is crucial for more than just looks. It is important for the plants and their resistance. But when and how often should it be done?
- Frequency depends on the growth and the species
- gradual cutting is often the best choice
- regular mowing ensures dense growth
- weeds and moss can be prevented
- timing depends on many factors
Contents
Mowing in spring
The first mowing after the winter should be done when the lawn is newly sprouting and the blades have reached about twice their length.
Note: However, they should not become too long, so that no gradual pruning is required. Because this is more laborious and takes more time.
Height
How high the lawn should be after mowing depends on the species and personal taste. Distinguished are:
- English lawn 4 to 5 centimeters
- Turf 4 to 5 centimeters
- Shade lawn 5 to 6 centimeters
- Sports and play turf 3 to 5 centimeters
- Ornamental lawn 5 to 6 centimeters
Tip: In the beginning, measure the stalks with a ruler. This will help you get a feel for when to cut over time.
Frequency
The frequency for mowing depends on a few different factors. Among them:
- Competing plants
- Light incidence
- Nutrients
- Care
- Lawn type
- regional climate
- amount of water
The better the lawn is maintained overall and the better the location for the plants, the faster it will grow. The more frequently mowing is required as a result. Therefore, there is no blanket answer to how often you should mow per year. Well-supplied lawns in the sun may need trimming every week. Shade lawns that are neither sprinkled nor fertilized can sometimes get by for a whole month without trimming.
Therefore, it is better to orientate on the height than on the frequency.
Gradual cutting
A maximum of one third of the stalk length should be removed at each mowing. Otherwise, the plants will be weakened too much. Therefore, if the lawn is too long after a vacation or because shortening was forgotten, radical cutting should not be done.
It is better to proceed gradually. In this case, the lawn is shortened by a third, and after one to a maximum of two weeks, a third is removed again until the desired height is reached.
After that, it makes sense to mow the lawn as often as possible to maintain the growth height. In this way, the plants are only slightly affected by the measure and the growth becomes denser.
When Should You Do The Last mowing
The last mowing of the year is done between October and November. It should be done when temperatures drop but before frost occurs. Because then the grass will stop growing. Also, cut the blades a little shorter to allow more light to reach the plants.
Timing
Not only the time of year but also the conditions on the day of mowing are crucial. The following criteria are important in terms of conditions:
- overcast
- frost-free
- do not mow wet lawn
- dry
Bright sunshine should be avoided so that the blades do not burn. Subzero temperatures can produce frost damage. Wet lawns are very difficult to mow and have an increased risk of rot.
Care
Since a good portion of the leafy green is lost when mowing, the lawn should be watered and fertilized regularly. This will keep the plants strong and allow them to regenerate quickly.
Tip: The best time for this is the day after mowing. This allows the nutrients to reach the soil more quickly and easily.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it important to mow the lawn?
The individual blades of grass branch out more as a result and the lawn grows denser overall. Weeds and moss have less chance to spread. It is also more resilient. Mowing also has visual advantages, as the surface appears more even.
Why do cutting tools need to be sharp?
This is necessary not only to keep the cut surfaces on the blades smooth and small. Blunt cutting can also tear out whole plants, creating holes in the lawn.
Why does the lawn need care following mowing?
Because a good part of the chlorophyll is lost due to the blending, because the amount of leaf green has been reduced. This initially allows the plants to produce less energy.
Why should you not mulch wet lawns?
The grass clippings themselves are a good and natural fertilizer. Mowers that can simultaneously mulch are therefore ideal. However, you should refrain from doing so when the lawn is wet. On the one hand, it shades the area, and on the other hand, increases the risk of rotting.
