Mowing Recommendations
- Cut, not tear. Mower blades must be sharp or instead of cutting your lawn you will be tearing your lawn. If your leaf blades have brown tips 2-3 days after you mow, could be your mower blades need to be sharpened.
- Rule of thirds. Mow your lawn at least every 7 days in the growing season. Never mow more than one-third of the grass leaf at a time.
- To catch or not to catch? If you are mowing at the correct height every 7 days, you do not need to catch your grass clippings. Clippings contain beneficial nutrients for your lawn and do not build harmful thatch.
- Change directions. Change your mowing direction each time you mow. This ensures a more even cut and grass blades will be less likely to develop into a set pattern.
- Height matters. Mowing height is extremely important. Know your grass type and mow at the correct height, depending on the time of the year.
- Bermuda (Warm Season Turf)
- As a rule, mow at .5 “- 2.0”
- Start low in late April after last frost date and gradually raise the height as the summer progresses.
- By late September to early October, maintain a mowing height of 1.5”-2.0” to help insulate your warm season lawn from the cold weather.
- Fescue (Cool Season Turf)
- As a rule, mow at 3.0” to 3.5”
- During cool weather (spring-fall- winter) mow at 3.” During the hot summer months, maintain 3.5.”
- Zoysia (Warm Season Turf)
- As a rule, mow at 1.5” to 2.5” depending on type of Zoysia
- Start low in late April after last frost date and gradually raise the height as the summer progresses.
- By late September to early October, maintain a mowing height of 1.5”-2.5” to help insulate your warm season lawn from the cold weather.
- Bermuda (Warm Season Turf)
Watering Tips
Before Watering:
- Check the current water restrictions for your area at www.georgiadrought.org and always adhere to those rules.
- Check your soil moisture to ensure that water is needed. Overwatering is expensive, both in higher water bills and the risk of lawn disease.
Water Early:
- The best time to water is early in the morning, between 4:00 am and 10:00 am, when temperatures are cooler.
- Watering early allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing disease and water waste due to evaporation during the heat of the day.
How much water:
- Your objective is to keep the top 6” of your soil moist; most lawns require 1.0”-1.5” of water per week during the growing season.
Deep root water tip:
- Instead of watering every other day to achieve the needed 1.0”-1.5,” water 2-3 days in a row, then don't water the next 4-5 days. This provides deep root watering and allows your soil pores to open for oxygen.
Web Links
- For good all-around gardening tips, check out Walter Reeves
- To identify southern weeds, visit weedalert.com, then go to Southern Regional Weeds