Best practices for lawn care

For most home lawn grasses, mowing at a height of 2 to 3.5 inches is best, according to Colorado State University turf specialist Tony Koski. If you have a different grass such as Bermuda or Zoysiagrass, then mow to a height of 0.75 to 1.5 inch.

Proper mowing heights for different grass species is encouraged. The side effects of mowing too low end up placing more stress on your grass. Why? The lower you mow, the less surface area left on the grass blade to produce food for the grass plant. Mowing at lower heights causes more frequent mowing and reduces root depth and health.  

Mowing a third of the grass blades height will not stress out the grass. If you let your grass grow too tall for one reason or another, then cut on the highest setting and wait a couple of days and then go in and mow by taking a third of the blade. It takes a while to get back to mowing at the proper height.

Do you collect your clippings every time you mow? Here is Koski’s explanation as to why not collecting is a good practice:

1. Returns nutrients to the soil.

2. Returns organic matter to the soil.

3. Keeps the clippings out of the landfill.

4. Reduces the severity of certain diseases.

5. Returns the pesticides to the turf system.

Fertilizing the lawn is best done in the fall to encourage better root growth. Nitrogen is the most important element in a lawn fertilizer because it stimulates good shoot growth. That means there is nourishment for healthy grass blades. Older lawns need less fertilization. Some species of grass, such as native grasses like buffalo grass, need no fertilization.

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