Q: With the latest rains, my lawn has grown out of control, how do I go about mowing it down to its proper length without hurting my grass?
A: Frequency and length of cut are important to maintaining a healthy lawn. You should not cut more than one third of the leaf tissue at any one time. This does several things; it helps the clippings be small enough that they can disperse into the yard and it promotes overall plant health. During the times that our grass grows taller than we would like (such as when it rains or we go on vacation), you have several options. First, raise your mower height adjustment to a taller setting and mow as normal. You can lower the height adjustment and return the next day to achieve a lower cut. If you are mowing twice, be sure to disperse the clippings evenly into the yard. You may also consider bagging the clippings and disposing of them elsewhere. Clippings contain moisture and nutrients that promote healthy lawns and decrease the need to fertilize.
By following the one third rule, you are responding to how fast your grass grows. As grass grows more rapidly in the spring time, you will have to mow more often. Similarly, as grass growth slows during the summer you mow less frequently. Utilizing the one third rule, you should mow frequently enough mowing to stimulate lateral growth. Lateral growth creates thick, lush lawns with fewer weed problems.
