Mow it to 3 inches, don’t catch the clippings and a few other tips for a healthy lawn

Call me crazy, and some people do, but I love to mow. Mowing the lawn is my quiet time as the cares of the world are drowned out by the engine’s roar. It is a simple task requiring little thought, but it should not be taken lightly. Proper mowing is more important for a healthy lawn than watering, fertilizing, or weed control.

Mow it high

Mowing height is essential for a healthy lawn. Bluegrass and tall fescue lawns are best mowed at 3 inches or better yet 3 1/2 inches. Mowing height is abused more than any other practice.

There are many benefits to mowing your lawn at a higher height. Additional leaf surface increases photosynthesis, resulting in more energy. It shades the soil from the summer sun, keeping it cooler and conserving moisture, which improves root growth.

Shading excludes sunlight, resulting in reduced weed seed germination. The bottom line is proper mowing height keeps the lawn greener longer in the summer and reduces the amount of water needed.

Three inches or more is most likely the upper limits of the mower settings. Most mower settings are notches, not height. Use a ruler to measure the height of the blades after a pass with the mower to know for sure. As the wheels on your mower wear down with use, the setting may need to be raised, or it is time to invest in new wheels.

Let it fall

There is no need to catch grass clippings. Clippings do not spread disease, insects or cause a thatch build-up. Grass clippings are primarily composed of water. On a sunny day, they quickly dehydrate, filtering into the soil. That’s when nature takes over and it becomes compost, returning organic matter and recycling nitrogen fertilizer back into the lawn. Grass clippings return about a fourth of the nitrogen fertilizer applied, slowly feeding the roots and naturally improving growth.

Mowing frequency

Mowing frequency is essential to success. Do not remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at one time. Mowing is not based on a schedule, but the rate of growth. Following the one-third rule places less stress on the turf, reduces clipping build-up, and thickens the lawn for maximum benefit.

Ideally, the mowing patterns should vary. Mowing in the same direction causes the blades to lay down and not produce a clean cut. Changing direction helps them stand upright for a quality appearance.

Clean up

The task of mowing is not complete until the grass clippings are swept or blown back into the lawn and off hard surfaces, like the driveway and sidewalks. Never blow clippings into water sources. Grass clippings wash into nearby ponds and streams and, just like in the lawn, they break down, releasing nitrogen and phosphorus.

The result is unsightly algae growth. Algae impact the health of aquatic life, not to mention many subdivisions spend thousands of dollars treating small ponds and lakes for algae.

Whether you find mowing your quiet time or an unwanted task, take time to check the mowing height. It is the easiest task you’ll do and provides significant rewards for a healthy lawn.

Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 1:04 PM.