If you have been cutting your grass too short, you may be causing long-term damage to your lawn. Image: Weed & Feed Lawn Care
At first glance, it may seem that cutting your grass short is the best way to increase the number of days between mowing. However, that is actually not the case. Mowing your grass too short can cause a range of issues for the lawn and can disrupt the long-term beauty of your yard. If you aren’t yet aware of what cutting your grass too short can do, read on to learn more about the consequences of improper mowing.
There Are No Shortcuts
The common reason homeowners cut their grass lower than recommended is that they feel it will save time by reducing the amount of work required to maintain their lawn. This “shortcut,” however, can undermine turf quality and cause more problems. The time between mowing doesn’t increase when you cut your grass low, and the negative effects create more problems and require more labor. There are no shortcuts to take when caring for your lawn.
The Results of Cutting Your Grass Too Short
Keeping your grass short puts undue stress on your turf. You may forget that grass blades are leaves and require photosynthesis to nourish the entire plant. When you cut too much of the leaf blade, you limit the lawn’s ability to enact photosynthesis and store energy. When you limit the amount of sunlight and air that your grass is exposed to, this can inhibit the grass’s development and weaken the roots. This weakening can then leave your lawn vulnerable to invasive weeds, diseases, and pests.
How to Repair a Damaged Lawn
If you have been cutting your grass too short, you can try to repair the damage that was caused. First, let your grass grow back gradually to its proper height and never remove more than a third of the blade length at any time. You may want to water deeply through proper irrigation to help your lawn recover.
What Is the Optimal Grass Height?
Most turfgrasses, especially during summer weather, should be kept as high as possible. Usually, this means that the blades should be kept somewhere around three to three-and-a-half inches in length. When cutting your grass, it’s best to remove only the top third of the grass blades, so wait to mow until your lawn is a bit over four inches. By cutting your grass at the proper height, you help encourage and support deep root growth rather than inhibit it.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!