Although we offer a range of lawn care services (like aeration and overseeding, fertilization, and weed control), we do not offer mowing. Even so, we think it’s incredibly important that lawns are mowed properly for the reasons mentioned above.
After all, we’d like to see that all of our customers have the best possible results and mowing plays a big role in that. As a result, we’ve rounded up some of our very best mowing tips to get you on the right track.
More often than not, most people tend to mow their lawns too short. The ideal mowing height for lawns in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, PA is 3.5 inches.
Another important general recommendation is to ensure you’re using a sharp mower blade and a level mower deck (or evenly inflated tires). If possible, use a mulching blade so that you can return your grass clippings to the lawn as natural compost.
Mowing a lawn after rain, when it’s very wet, can leave cut grass in clumps. Unfortunately, this can lead to discoloration or even dead spots if in excess. Mowing a lawn in rain can also be problematic since it can create tire ruts which will lead to bumps in your lawn. In general, you should avoid mowing the lawn when it’s really wet.
When it comes to spraying for weeds, you want to be sure that liquid weed control materials get fully absorbed by the leaves. That means that you should wait until the product dries to mow—ideally at least 24 hours.
Mowing the lawn too short can leave it prone to weed growth. That’s because opportunistic weeds are more likely to invade where they have easy access to sunlight and don’t have to compete with a lot of healthy turf. To prevent this, aim for that 3.5-inch height we mentioned earlier.
In addition, be careful of edges. Scalping your edges (such as around the driveway or walkways) with a string trimmer can make those thinned out areas prone to weeds as well.
When your lawn is experiencing drought stress, then you absolutely need to cut back on how often you’re mowing. People often don’t realize that the act of mowing itself puts stress on a lawn, after all, you’re making cuts.
If it’s already stressed from lack of water, cutting it is going to negatively impact its health even more. Instead, lessen your mowing intervals and maintain grass at a higher height while it’s recovering.
It also means that if you have a commercial mowing company cutting your grass and they mow a diseased lawn and then come to your property, they can spread it around on your lawn. To avoid this, the mower and its blades and deck should ideally be washed after each mowing.
If your lawn has a turf disease, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re bagging the clippings so that you aren’t contributing to further spreading the disease.
If you’ve recently had an aeration and overseeding service performed you might be worried that mowing will disrupt those efforts. The truth is, with aeration, seeds fall into the holes that were created and stay there. Mowing is not going to have a negative impact. You may just have muddy shoes and mower for the next few times you mow.
A lot of homeowners remain unsure how late into the season they should mow. In our region, mowing often goes as late as November. There are still warm days in there that will keep grass actively growing. Of course, there may also be some frost to contend with. The best practice is to wait for the frost to melt. Mowing at freezing temperatures can damage the grass.
Just don’t stop mowing for the season too early as leaving your grass long as you head into winter months can make it more prone to snow mold. For your last mow of the season, you should plan to go a little shorter, somewhere around 2.5-3 inches. Just be careful not to scalp the lawn.
Most people don’t realize that the way in which their lawn is mowed really can contribute to either the success—or failure—of their overall lawn health. Following these recommendations and making changes where needed can have a big impact. Of course, that may mean that if you notice your commercial lawn care company isn’t following proper mowing protocol, that you’ll need to have a conversation with them about changes.
In the end, we believe that partnering with homeowners allows us to achieve the best possible results—together.
If you’re looking for more advice on how to get the best lawn results, we’re always available to be a resource. We want your Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA lawn to be spectacular. Get in touch with us to get some free expert advice and learn more about our lawn care programs which include three lawn care pricing options.