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Correct Mowing Height

Source: NDSU Extension Service Horticulturists

Mowing height is the key to keeping grass uniform and attractive. Most lawns in North Dakota are a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and red fescue. You should mow this type of lawn two to three inches above the soil line. Grass cut to this height shades the soil and helps keep weeds from establishing themselves. Shade also keeps the soil temperature cooler.

Mowing the grass shorter weakens it, making it more susceptible to injury from drought and disease. Short grass has a smaller and more shallow root system and cannot get as much water during dry spells.

To adjust your mower to the right height, place it on a hard surface and measure from the blade to the hard surface. Cut your lawn often. Always mow at the same height, cutting no more than thirty percent of the total plant height in one mowing. Letting the grass grow long in the fall does not benefit the lawn. It does make the lawn difficult to mow again, and invites mice and other pests.

Begin to mow the lawns when vegetation is between three and four inches high. Cut it back to two to three inches. Grow grass longer in stress areas such as shade and dry, sunny slopes. The greater mowing height will help the lawn to recover.

It is important to have a sharp mower. Dull blades fray the leaf tips, turning them brown. Dull mowers also take more power or fuel to operate.

Allow grass clippings to return to the lawn. This will recycle nutrients and moisture, save on fertilization costs and cut down on labor required to complete the mowing task.

For more information, request circular H-244, "Lawn Mower Selection For North Dakota Homeowners." If you have further questions, contact your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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