So, you've spent a lot of time and energy growing the perfect lawn so your back garden can look like something out of a magazine, great. But it's now been a while since you last cut it and it's beginning to look like something out of Jungle Book and is desperate for a cut. The only question is, how short do you cut it?
Having gone through so much effort caring for your lawn to get it just right, the last thing you want to do is destroy all of that hard work by cutting it too short and causing more harm than good, right? Right.
So, in this blog, we look to offer a helping hand by giving you the information that you need to keep your lawn looking just the way you want by cutting it to the length required.
Different grass types require different care
Before you begin to cut your lawn, you'll need to know what type of grass your lawn is made up of. This is very important because different grass types have different anaotomies which require specific cafe, including how short they are cut.
The part of grass that grows above the ground is known as 'the blade', and the part that growse below the ground is known as 'the root'. Different types of grass can have blades that look different, sometimes some have a broader-looking blade, whereas others may have a narrower-looking blade and it's these small difference that make certain grass types better suited for certain weather conditions.
However, apart from ornamental grass types that often grow pretty tall, near enough all regular types of grass should be cut to around 2.5 - 3 inches tall at minimum.
Following the rule of thumb
When it comes to lawnmowing, there is a general rule of thumb that almost all green-fingered enthusiasts like to follow to determine the ideal height for their grass.
During the cool season, an optimal height for your lawn should be 2 and a half inches, with each mowing aiming to remove the top 1/3 of grass blades. The ideal time to start mowing you lawn is when your grass is around 3 2/3 inches high.
This rule of thumb is particularly important during the autumn and less important during the spring. Throughout summer, however, you should mow your lawn at a higher height as the weather begins to get hotter until you reach autumn and the temperatures begin to drop off a little.
Problems with cutting your grass too short
So, why do you need to cut your grass to 2.5 - 3 inches and not right down to the root, say like a golf green? Surely this is what all homeowners want their lawns to look like?
Despite what you may think looks best, cutting your grass blades too short will in fact be causing much more harm to your lawn than good. Why? Well, by cutting your grass blades too short, you inadvertently put a huge amount of stress on your turf.
Each blade of grass is a leaf that sprouts from a seed. By cutting the leaf too short, you reduce the surface area that each blade has to absorb important nutrients or carry out photosynthesis that fuels leaf and root development.
So, while you may think your short grass blades look good, you're actually reducing their ability to survive, potentially leading to their demise!
How we can help
If you are unsure on how short to cut your lawn or wouldn't like to run the risk of cutting your grass blades too short, then the experienced team here at Lawn & Weed Expert can help!
No matter the time of the year, we can provide you with professional advice to help keep your lawn looking its best, reducing the risk of killing off the grass blades and ending up with a lawn that looks a little worse for wear.
Be sure to contact a member of our helpful team today by clicking the button below to get the lawn cutting advise that you need!
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