Summer Mowing: Are You Going Too Short?

The hot and dry climate of summer can be a major threat to Georgia lawns, and your turf will show the signs of stress if it isn’t taken care of properly. Fighting for a healthy lawn this summer includes more than just adequate watering. Another critical factor in helping your grass survive is proper mowing.  Are your mowing habits hurting or harming your summer lawn?

Why Mowing Height is Important

One of the most common mistakes in summer lawn care is mowing too short. Many believe that the shorter they can cut their grass, the longer they can go between mowing sessions. While this may prove true, it comes at the cost of your turf health. Grass that is cut too short often has a difficult time recovering, and the overall condition of your lawn can weaken.

There are some leading reasons why you should be careful about cutting your lawn too short. First, each grass blade produces food for the plant. When it is mowed too short, the lawn is robbed of vital nutrients it needs to survive (especially in the summer). In addition, longer grass blades provide shade for the soil and roots of the grass, which reduces heat and water evaporation during the hot and dry days of summer. This shading can also limit the risk of weed seeds germinating and growing.

How Short is Too Short?

While the natural balance of grass growth reveals that grass blades grow to match the depth of their roots. However, that doesn’t mean you have to maintain this, as your lawn could be six inches or more. It does mean that there is a height that can be too short. Depending on your grass type, there are specific recommended summer mowing heights. Are you adhering to the following guidelines:

• Bermuda Grass 1-1/2”
• Zoysia Grass 1-1/2”
• Centipede Grass 2”
• St Augustine Grass 3-1/2 ”
• Tall Fescue Grass 4”
• Bluegrass 3”
• Perennial Ryegrass 3”
• Fine Fescue 3-1⁄2”

At Pannone’s Landscaping & Lawn Pros, we want to make our customers happy in terms of what they envision for their lawn. However, we also understand the risks of certain lawn care practices, such as cutting a lawn too short. If you’d like more information on reviving or protecting your lawn during a Georgia summer, please call our Cumming lawn care team today.