In the pursuit of a perfect lawn, many homeowners may overlook this simple yet crucial practice — mowing at a taller setting. If there’s only one change you make, this often-underrated technique should be it. It not only benefits your lawn’s health but also contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to lawn care. It’s the perfect time to ensure that your lawn is receiving the best care possible, one thing you should check off your list is making sure the grass is cut at the optimum height for the health and growth of the turf.
Mowing at a taller setting for a Perfect Lawn:
- Foremost, it promotes healthier grass. Taller grass blades promote healthier growth by allowing for better photosynthesis. With more surface area exposed to sunlight, the grass can produce more energy, resulting in stronger roots and denser turf. This, in turn, makes your lawn more resilient to foot traffic, pests and environmental stressors.
- Taller blades of grass encourage a more robust root system to support it. The roots will grow deeper naturally, especially when aided by the Clean Air Lawn Care organic fertilizer program. The roots will reach deeper for water and nutrients, making the turf hardier and lusher.
- Taller grass also helps insulate the soil and reduce moisture evaporation, which can aid in reducing the need for frequent watering. Taller grass can significantly decrease water usage in your lawn care routine. This not only conserves water resources but also saves you money on your water bill. In regions facing water scarcity or drought conditions, mowing grass at taller settings can be a particularly impactful water-saving strategy in addition to your perfect lawn strategy.
- As the taller blades shade the soil, that can aid in suppressing weed growth, minimizing the need for herbicides. Some weeds like crabgrass thrive on open space and need sunlight to penetrate the soil to initiate germination, and the denser, taller turf will help suppress that growth.
- Regular maintenance by removing less than a third of the blade at a time will promote that strong turf without stressing the grass when cutting too short. Mulch mowing to return the small tips of grass back to the lawn can return up to 40 percent of your nitrogen and other nutrients, bolstering the organic fertilizer inputs. The grass blade tips dry out quickly and begin to break down almost immediately, and they do not contribute to thatch.
- Keeping the grass taller also promotes biodiversity by providing habitat and food sources for beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife.
While the benefits of mowing grass at taller settings clearly help produce a perfect lawn, it is important to note that this practice may require an adjustment period for both you and your lawn. Gradually increase the mowing height over a couple weeks to avoid shocking the grass and allow it to adapt to the new height. Additionally, be mindful of any local regulations or homeowners’ association guidelines regarding lawn height.
Mowing grass at taller settings is a simple yet effective way to promote a healthy, sustainable lawn. Here is another place you can read about the importance of mowing at the proper height. Yes, they have a gas mower in their image. 🙁
By embracing this practice, you can enjoy a lush, resilient, perfect lawn while minimizing your environmental impact and conserving resources. It can even save you money. It’s a small change that Clean Air Lawn Care can make for a big difference for your lawn and the local environment.
