Mowing properly is almost as important as watering properly. The right mowing techniques can help keep your lawn green. First, know the proper height for your turf variety. During the summer, mow at the top end of your turf’s recommended height. The extra height helps keep the soil cool and reduces evaporation. Longer blades also bounce back better from foot traffic. Cutting your grass too short or too often can damage it resulting in a dead lawn. Did you know that by allowing your grass to grow longer it can naturally prevent weeds from growing? The natural canopy created by longer grass prevents direct sunlight from hitting the ground, detering weeds from growing. This is not a foolproof plan but it is an added benefit to reduce the use of chemicals while cutting costs! If you do find yourself with a weed problem undeterred by grass height you will want to apply pre-emergent during early summer or a safe weed killer mid to late summer. 

Mowing can sometimes be stressful for your lawn. To avoid damaging the plant, never remove more than one-third of its height. If you let your grass grow too long, you may need to make multiple passes with your mower, setting your mowing deck lower on each pass. Also, make sure to sharpen your mower blades at least once during the summer. A dull mower blade can rip the grass, which is much more stressful than a clean cut. As you mow, it’s best to leave the grass clippings on the lawn. As the clippings quickly decompose, they return vital moisture and nutrients to the soil. Also, avoid mowing when the lawn is wet. Wet grass clippings can clump, and they won’t decompose as quickly. Clumps of grass clippings can suffocate the grass beneath.