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How Do You Know How High to Cut Your Lawn?
Winter isn't quite over yet, but we're midway through February, and that means next month, we begin mowing lawns. And with lawn maintenance just two weeks away, it's the perfect time to discuss your burning lawn questions, the top of which is "How do you know how low to cut your lawn?" Several factors go into determining proper lawn height, including weather, species, your birthday, and more. We'll tell you how to know the right height for your El Dorado grass and how often to cut it in today's blog. And yes, we are joking about your birthday.
Hot n Cold (Species)
Although we tend to say "grass" or "lawn" as if we are talking about one plant, in truth, grass covers more than a quarter of the earth's surface, and grass taxonomists estimate there are over 13,000 species of grass living today! Of those, about 1,400 live in the US. Even the most popular grass in the country, Kentucky Bluegrass, has over 200 varieties!
With that many options, it can seem overwhelming when trying to figure out what your particular lawn needs. But fret not, because the good news is you can tell a lot about grass by determining if it falls into one of two categories: Hot or Cold Season grasses.
The upper part of the US grows predominantly cool-season grasses. The southern US has hot season grass.
Kansas? We're in the transition zone. That means you can have either or both.
The Heat Is On
Warm-season grasses generally start growing in late spring and stop in late fall, turning brown in the winter. They're more tolerant of hot summer heat and do better in poor soil conditions than their cool-season counterparts, making lawn maintenance somewhat more manageable. In the spring, you can cut warm-season grasses to about an inch and a half. The shorter spring cut gets rid of any of the winter grass. Once summer arrives, cut warm season grasses between two and two and a half inches.Cool Change
Generally, cool-season grasses should be kept a little longer than warm-season grasses. They should be three to three and a half inches in the spring and up to four inches in the fall.The heat of the Moment (Don't Get Baked)
As important as knowing your species is, weather is notoriously unpredictable. That's why people love to talk about it! So you need to pay attention to the temperature when it's unseasonably warm or cold. During scorching weather, cutting your grass too short can scalp it. Scalping your grass occurs when it's shorter than it needs to be and it burns from the sun.Here Comes the Rain Again
The amount of precipitation you've had is equally significant to the temperature around your home. When it rains heavily, it often causes grass to grow more quickly, at least when it's warm. Your grass may be able to handle a shorter cut if you live in a humid (or temporarily humid) climate. Likewise, if you're going through a dry spell, consider that. Without the right amount of water, your grass may need to skip a cut.Pour Some Water On Me
If you have an irrigation system, that may negate the dry weather issue. When you regularly water your lawn, you can keep it healthy and lush. But the best way to maintain a healthy moisture level for your grass is with a professionally installed irrigation system.What's My Age Again?
Everything we've discussed has been regarding lawn maintenance for established grass. But when you have new grass, especially newly installed sod, you must follow a different procedure.
When we install new sod, it's important not to mow it before it establishes itself. Your sod will need at least a week or two to grow roots firmly. During that time, you should not even walk on it or place anything on top of it.
For the first mow, after that, you should use a push mower and leave the grass a little on the tall side.