Horticulture News

DATE: March 03, 2008

HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370

BY: Amy Aldenderfer
County Extension Agent for Horticulture

With Spring Approaching, Lawn Maintenance Time is Near

Nothing signals springtime quite like the smell of fresh cut grass wafting through the neighborhood. With spring just around the corner, lawn care should begin creeping into your mind. In just a few short weeks, it will be time to clip the yard for the first time. Your most important annual lawn duties begin with that first mowing.

The first mowing makes the lawn look spring-like and very attractive. Subsequent regular mowing hardens the grass for drought and heat stresses later on. So when the first clump of grass grows above the mowing height, mow -- even if a lot of the yard doesn’t need to be mowed yet.

Not all grasses start growing at the same time. Grass on northern slopes, or in heavy clay soil, will start growing several days later than others. Grass that wasn’t fertilized in the fall or early spring also has a delayed growth.

Following recommendations for mowing height and frequency will make your lawn-care duties easier and result in a more attractive yard.
           
If your mower has a fixed, all-year height, set it at two and one-half inches.
           
However, if you can easily vary the height, set it at 1.5 to two inches for the first several times you mow this spring. The shorter mowing height will help remove a lot of the winter-burned, brown leaves. Exposing more dark green growth will transfigure your lawn into the most uniform, attractive one in the neighborhood. Move the height up to 2.5 inches after you mow the grass several times.
           
To protect your grass from summer heat and drought injury, when summer arrives raise the mower height to three or 3.5 inches. However, remember that extra high grass, especially tall fescue, tends to fall over and mat down during hot summer weather causing increased summer disease problems.
           
Once you get the mowing under way, how often should the lawn be mowed? Generally speaking, mow often enough to remove no more than one-third to one-half of the grass height.
           
If your mower is set for two inches, mow again when grass height reaches approximately three inches. Be sure not to scalp the lawn by mowing off most of the green leaves.
           
For tall fescue lawns, a rule of thumb is to mow at five-day intervals during the spring, and at seven-day intervals the rest of the year. If you have a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, a seven-day interval usually is sufficient at a mowing height of 2.5 inches. That interval can probably be expanded during hot, dry weather.
           
For more information on lawn care, contact the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service at 765-4121 or email: Amy.Aldenderfer@uky.edu.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.