The Root of the Problem
By
Debbie Cook
This is the time of year that I wish I had a wildflower yard. Not only would it look pretty, it wouldn’t need mowing.
Because we spend so much time with our lawnmowers this time of year
I thought I’d share some good lawn mowing tips.
· Sharp blades will make a clean cut of the grass blade while a dull blade will rip the grass. If you’re noticing that the tips of your grass are brown and ragged looking, sharpen the lawnmower blade and your grass will look much greener. The cleaner cuts also help your lawn resist disease and stress.
· Mow high this time of year. Taller grass has more leaf surface to photosynthesize, providing energy from the sun to the root system. Taller grass shades the crown of the plant protecting it from intense heat, keeps the soil cooler and helps slow evaporation from the soil. Most grasses benefit from being allowed to grow 3-4 inches tall.
· Wait for the grass to dry before mowing. First, the wet grass sticks like glue to the underneath part of your mower and blades and can prevent a clean cut, but mowing wet grass can also encourage disease.
· Leave your clipping on the lawn. The clippings will decompose quickly adding a bit of organic matter to the soil and also adding some nitrogen. Lawn clippings do not contribute to thatch. In fact, as the thatch decomposes, the microbes doing the work also decompose a bit of the thatch, so you can’t lose by leaving the clippings on your lawn.
· Rule of thumb, don’t cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade at any one time. That allows enough of the blade to remain to efficiently photosynthesize, feeding the roots and 1/3 of the blade length won’t leave enough clippings to suffocate your lawn.
· Our cool season grasses want to rest when it gets really hot. Don’t force it to grow by applying high nitrogen during the blazing summer. If the color gets pale apply an iron product to green it up, without forcing growth. Fertilize on Labor Day when it’s cooling down. If you haven’t applied any fertilizer this spring, do it right away.
· Change the pattern of the way you mow. This, the lawn folks agree, will keep your lawn looking better than always mowing in the same direction.
· Always use caution around your lawn mower. I will never forget the story I heard as a child. My grandfather was a policeman and I remember him telling us about a call he’d gone on where a little boy had his foot cut off in a mowing accident. He’d picked up a sneaker and the little boys foot was still in the shoe. That story freaked me out for years, but it has also kept me very careful around a lawn mower. A mowing accident is usually pretty darn serious, so here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
o Keep kids and pets away from the areas being mowed.
o Don’t put your hands or feet anywhere near the blade while the mower is running.
o Remove sticks, stones and other debris that is in the yard before mowing.
o Wear non-slip close-toed shoes, not sandals or flip-flops, and long pants to protect your legs.
o Know how the mower works. Read the material that comes with the machine.
o Don’t cut the lawn in the dark (your neighbors will most likely throw things at you), or when it’s raining or stormy. Hanging on to the handle of a metal lawn mower in a lightening storm is not a good idea.
o Keep your mower in good working order. Change the oil, etc
Gas lawnmowers are not only noise polluters; they are huge polluters of the air as well. If you’re looking to buy a new mower, consider one of the new ‘green’ mowers that run on a battery or electricity.
About five months from now, we can clean up our mowers and put them away for another season. Until then, happy mowing!
