Mowing Tips

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Mowing Tips

Regular cutting at the correct height, contributes to a great looking lawn.

MOWING TIPS OVERVIEW

The team at Greener Gardens regularly advice customers on the best practice for cutting routine and practices, these are backed up with learnings from the Institute of Groundsmanship and latest turf care practices.

Lawn cutting simplified:

  • Mow frequently – weekly is best when the lawn is actively growing
  • Never more than 1/3rd off in any one cut
  • Check your mower regularly for cutting height and blade sharpness
  • The principles remain the same, regardless of your mower type eg rotary, cylinder or hover mower.

Why Mow Little and Often?

For many of us little and often means once a week. This will produce a much denser and more aspirational turf than if your grass cutting is every two weeks.

A dense turf is the best looking and a great form of natural weed control as it prevents weed seeds from contact with the soil. If the seed doesn’t contact the soil, chances are that no weed grows; perfect!

Follow these simple guidelines for a great looking lawn:

  • When growth is good (usually spring & autumn) mow at least every 7 to 10 days if using a rotary, and every 3 to 5 days if using a cylinder mower.

Don't forget to follow the one third rule below:

  • Mow at least every two weeks in dry summers, if using a rotary and every week if using a cylinder mower
  • You will not do any harm if you cut more frequently so long as your lawn mower and blades are in good condition
  • Remember, you will NOT benefit the grass by giving it a severe hacking less often.

The ‘One Third Rule’

Never remove more than one third of the grass blade on any one mowing. Therefore, if your lawn mower is set for a 3cm (1 ”) cut then you must mow at, or before, the grass gets to 4cm (1 ½”); regardless of if that’s 4 days or 8 days between cuts.

Why not check our Seasonal Cutting guide

 

Regular cutting at the correct height, contributes to a great looking lawn.

MOWING TIPS OVERVIEW

The team at Greener Gardens regularly advice customers on the best practice for cutting routine and practices, these are backed up with learnings from the Institute of Groundsmanship and latest turf care practices.

Lawn cutting simplified:

  • Mow frequently – weekly is best when the lawn is actively growing
  • Never more than 1/3rd off in any one cut
  • Check your mower regularly for cutting height and blade sharpness
  • The principles remain the same, regardless of your mower type eg rotary, cylinder or hover mower.

Why Mow Little and Often?

For many of us little and often means once a week. This will produce a much denser and more aspirational turf than if your grass cutting is every two weeks.

A dense turf is the best looking and a great form of natural weed control as it prevents weed seeds from contact with the soil. If the seed doesn’t contact the soil, chances are that no weed grows; perfect!

Follow these simple guidelines for a great looking lawn:

  • When growth is good (usually spring & autumn) mow at least every 7 to 10 days if using a rotary, and every 3 to 5 days if using a cylinder mower.

Don't forget to follow the one third rule below:

  • Mow at least every two weeks in dry summers, if using a rotary and every week if using a cylinder mower
  • You will not do any harm if you cut more frequently so long as your lawn mower and blades are in good condition
  • Remember, you will NOT benefit the grass by giving it a severe hacking less often.

Considering a New Mower?’

Robotic lawn mowers offer several advantages and disadvantages. Read our thoughts about the pros and cons of a robotic lawn mower here.

Some mowing faqs

If the 1/3rd rule means you have to do your grass cutting more often than you would like, you can raise the lawn mowing height which will slow growth down. This may now mean mowing every 7 to 10 days depending on temperature and water availability and will have the benefit of encouraging a naturally thicker green weed free lawn.

Regardless of the mowing height never leave your lawn more than 10 to 14 days between cuts.
If you have a lawn mowing service coming every two weeks, just ask them to raise the mowing height so that you stay as close to the one third rule as possible.

Most people mow their lawns too short, scalping the grass, which weakens it.
For best results, keep the grass at more-or-less the same height all year round.
For normal lawns that take a lot of wear and tear the height should be around 3.5 to 5cm (1.5in to 2in).
For ornamental lawns of fine-leaved grasses this should be about 2.5cm (1in).
For lawns growing in shaded areas, mow at a height of around 7.5cm (3in).

Thin patchy lawns are often the result of infrequent mowing or removing too much of the grass when you cut.

Mow infrequently AND mow short and before long you won’t have a lot of lawn left to mow!

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Our office

32 Mowbray Gardens

West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6JN

24 hours / 365 days

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri 9.00 - 17.00

Out of hours telephone service

Where we operate

We operate North and South of the River Trent and East towards Newark. Many of our customers are located in: West Bridgford, Radcliffe on Trent, Bingham, Cotgrave, Tollerton, Keyworth, Ruddington and North of the River: Beeston, Chilwell, Wollaton, Bramcote, Nottingham, Mapperley and Arnold.