06/13/2026
Lots of us will be playing "Mowing Catch Up" this weekend after so much rain. It seems like a good time to recap some mowing
1. Avoid bagging clippings when you mow. Removing the mowed-off clippings deprives your lawn of future nutrients that naturally break down and are recycled into the plants.
2. Avoid mowing when temps are over 85º or rains are rare; it's better to let the lawn get long until the period of stress has passed rather than add the stress of mowing to the lawn at that time.
3. Regarding height: The short answer is "the higher the better during the summer." If you prefer to work the height back down again at the end of the season due to aesthetics, that is fine, but don't feel like you *have* to mow a Kentucky bluegrass lawn at a short height ever. Another benefit to a taller lawn is reduced w**d pressure. It's a win-win!
4. Never take off more than 1/3 of the green leaf in a single mowing. It is better to mow multiple times a few days apart to get catch up than to shock the plant by taking off too much leafy material at once.
5. Sharpen your blades again. Most of our lawns are done seeding out, so now is a great time to sharpen your blades for the rest of the growing season. Sharp blades help to reduce disease and drought pressure on your plants.
Happy mowing!
