Mower height
- Thread starter dmclone
- Start date
Height is your choice, my suggestion is to never cut the grass more than 1/3 at a time.
Lower mowing = less root mass. I put mine on the highest setting and mow as frequently as required to remove 1/3 or less of the total leaf area.
If you want your lawn to stay looking green the longest, cut it as high as possible. If you want your lawn to dry out and die during the summer, cut it short as possible.
I have a Honda, and one of my grandsons mow my lawn. I have it set second to the highest.
I've always thought you can cut lower during the cooler/wetter months in the spring, then as things dry up and heat up, I gradually raise the deck a bit so as not to stress the grass too much.
Chad's right, don't mow more than a 1/3rd off at a time, and keep the blade sharp so you have clean cuts.
Chad's right, don't mow more than a 1/3rd off at a time, and keep the blade sharp so you have clean cuts.
Usually for the first couple of months of the spring & summer it's better to mow the shorter because of the rainfall in those early months. Then when it starts to dry out at the end of July and August you can mow the lawn at a higher height. I don't think it really matters at the frequency of how many times you mow the lawn.
Ditto here, Honda at 2nd highest setting. I mowed low and got spotty brown areas, moved it up 2-3 settings and now its fine. Granted I have to mow every week (7 days is stretching it) but the clippings bag lasts the whole yard, which is nice
I have a Grasshopper and set it at 3 1/2. It seems low enough. I don't have my blades running down in the dirt. No scalping. And the clippings have enough grass to flow through without any windrowing. It is also easier on your bearings above your blades.
Unless you are playing croquet, why do you want it so short?
Unless you are playing croquet, why do you want it so short?
if you have a honda, then you own a mower that is great at mulching. don't bag, especially since you are mowing high.
i haven't bagged with this mower since i purchased it, which is at least 12 years ago.
i never see a blad of grass on my lawn after it gets mowed, that is how great a job this thing does.
Keep it high, especially as we roll into the summer months.
One advantage to keeping it high is that it feels that much better to walk on it barefoot.
But like everyone else has said when we get hot and dry in july and august you will be very happy you kept it high. When you mow it too low and get later in the season the grass is short and almost dormant, this is when crabgrass and broadleaves have an opportunity to take over.
One advantage to keeping it high is that it feels that much better to walk on it barefoot.
But like everyone else has said when we get hot and dry in july and august you will be very happy you kept it high. When you mow it too low and get later in the season the grass is short and almost dormant, this is when crabgrass and broadleaves have an opportunity to take over.
I like to mow my grass towards the higher setting. The lower you cut your grass the easier it is for the soil to get sunlight which promotes weed seed germination. Higher grass will cut the chances of germination happening. So mowing it taller promotes a healthy lawn. Taller grass also stores more water so they will look better longer when mother nature turns the water spickets off and turns up the temp.
Exception being in the fall or the spring when you throw down grass seed that you want to germinate. Then you can cut it lower to promote that.
Exception being in the fall or the spring when you throw down grass seed that you want to germinate. Then you can cut it lower to promote that.
The height you mow at should be based on the type of grass you are mowing. Bluegrass, which I assume most of you in Iowa have, can be mowed relatively short. Fescue, which most people around here have, needs to be mowed relatively high.
I generally mow at 3-3 1/2 on my Toro unless I can't get to it in time or we've had a lot of rain in which case I try 4. They I generally come back the next day and go down to 3 1/2.
I generally mow at 3-3 1/2 on my Toro unless I can't get to it in time or we've had a lot of rain in which case I try 4. They I generally come back the next day and go down to 3 1/2.
Most people cut their lawns too short!!
Looks OK now, but crappy in July/August.
Why have a lawn if you don't like to take care of it/make it look nice? That is why God invented townhomes and also put neighborhood kids on your block to mow for you if needed.
Another pet peeve - people that don't know how to properly prune their trees. (i.e.….not periodically cutting off the lower branches so you form a nice straight/clean trunk).
AFTER we get these more important issues solved, then (and only then!) should we turn our attention towards less critical (yet more publicized) issues facing us (e.g.... like fixing the oil spill in the gulf).
Looks OK now, but crappy in July/August.
Why have a lawn if you don't like to take care of it/make it look nice? That is why God invented townhomes and also put neighborhood kids on your block to mow for you if needed.
Another pet peeve - people that don't know how to properly prune their trees. (i.e.….not periodically cutting off the lower branches so you form a nice straight/clean trunk).
AFTER we get these more important issues solved, then (and only then!) should we turn our attention towards less critical (yet more publicized) issues facing us (e.g.... like fixing the oil spill in the gulf).
i was cutting long, cut short two weeks ago, and my entire front yard is dead... bad idea.
Pet peeve of mine is people/companies that think pruning a tree is "lolly-popping" it.
