Instead of bagging grass clippings, use a mulching mower. Allowing mulched grass to settle into the lawn will help trap moisture, keeping the lawn cooler and better hydrated. A mulching mower can be beneficial to the lawn all year long, but is especially helpful for beating the summer heat.
Use cooling neck wraps throughout the day to keep the heat off your neck and back. You can keep a few in the cooler and exchange them out as the day goes on. Wear light colored, loose-fitting clothing. Long-sleeved uniforms are the way to go to beat the heat and sun.
what temperature is “too hot” to mow grass. When temperatures go beyond 80°F, your cool-season grass may begin to struggle. And when high temperatures last for extended periods of time, it can cause your grass' growth to slow down and its vibrant green color to fade.
One valuable tip is that mowing during the hottest time of day on a drought-stressed lawn is one of the worst things you can do. A mower is a heavy piece of equipment, and its constant movement across your lawn causes the wheels to administer mass damage.
The ideal temperatures to mow are between 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Does grass stop growing at a certain height? Once temperatures have become consistently warmer, it is a good idea to follow the one-third rule, which means to never clip off more than one-third of the grass' current height in one mowing session.
Although a low-cut, manicured lawn might seem ideal, turf grass actually does better in the summer heat when you let it grow a bit. Longer shoots mean deeper roots, which the lawn needs to suck up whatever moisture is in the soil. A higher lawn also shades the soil, minimizing evaporation.
If the grass is too wet, you shouldn't mow and if it's too dry you shouldn't either. Remember, mowing is a stressful event for your lawn. If you mow when it's already under stress, such as during dry spell or drought, then it will become even more stressed. You don't like to be stressed and neither does your poor lawn.
Mower Height
A mowing height between 2.5 to 3 inches is best for most of the season, except during summer stresses when the lawn mowing height should be raised one-half inch to mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Raising the mowing height provides more insulation from summer heat and reduces water loss from your soil.
Mid-morning (between 8 and 10 a.m.) tends to be the best time of day for mowing your lawn. It allows enough time for dew to dry, resulting in strong, perky blades of grades, while avoiding the hottest periods of the day.
If you've noticed a layer of dead grass, leaves, and other materials—better known as “thatch”—form on your lawn, sugar can be used to help break it down. This allows new grass to grow, and can make your lawn look greener, and less patchy.
Mow your first diagonal stripe down the center of the lawn, then mow another stripe next to it. Move around the edge of the lawn and cut a second stripe in the same direction to create one light stripe with two dark stripes next to it. Continue this pattern until both sides of the lawn are striped.
Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.
Grass clippings and yard waste produce heat. This happens as a result of microscopic bacteria and fungi feeding on moist grass clippings. Freshly cut grass spread over a lawn starts to rot, but you can't feel the heat that it generates until you rake the grass into a pile.
Lawn clippings usually do not need to be bagged. Recycling lawn clippings can reduce your fertilizer needs and improve your soil. Recycling clippings to the lawn does not contribute to thatch. If you must remove clippings, they can be composted or used as mulch.
How often should you mow? Normally, weekly mowing is the rule, but some lawns need cutting more often. Other lawns will grow more slowly and might need cutting only once every ten days or two weeks. Generally, don't cut off more than one third of the grass blade.
Mowing every two weeks — instead of weekly — and not dousing grass with chemical herbicides and fertilizers, helps the environment and supports the health of bees, which are among the world's most important pollinators.
As a general rule your first grass cut of the year should be in early Spring. Depending on weather and temperatures at the particular time, the last week in February or the first week in March is a great time to start.
No Mow May was first popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom, but is now gaining traction across North America. The goal of No Mow May is to pause mowing during the month of May, allowing flowers to bloom in your lawn to help early season pollinators.
One of the most common questions we hear is, “How often should you mow your lawn in the summer?” Over the summer you'll generally mow your lawn every 4 to 6 days.
Can You Water Grass After Mowing? Yes, you can water grass after mowing, however it is healthy to water it but only if it requires it. Watering will help the mowed blades perk up and survive being cut better. Take care not to water a lawn overwatered or from noon till late into the night.
For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch, or height difference of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the front of the deck to the back of the deck. Naturally, this makes the sweet spot about 1/4-inch of pitch, depending on the mower model.
AVOID MOWING DURING EXTREME HEAT When your lawn is particularly stressed from heat or drought, it can be limited in its ability to recover from mowing and can be damaged even more. Instead, mow the grass after a rainfall or after irrigation day.