In the spring and fall when the lawns are growing like mad, I have a couple of people that want the lawn cut short. But the lawn seems to grow even faster and definitely looks better when i raise the blades. Is it true that cutting the lawn shorter will make it even grow faster? Do lawns slow down in growth as they get longer? Thanks
Cutting height questions, shorter makes lawn grow faster?
clydesdale
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In the spring and fall when the lawns are growing like mad, I have a couple of people that want the lawn cut short. But the lawn seems to grow even faster and definitely looks better when i raise the blades. Is it true that cutting the lawn shorter will make it even grow faster? Do lawns slow down in growth as they get longer? Thanks
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Around me, I like to cut them long because it helps keep the weeds out because it shades the ground underneith helping to prevent weed growth. Anyway, I think the lawn does grow back faster when cut short. I dunno exactly why, I am no expert i just observe that happening and cut the lawns long. All my customers understand.
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I determine mow height, when to raise, when to lower and when to stay the same, I also determine when it will be mowed, my clients accept services from me to manage their lawn care. That means I manage it not them.mcwlandscaping said:
the answer to your post is simple, Short breeds weeds, longer looks lush.
OOPS, this is response to original poster, no offense intended. sorry mcw.
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What are you appologizing for? I am young, any advice is great, good or bad. I really don't know why you are appologizing for.
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sorry because normally when you use a quote for a response its addressed to the person that made the quote, my post shouldn't have even been with a quote it was a general comment.mcwlandscaping said:
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It may grow faster for the first couple weeks, becuase the grass is trying to regulate itself. After a few weeks, it should accept defeat and grow more normally. I have a customer that loves his lawn cut short. The first couple weeks there were about 2 extra cans of clippings from his yard (4 cans total), then, after a couple weeks, it was down to 2 cans total (same as the neighbors lawn @ taller height).
However, his lawn has more weeds, needs more water, and is overall in poorer health as a result of the shorter cut height. And kicks up alot more dust in my face while mowing. Worth more $$$ to cut short. Stupid penalty.
Kevin
However, his lawn has more weeds, needs more water, and is overall in poorer health as a result of the shorter cut height. And kicks up alot more dust in my face while mowing. Worth more $$$ to cut short. Stupid penalty.
Kevin
cutting grass shorter than YOUR Ag department suggests for YOUR type of grass is a bad idea.
Here St Augustine should be cut at 3.5 - 4.5 inches. Cutting below 3.5 inces can be done, BUT it must be slowly lowered or the stolon will be damaged increasing likelihood of disease and bug damage. You also remove the plant's ability to photosynthesize. This creates an energy shortage which further reduces the plant's ability to fight off problems.
You also reduce the shading effect of the grass on the soil which increases the evaporation rate of the soil and creates dryer conditions. Further challenging the grass.
AS far as the looking like it grows faster thing. That is an illusion created by percent increase. If you cut the grass at 2 inches and it grows an inch. You have increased the lenght by 50% That looks like alot. If you cut the grass at 4 inches and it grows an inch that is 25% doesn't seem like as much.
The grass also looks shabbier based on the percent of growth.
Cutting lower will make for a more tailored looking lawn. ONCE. Then the downhill slide of thinning grass and creep in of weeds begins.
Look at golf courses they cut super low. They also water and fertilize nearly daily and have a full time CREW whose only job is to cut and maintain the grass. Not something you can do once a week.
Here St Augustine should be cut at 3.5 - 4.5 inches. Cutting below 3.5 inces can be done, BUT it must be slowly lowered or the stolon will be damaged increasing likelihood of disease and bug damage. You also remove the plant's ability to photosynthesize. This creates an energy shortage which further reduces the plant's ability to fight off problems.
You also reduce the shading effect of the grass on the soil which increases the evaporation rate of the soil and creates dryer conditions. Further challenging the grass.
AS far as the looking like it grows faster thing. That is an illusion created by percent increase. If you cut the grass at 2 inches and it grows an inch. You have increased the lenght by 50% That looks like alot. If you cut the grass at 4 inches and it grows an inch that is 25% doesn't seem like as much.
The grass also looks shabbier based on the percent of growth.
Cutting lower will make for a more tailored looking lawn. ONCE. Then the downhill slide of thinning grass and creep in of weeds begins.
Look at golf courses they cut super low. They also water and fertilize nearly daily and have a full time CREW whose only job is to cut and maintain the grass. Not something you can do once a week.
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The answer is yes. The grass will produce more rapid top growth when cut shorter... so long as it is not scalped to the point of severe shock.clydesdale said:
Here's why...
When the plants are cut back shorter than they want to be, all the plant's processes become totally focused on regenerating top growth. It will use all it's energy and nutrients producing this surge growth until it regenerates the proper amount of leaf surface.... and then it will settle back into it's normal growth patterns. The result is more inches of top growth to remove each week.
The above is also directly related to the reason the turf health declines due to cutting too short. Basically when the plant spends that much time fully focused on regenerating top growth, the rest of the plant suffers from neglect. Namely the root system. So health declines along with the loss of all the benefits of a lush canopy of leaf.
Frankly, cutting too short is the #1 worst and most frequintly commited mistake.
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the root system haults its growth until the blades of grass come back...when you cut it the length it is supposed to be cut, the root system thrives and develops a healthy root system...scalp the grass, and the lawn suffers...
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Man I've tried and tried to educate my customers about the proper mowing height. I usually end up winning the argument when they see the improvement of their lawns over time. I use simple euphemisms(sp?) like; when it's cut short the grass thinks you're trying to kill it so it grows faster. Whether it grows faster when cut short or not, I don't hit much with my blades when they're set above 3 inches!
somewhere I read or heard that as grass gets longer, it slows its growth rate but I have never been able to observe this personally as most of us wont let it get that long and have the mess on our hands getting it under control.
SOme good answers here however on what the grass plant does when cut real short...once again I learn something here
SOme good answers here however on what the grass plant does when cut real short...once again I learn something here
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ive noticed on my lawn that if i cut it at 3" it looks like it needs to be cut again in 2 days but if i cut at 4" it doesnt need to be cut for about 5-7 days.
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This won't be exactly correct science, but here are some things to add to the discussion.
Most lawn grasses are some form of modified wild field grass bred to produce a year round cover which continues to grow because it never reaches mature height.
Most grass tends to grow to a certain height then stop growing up and produces roots to a greater extent.
Hay grasses like wild prairie, fescue etc will grow to 4 to 6 ft total height and then stop groing up. In Kansas and Missouri this happens usually at the end of June, primarily because June is the last true damp if not wet month.
All variates of fescue are related to the pasture type fescues used for hay.
Tall grass prairie is a combination of grasses, and when cut to 3 to 4" inches in height will make a very drought tolerant lawn (I have to get you some pictures).
Fescue (K-31) is a ok hay (not as good for cattle) and extremely tough on hay bines and mowers. K-31 is a tall grass which has been breed (guess and opinion) to be semi-drought tolerant and green through august in the united states.
The time between mowings does increase with the longer cut until you enter the extreme dry season. My neighbors cut their yard way short (I am thinking 1") I cut mine at 4" (mine is prairie with some fescue theirs is fescue with some prarie) In the last 2 weeks my neighbors have been able to not cut, but my grass is ready for a 3rd cut. This also contributes to the health of the yard etc.
I know this is not exact, but from the farm boy perspective it works out about right.
Most lawn grasses are some form of modified wild field grass bred to produce a year round cover which continues to grow because it never reaches mature height.
Most grass tends to grow to a certain height then stop growing up and produces roots to a greater extent.
Hay grasses like wild prairie, fescue etc will grow to 4 to 6 ft total height and then stop groing up. In Kansas and Missouri this happens usually at the end of June, primarily because June is the last true damp if not wet month.
All variates of fescue are related to the pasture type fescues used for hay.
Tall grass prairie is a combination of grasses, and when cut to 3 to 4" inches in height will make a very drought tolerant lawn (I have to get you some pictures).
Fescue (K-31) is a ok hay (not as good for cattle) and extremely tough on hay bines and mowers. K-31 is a tall grass which has been breed (guess and opinion) to be semi-drought tolerant and green through august in the united states.
The time between mowings does increase with the longer cut until you enter the extreme dry season. My neighbors cut their yard way short (I am thinking 1") I cut mine at 4" (mine is prairie with some fescue theirs is fescue with some prarie) In the last 2 weeks my neighbors have been able to not cut, but my grass is ready for a 3rd cut. This also contributes to the health of the yard etc.
I know this is not exact, but from the farm boy perspective it works out about right.
Same where I live in pa. I always try to tell my new customers that want me to cut shorter then 3.25 that it's going to grow back in 3 days and they don't believe me until I do it. Tall fescue
Posting on a 19 year old thread, and hasn't been on in 4 years....
Tis true, but he/she/they are answering someone who hasn't been active for years....Good information never goes out of style
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