There are few scents more refreshing than the smell of freshly mown grass on a hot summer’s day. Many people like to mow their grass very short so that they can mow on alternating weeks. However, this might not be the healthiest approach for the grass. If you’re having trouble finding the time to mow it every week, consider talking to a landscaping company about maintenance services. How short your grass should be really depends on the specific type of grass, the time of year, and the growing conditions.
Review your HOA rules.
It’s common for homeowners’ associations to set regulations regarding the landscaping. If you belong to an HOA, you should check whether the rules include requirements regarding grass height. If so, the HOA likely stipulates a maximum height. However, you’ll still need to consider the species of grass before deciding whether to trim your lawn shorter than the maximum height.
Check the species of grass.
As a general rule of thumb, cool season grasses should be trimmed to about 2.5 inches. Warm season grasses can be cut a little shorter, especially during the early spring when it’s time to remove the dead blades. Cool season grasses include the following:
- Fine fescue
- Creeping bentgrass
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Tall fescue
Warm season grasses include the following:
- Bahiagrass
- Bermuda grass
- St. Augustine grass
- Zoysia
Consider the growing conditions.
The growing conditions are a main factor in determining whether a lawn is under stress or not. In the Southwestern states, drought is a frequent problem. If there hasn’t been much rainfall and you haven’t been irrigating your lawn frequently, then your grass is undoubtedly under stress. It’s always best to avoid cutting stressed lawns too short. Another factor to consider is the amount of shade your lawn receives. Experts recommend letting shady grasses grow a little taller.
Still not sure how short to mow your grass? Thinking of switching to synthetic turf? Complete Landscaping in Tucson is your comprehensive resource for landscaping advice, installation, and maintenance. Call (520) 323-8918.