You Are Here: Management Updates 2005 Archive June 20, 2005

Date: June 20, 2005
Category: Agronomy
Subject: Proper Mowing for Summer

As summer approaches mowing quality and frequency is critical for maintaining quality turf. Frayed leaf tips associated with dull mower blades can cause significant leaf tip die-back, promoting loss in color and quality during summer stress. Furthermore, slow-to-heal wounds from dull blades are potential sites for infection for pathological disease. Perennial ryegrass is most susceptible to dull mower blade injury.

Regular and frequent mowing according to the 1/3 rule will help to reduce leaf area and minimize consumptive water loss especially from irrigated turf. For non-irrigated turf, mow at the high end of the recommended mowing height range (2 to 2.5 inches) during the summer period for cool-season species. Avoid excessively close mowing (less than 1.25 inches), which can cause a significant loss in shoot density and accelerate soil heating, root decline and crabgrass encroachment.

Seed head formation exhibited by Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass at this time can reduce mowing (and turf) quality. So, regular mowing with sharp blades is especially important now.

Submitted by: Dr. Scott Ebdon

Links followed by the symbol are external links that open in a new window.