It’s summertime, and if you have a warm season lawn (like St. Augustine, bermuda, zoysia or centipede), this is the prime growing season. That also means it’s prime mowing season!
To mow your lawn less during the summer for warm season grasses like St. Augustine, bermuda, zoysia, and centipede, consider these options: Mulch mow weekly to reduce time by 20 percent, mow and bag every other week to save 50 percent but maintain a clean look, or mulch mow every other week to save 60 percent in mowing time if a pristine appearance isn’t a priority.
Option 1: Mulch and Mow Weekly
To reduce your total mowing time by about 20 percent, eliminate the time required to stop and bag clippings. If your mower has a mulch setting, use it instead.
If your mower doesn’t have a mulch option, simply mow without bagging. This only works if you mow weekly, as leaving un-bagged clippings can create an unsightly appearance if allowed to dry and accumulate.
Option 2: Mow and Bag Every Other Week
Another option is to mow every other week and bag the clippings. This can reduce your mowing time by 50 percent, but you’ll need to bag the clippings to maintain a clean look.
The downside is that if you miss a mowing due to rain or vacation, you’ll need to remove almost twice as much leaf blade the following week. This can be problematic, as removing more than a third of the total leaf blade at once is not advisable.
If you miss a mowing using this strategy, you may need to mow twice the following week, each time removing half as much, to get back to your normal mowing height.
Option 3: Mulch and Mow Every Other Week
If you’re less concerned about a pristine look and just want to keep your grass presentable, you can mulch and mow every other week. This will save you 60% in mowing time.
Regardless of which strategy you choose, it’s recommended you mow your lawn at the highest recommended height for your grass type. To illustrate the time savings:
Click to view/download graphic.
Helpful Tip: Alter Your Fertilizer Inputs
To further reduce mowing, consider a lawn fertility program that promotes greenness without excessive leaf growth. Look for products that don’t rely heavily on nitrogen, like the Lawnifi® Summer Fertilizer Box, a liquid fertilizer that is efficient, effective and easy to use.
How do I mow my lawn less during the summer? – Answered
To mow your lawn less during the summer for warm season grasses like St. Augustine, bermuda, zoysia, and centipede, consider these options: Mulch mow weekly to reduce time by 20 percent, mow and bag every other week to save 50% but maintain a clean look, or mulch mow every other week to save 60% in mowing time if a pristine appearance isn’t a priority.
Ultimately, there are a variety of options to choose from to reduce mowing inputs during the hot summer months. A part of having a thriving, beautiful lawn means it will want to grow—so frequent mowing is a must. These three strategies are great options to reduce mowing inputs and time spent outside without causing any damage or harm to your lawn.
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This article was written by Sod Solutions Content Strategist, Valerie Smith. To view this article on Sod Solutions website, click here. Sod Solutions is celebrating 30 years of successfully developing and releasing turfgrasses with over 20 market-leading varieties like Palmetto® St. Augustine, Celebration® Bermudagrass, EMPIRE® Zoysia and more. Based in Charleston, SC, Sod Solutions isyour go-to expert resource for lawn and garden content.
