Lawn Mowing Tips for San Antonio Lawns

I loved a recent article from the SAWS Water Saver newsletter that offered tips on how often and how high you should mow your lawn.  The following is an excerpt of the newsletter written by Mark A. Peterson and the full article can be viewed at http://www.saws.org/conservation/newsletter/enews/issue.cfm?id=282

Mow High, Mow Often

"Of all the suggestions and recommendations you may hear, there are two key factors that will help make your lawn more drought-tolerant: mowing height and mowing frequency.

Although a variety of mowing heights are recommended for each turf species, our rule is always to mow at the high end of the range. In general, the higher the mowing height, the deeper the roots; and the deeper the root system, the more drought-tolerant the turf becomes.

The best adapted turf grass species for our area include:

•  Bermuda — Unless you're mowing a putting green or sports field, we suggest mowing it at 2 inches.

•  Buffalo and all native grasses — Mowing twice a year is sufficient for native grasses; set the mower at the highest setting.

•  St. Augustine — Maintain the mower level at 3 inches

•   Zoysia — A mowing height of 2 1/2 inches is ideal.

Just as important as how high you mow is how often. Turf responds favorably to frequent mowing. The general rule is to never cut more than 1/3 of the total blade. This roughly translates to a once-a-week mowing schedule."