Mowing Information

Although often overlooked, proper mowing can mean the difference between a good looking lawn and a great looking lawn. That is why Olympic Landscape Maintenance, LLC provides you with the information and beliefs on which we run our business. Frequent mowing will produce a richer, greener and fuller lawn than a lawn that is mowed every other week during peak growing seasons.

How low should I be mowing my lawn?

Grass generally performs best when mowed at one of the higher settings on your mower -- especially in hot summer weather. 

• Avoid scalping at all costs. (Scalping described here is not the business of selling Mariners tickets outside Safeco Field just before a game, but an extremely low cutting of the grass)

• Never cut off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades in a single mowing.  If lawn growth gets ahead of you, mow it at a higher length, then lower the blade and mow again a few days later.

Why does my grass look "pale" the day after I mow?

One of the most common mistakes in mowing, besides mowing too low, is mowing with a dull blade. In order to keep your lawn looking sharp, you need to keep your mower blade sharp. Mowing with a dull blade tears the ends of grass blades, leaving ragged ends which later turn brown, giving the lawn a dried-out look.  Such grass blade damage also encourages the spread of  fungus disease. We sharpen and replace our blades on all of our mowers frequently to keep the cuts crisp and clean.

I have always been told that you should bag your clippings while mowing or rake and remove them after you are finished, is this true?

One frequently asked question is whether it is harmful or beneficial to mulch your grass clippings. Mulching is the technique of cutting grass clippings into fine pieces and re-depositing them back into the lawn. This is done by a specially designed blade and lawnmower attachments. Dropping your grass clippings returns valuable nutrients to the soil such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron, and Manganese. We would recommend removing excess clippings from your lawn, but if you are using a high quality mulching mower with a sharp blade, you should not be able to see the grass clippings on the lawn. The only time you will see "clumps" of grass clippings when mulching with a sharp blade is if the conditions are wet or the grass was not mowed frequently enough, so you are cutting over 1/3 of the blade. 

Dropping your grass clippings does not contribute to thatch buildup either. As a matter of fact, grass clipping contain sugars which stimulate microbes which help decompose thatch. It could actually be called a "bio-dethatcher".

What are the benefits of mulching?

As you can see, not removing your grass clippings is beneficial to your lawn. It is also beneficial to our environment. It has been said that we could save more than 10% of our land fill space simply by not bagging our grass clippings. At Seattle Lawn Care, we pride ourselves in spending the money for high-quality mowers and mulching additions along with sharpening or replacing our mulching blades weekly. Another benefit passed on to our customers is the valuable nutrients returned to their lawns by our mulching practices. It is almost like a natural fertilizing application with each visit.
 

HOME | MAINTENANCE | INSTALLATION | FAQ'S | ABOUT US