Lawn Tips
Lawn Care Maintenance
The benefits of mowing
Mowers that can mulch are most beneficial for your lawn. That's because they recycle grass clipping back into the lawn, providing valuable nutrients for sustained growth. What's more, the blades on mulching mowers are designed to break down the cut grass into very small pieces, then distribute them evenly over the lawn where they quickly break down without leaving a trace.
Mower cutting heights
Grass grows fastest and is at its healthiest, in the warmer months, so decreasing your cutting height down to 2.5cm won't affect it too much. During cooler months, grass grows much slower so it's a good idea to raise your cutting height a little so as not to damage it. As a general rule, it's wise not to cut your grass lower than 2.5cm. The big risk of mowing low is 'scalping' which browns your grass. Scalp your lawn repeatedly and you risk weakening it, allowing more weeds and diseases to take hold.
How often to mow
As a guide, you should mow once a week or at the very least, once a fortnight during Summer, and around once every three or four weeks n Winter. At other times, you'll probably vary between these extremes depending on how fast your own individual lawn is growing. Other seasons Infrequent mowing can cause a lawn to become "stalky" and less attractive. This is especially the case with popular grasses such as Couch and Kikuyu. So it is advisable to mow regularly, with sharp blades, to keep your lawn looking its best.
What kind of mower
The three most popular types of rotary-action lawnmowers today are mulching mowers, mulch or catch machines and cut & catch models. If you have a large lawn area, be sure to choose a mower that is powerful enough to handle the job. For small to medium-sized areas, it could be more beneficial to choose a mower that offers a mix of solid performance and low maintenance.
Fertilising tips
Every time you mow the lawn and remove the grass clippings you're depriving the remaining lawn of rich nutrients it has extracted from the soil. That's why mulching is such a good idea. For those who don't mulch regularly, your lawn could benefit considerably from fertilising during spring and summer. Try to seek out fertilisers which supply the correct balance of the three major nutrients required for a healthy lawn with uniform growth. A mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 3:1:2 is ideal.