Correct Mowing Way To Good Lawns

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32296, 14 May 1970, Page 21

Correct Mowing Way To Good Lawns

The secret of building up a vigorous, fine quality grass sward is in correct mowing; keeping the grass long enough to prevent the roots being starved, but short enough to be attractive to the onlooker.

The purpose of mowing is not merely to keep down unsightly growth but to keep the grass at the correct height to allow for healthy

i growth. This height must not i vary a great deal during the i growing season. The rule is to mow often, ’ but not too closely. In this way excess leaf-growth is prevented, fertiliser loss curtailed, and the menace of weeds, worms, and coarse grasses reduced. The grass . itself assumes a dwarf habit ! and the production of extra , . shoots is stimulated. Close mowing at regular, intervals is unfortunately an all-too-common practice. It means certain destruction of | the good quality lawn, be- 1 cause the desirable grasses l are rapidly weakened. The ; thin open turf which results is soon invaded by moss, ' pearlwort, annual meadow grass, daisies and yarrow. Danger occurs at a height of 1 Jin when coarse grasses start to swamp fine grasses. In autumn or drought a , utility lawn should be IJin . high and in summer lin. A luxury lawn in spring, , autumn or drought should be Jin, and in summer jin. Care must be taken that . the grass is not cut too short as danger threatens when the i strength of the grass is reduced at }in.

Lawns should be cut twice a week when the grass is growing vigorously in summed During spring, autumn and under drought conditions, however, it should be cut only once a week. Cutting less than once a -week when the grass is actively growing results in the sudden loss of a large quantity of leaf. This "shocks” the grass and reduces its vigour. The need for supplying the most suitable mower for your lawn is fully appreciated by I retailers and demonstrations | are yours for the asking.