4 ms·

> It’s amazing how much damage people do to their lawns by consistently over-mowing. As a new homeowner, I'm curious: what would you define to be "over-mowing"

> It’s amazing how much damage people do to their lawns by consistently over-mowing. As a new homeowner, I'm curious: what would you define to be "over-mowing"?

chiefalchemist 4y ago
Not sure there's a technical definition but I would say it mowing too frequently. That is, mowing even if the grass doesn't need it. For example, the lawn service comes once a week, always on the same day. It's also going to depend on your mower. Is it push electric, push gas, or ride gas? The more power you have the longer you can let it grow. And the longer you can let it grow - within neighborly reason - the better.
foobarian 4y ago
Not OP. IMO mowing too short is the worst, especially if not mowing frequently, i.e. going from very long to too short. It removes sun protection, dries out the plant, and removes the green parts that generate food going into the rhizome. I like to cut at maximum height on the typical homeowner mower, or at most one notch below, and every two weeks or less. Spring is the only time when I end up cutting every week due to peak growth rate. I don't bother with herbicides but add fertilizer once a year. There is a lot of weeds that don't belong but as long as they are cut they don't bother me. I also like the dandelion colors in the grass, and the kids like the fluffball seeds. If you are not OK with weeds you'll have your work cut out for you - there will be an order of magnitude more steps involved.
- akeck 4y ago
  This is the way. One could call it "sysadmin lawn care". Pure constructive laziness. Plus, we have way more birds and other animals than other "traditional" yards nearby.
- ungamedplayer 4y ago
  Just a heads up for anyone following along, some countries mowers "max height" is significantly different than other countries "max height". Some grasses will never grow to maximum height of most mowers, as a general rule, cut it so that you're leaving more than enough of the grass uncut that its still getting good ground coverage and there the 'lawn' is not being destroyed during the mowing process.
  - inetknght 4y ago
    I think this is all good advice. The first time I mowed, it had been growing for about 4 months. I ended up cutting close to three feet of grass and cut it down to about 6 inches -- my mower's max height. The next week I cut it to two inches. Then with winter it didn't really grow for another three months or so. Now I'll cut it to four inches and it's a foot long in two weeks. I've got five acres and about four of it is lawn with another acre of trees. I've got a strong powerful mower. Weeds don't bother me as much as taking four hours to mow. I knew it would take a while though and I'm perfectly fine with letting the grass grow long for three or four weeks between mowings. But finding how much cutting is too much will take a while for me. I would let it grow all year, and never mow, if it weren't for the pests that attracts. Neighbors don't bother me. In fact, neighbors are interested in leasing for their cattle. That's the great part of having so much land. But I'd rather not step on cow pies ;) I'd be more interested in letting someone grow crops for a quarter of the year. I don't have time to do that myself.
    - gknoy 4y ago
      > I'd be more interested in letting someone grow crops for a quarter of the year. You might be able to partner with a local school or scout troop to organize a community garden, or an educational garden.
    - foobarian 4y ago
      That sounds like pure heaven :) If I had 4 acres of lawn I would get a robot mower. As it is I have little enough that it’s not worth the hassle.
      - inetknght 4y ago
        No damn HOAs telling me what I can't do and nobody to blame for problems except for myself. Pure heaven and with gigabit-fiber internet! Awwww yissss :)
oh_sigh 4y ago
Cutting too short, too frequently, and using a bag instead of a mulching mower(removing nutrients without readding them).

> It’s amazing how much damage people do to their lawns by consistently over-mowing. As a new homeowner, I'm curious: what would you define to be "over-mowing"?

chiefalchemist 4y ago

Not sure there's a technical definition but I would say it mowing too frequently. That is, mowing even if the grass doesn't need it. For example, the lawn service comes once a week, always on the same day. It's also going to depend on your mower. Is it push electric, push gas, or ride gas? The more power you have the longer you can let it grow. And the longer you can let it grow - within neighborly reason - the better.

foobarian 4y ago

Not OP. IMO mowing too short is the worst, especially if not mowing frequently, i.e. going from very long to too short. It removes sun protection, dries out the plant, and removes the green parts that generate food going into the rhizome. I like to cut at maximum height on the typical homeowner mower, or at most one notch below, and every two weeks or less. Spring is the only time when I end up cutting every week due to peak growth rate. I don't bother with herbicides but add fertilizer once a year. There is a lot of weeds that don't belong but as long as they are cut they don't bother me. I also like the dandelion colors in the grass, and the kids like the fluffball seeds. If you are not OK with weeds you'll have your work cut out for you - there will be an order of magnitude more steps involved.

akeck 4y ago
This is the way. One could call it "sysadmin lawn care". Pure constructive laziness. Plus, we have way more birds and other animals than other "traditional" yards nearby.
ungamedplayer 4y ago
Just a heads up for anyone following along, some countries mowers "max height" is significantly different than other countries "max height". Some grasses will never grow to maximum height of most mowers, as a general rule, cut it so that you're leaving more than enough of the grass uncut that its still getting good ground coverage and there the 'lawn' is not being destroyed during the mowing process.
- inetknght 4y ago
  I think this is all good advice. The first time I mowed, it had been growing for about 4 months. I ended up cutting close to three feet of grass and cut it down to about 6 inches -- my mower's max height. The next week I cut it to two inches. Then with winter it didn't really grow for another three months or so. Now I'll cut it to four inches and it's a foot long in two weeks. I've got five acres and about four of it is lawn with another acre of trees. I've got a strong powerful mower. Weeds don't bother me as much as taking four hours to mow. I knew it would take a while though and I'm perfectly fine with letting the grass grow long for three or four weeks between mowings. But finding how much cutting is too much will take a while for me. I would let it grow all year, and never mow, if it weren't for the pests that attracts. Neighbors don't bother me. In fact, neighbors are interested in leasing for their cattle. That's the great part of having so much land. But I'd rather not step on cow pies ;) I'd be more interested in letting someone grow crops for a quarter of the year. I don't have time to do that myself.
  - gknoy 4y ago
    > I'd be more interested in letting someone grow crops for a quarter of the year. You might be able to partner with a local school or scout troop to organize a community garden, or an educational garden.
  - foobarian 4y ago
    That sounds like pure heaven :) If I had 4 acres of lawn I would get a robot mower. As it is I have little enough that it’s not worth the hassle.
    - inetknght 4y ago
      No damn HOAs telling me what I can't do and nobody to blame for problems except for myself. Pure heaven and with gigabit-fiber internet! Awwww yissss :)

oh_sigh 4y ago

Cutting too short, too frequently, and using a bag instead of a mulching mower(removing nutrients without readding them).