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the turfgrass varieties present in the (a++•n and whether the
<br />- lawn is in sun, full shade, or a combination of both. Lawns in
<br />full sun have the greatest potential for quick recovery after
<br />mowing and can therefore bc• cut shorter. Those in the shade
<br />• need all the available leaf surface possil,le for photosynthe-
<br />sis.Thus, grass in the shade should be cut slightly higher than
<br />grass in the sun. Where both conditions are present, an inter-
<br />mediate height is recommended. Some Suggested mowing
<br />heights are listed below:
<br />Fine fescue 1-1 /2 to 2-1/2 inches
<br />Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass 1 to 2 inches
<br />Kentucky bluegrass:
<br />Improved varieties 1 to 2 inches
<br />Common types 1-1/2 to 2-1 /2 inches
<br />Kentucky bluegrass/red fescue 1-1/2 to 2-112 inches
<br />Mowing frequency also has a direct impact on the amount of
<br />clippings generated. Mowing frequency depends on the cut-
<br />tingheight selected and how fast the turf grows rather than on
<br />specific time intervals such as once per week, etc. Ideally, no
<br />more than one third of the leaf surface area should be cut at
<br />any onetime and the clippings should be no longer than one
<br />inch. As an example, a lawn with grass three inches tall
<br />should be cut to about two inches. Excessive defoliation in a
<br />single mowing can make the I~Wn more prone to stress and
<br />disease problems.
<br />Be careful not toover-fertilize your lawn. Excessive fertiliza-
<br />tion (primarily nitrogen) will cause dense growth and unless
<br />the lawn is cut more frequently ,the clippings ++•ill be slow to
<br />r~
<br />reach the sutl ,ind dccomlx,se. Reducing excessive thatch
<br />levels through (a~+•n renovation will improve infiltration of
<br />the grass c tappings down to the soil surface. It is best to mow
<br />your lawn ++•hen it is dry so clippings will be able to filter
<br />down to the soil without clumping. For more information on
<br />lawn fertilization and lawn care, contact your local country
<br />extension uffic ~•.
<br />Two tylx•s r,f mo+ve~rs available to homeowners are reel and
<br />rotary. Either +vill do an acceptable job when sharpened and
<br />adjusted properly. Mover blades should always be kept
<br />sharp. Dull blades can significantly lengthen the recovery
<br />time for regrowth after mowing, and potentially increase vul-
<br />nerability tocertain diseases and environmental stresses. Ro-
<br />tary mowers are no+v available with a mulcher attachment
<br />for the blade. This will reduce the size of the clippings left be-
<br />hind and should result in faster decomposition of the grass
<br />blades. Hoy+•ever, if you are mowing on a regular basis and
<br />not removing more than one third of the grass blades at a
<br />tinx~, additional size reduction is not necessary.
<br />If grass growth is excessive it may become necessary to re-
<br />move the clippings. In this situation, lawn clippings can be
<br />used in the comlx~st pile as described above or they can be
<br />used as a mulch in the garden. If used as a mulch, care should
<br />betaken nut to over-apply fresh clippings as they tend to mat
<br />down and reduce water penetration. Mixing fresh clippings
<br />+vith compost provides an excellent mulching material. Do
<br />nut use grass clippings as a mulch if the lawn has recently
<br />been treated with herbicides.
<br />References
<br />1. Reclamation o(Municipa! Refuse b~ Composting. 1953. University of California, Berkeley, Tech. Sull. No. 9, Series 37,
<br />Sanitary Engineering Resc.uch Projc•c t.
<br />2. Van Der Puy, D., Charac te~ristic s of 1-Ic•rbk isles Usecl in Abrunumic Cn,t,,. 1 ~)ti5. North Dakota Cooperative Extension
<br />Service Bulletin #W-871.
<br />3. Rodale,l.1. The Complete Book o/Composting. 1971. Rodale Books, Inc. Emmaus, PA.
<br />4. Poincelot, R.P. Biochemical and AlicrobiologicalAspccts of Composting. 1975. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment
<br />Station Bulletin 754.
<br />5. Schumacher, Nancy, h1. DuBois, M. Martindale, C.E. Clapp, ).A.E. Molina. Composition o(1'ard Waste Composts Pro-
<br />dosed at Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Centralized Composting Sites. 1987. Soil Series # 124, Department of Soil Sci-
<br />ence, University of Minnesota.. St. Paul, MN.
<br />About the Authors
<br />Carl Rosen, Extension Soil Scientist, Minnesota Extension Service; Nancy Schumacher, Assistant Scientist, Department of
<br />Soil Science, University of f+linnesota; Robert Mugaas, Extension Agent, Hennepin County, Minnesota Extension Service;
<br />and Suzanne Proudfoot, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of Minnesota.
<br />This publication was supported by a grant from the Metropolitan Council, 300 Metro Square, 7th and Robert Streets, St.
<br />Paul, MN 55101.
<br />Printed on l OO~b recycled paper.
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