Summer is now in full swing in the UK and it’s at this time of the year when gardens come into their prime. Flowers come into full bloom in the sunny season, while fruits and vegetables begin to sprout, giving gardeners their hard-earned reward after many months of care. But while the warm weather means you can make the most of your garden, it can take its toll on your lawn and lead to patchiness, discolouration and a lack of growth. As such it requires regular upkeep to keep your garden lawn looking luscious and green, but following one important rule in July will ensure your grass stays in good condition.
According to gardening experts, grass should be cut every one to two weeks during July to maintain growth and keep your grass lovely and thick. But when you cut your grass you should raise the height of your lawn mower blade so it’s around two to three inches off the ground to avoid cutting your grass too short.
Adjusting the cutting height of your mower will help to reduce stress on your lawn and the blades of grass will retain more moisture, helping it to stay green and healthy.
The Turf Doctor explains: “Regularly mowing your lawn helps make the grass greener and thicker. You might have heard that getting your hair trimmed regularly helps it to grow faster, and the same goes for the grass on your lawn!
Regular mowing encourages grass to grow thicker and greener through a process known as the “stimulation effect.” When you mow your lawn consistently and at a decent height (more on that later, you remove the top portion of the grass blades, which prompts the grass to respond by producing new shoots and leaves.
This stimulates lateral growth, promoting a denser turf as the grass plant works to compensate for the loss of leaf on top. Plus, regular mowing has the additional benefit of preventing weeds from developing, so your grass gets a greater share of all the good stuff: available sunlight, nutrients, and water. It can allocate more resources to growth, leading to a thicker and healthier lawn with a lush green appearance.
“A side note from the above, which is important enough to be a tip in itself, is this: don’t mow your grass too short. If you cut too much off your grass (a practice known as gorily as “scalping”) you’ll put excessive stress on the grass plants and inhibit their ability to photosynthesize effectively.
“When grass is cut too short, it reduces the surface area of the leaves available for photosynthesis, which weakens the leaves, making them more vulnerable to environmental stresses. Scalped grass also struggles to develop a robust root system because it doesn’t have the necessary energy reserves. As a result, the grass becomes thinner and less able to compete with weeds, leading to an overall unhealthy and less green appearance.”
Rainmaster Lawn adds: “Taller grass helps a lawn grow thicker and stay greener. Mow too short, and the soil heats up, helping pesky weed seeds to germinate. That will not help you grow the perfect lawn. As summer progresses, you should keep raising your mower blade.”
