How often to mow ryegrass in the summer?

How often to mow ryegrass in the summer

How often to mow ryegrass in the summer for a perfect carpet?

The summer months bring long days, lots of sun and intensive yard use. For garden owners, however, this is also the period, in which the grass is subjected to the greatest climatic stress. High temperatures and strong sun in July and August require a radical change in the maintenance strategy of the grass carpet.

A common mistake is to mow the lawn in the same way, as in spring. This quickly leads to yellowing, baldness and permanent damage. Here are the professional rules for mowing ryegrass in the summer, which will keep your yard fresh and richly green.

Content

Frequency of mowing: The balance between heat and growth

In the spring, the grass grows for hours and requires mowing by everyone 5-6 дни. In the summer though, under the influence of high temperatures above 30°C, ryegrass goes into a mode of slight stagnation (reduced growth), to store energy and moisture.

  • Optimal interval: During the summer months, standard ryegrass is mowed on average once a 7 to 10 дни.
  • Individual approach: Frequency depends entirely on watering. If the yard is watered abundantly with an automated system, growth will continue to be rapid and maintaining a 7-day interval will remain mandatory. In the absence of sufficient water, mowing should be thinned.

This is a fundamental rule in landscape design, which in the summer is critical lawn insurance.

Rule 1/3: Never cut more than a third of the current height of the grass blade in one cut. If the grass is up 9 cm, reduce it to at most 6 cm.

If you ignore this rule and cut overgrown grass too low, you will remove the photosynthesizing part of the stem. The lower part, which remained hidden from the sun, is tender and fading - exposing it to the summer heat causes instant scorching and yellowing of the whole yard for hours.

Mowing height in summer: Why higher is better?

In spring and autumn, the grass is maintained at a height of approx 3.5 – 4.5 cm. In the summer, however, the blade of the mower must be raised one or two degrees up - between 5.5 and 6.5 cm.

  • Natural shading: Taller blades of grass cast a shadow over the soil below them. This reduces water evaporation and keeps the root zone cooler.
  • Weed control: Dense and taller grass stops light reaching the soil surface, which prevents summer weeds (such as sorghum and wild millet) to germinate.
  • Deep roots: There is a direct relationship between leaf height and root depth. Taller grass develops a deeper root system, which makes it much more resistant to drought.

Practical tips for mowing in the summer heat

For support to be professional, consider the following details:

  • Time of day: Never mow during the hottest hours of the day (between 11:00 and 16:00 hours). The best time is late afternoon or evening, so that the grass has the whole night available to recover in the cool.
  • Sharp knives: In summer, the grass is tougher. A dull knife does not cut, and "chews" and unravels the tops of the stalks. These loose tops dry out immediately and the garden turns greyish, withered appearance. Sharpen the mower blade regularly.
  • Watering after mowing: It is extremely helpful to run the irrigation system for a short cycle immediately after mowing, to refresh cut grass and reduce the shock of trimming.

Frequently asked questions

1. Should I collect grass clippings in the summer??
If you mow regularly and only cut a few millimeters, you can use the mulch function (mowing without basket). The fine particles will fall to the base and act as a natural defense against moisture evaporation. However, if the grass is tall, collection is mandatory, so as not to suffocate the chim below.

2. What should I do?, if the grass has grown too much during my vacation?
Don't cut it to normal height all at once. Take it down in two or three stages through 3-4 дни, by following the rule of $1/3$, until you reach the desired summer level of 6 cm.

3. Why is my grass turning yellow in patches after mowing in August??
The most common reason is uneven terrain (the mower has "bitten" lower in certain places) or mowing in excessively hot weather with a dull blade.

Conclusion

Summer mowing of ryegrass is not just a cosmetic procedure, and care for the health of the grass. Raising the mowing height and choosing the right working time are the easiest way to ensure a green and fresh carpet, which can withstand the worst summer heat without problems.

Check out more articles at USEFUL

You can also follow us on our social networks: Facebook