Does cutting lower equal slower growth?

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

One big thing I have always wondered is if cutting lower slow the growth of the grass down. Is there some horticulture science to this? Does it the grass type make a difference? My common sence would tell me that lower you cut would slow the growth down, but what do I know.

[Stephen M.]

NO, ITS A MYTH. The real determining factor is the type of grass it is. On the flip side, the grass plant may or may not adapt to the lower height. If it "slows down", it is because it is too weak and is losing vigor.

[jgc8fan]

Good question... I was thinking of posting this too, and will wait with you for one of the experts to enlighten us... I have 2 accounts with bahia that always want me to cut lower to slow down the growth between mowings, but the next week it's just as high as before... Takes a toll on my equipment. Be nice to know if I could just cut higher that it would slow down.

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

Yeah, we cut a wide range of grassed from highway grass to some of the best looking fescue and bermuda you would ever see. I have customers telling us the same thing, keep going lower to slow growth down. Yet I never see any slowing of the growth.

[MASTERMOWER]

I agree with Stephan. Will it retard growth in a healthy manner? No. If it does, it is because the lawn is experiencing stress. But from my experience even if you'd mow the lawn shorter you will still get the same amount of growth if you had mown at the original heigth.

When customers ask me to mow lower to slow the rate of growth down I politely tell them it won't work. If they insist, I'll lower the deck a notch, but come next week I mow at regular heigth. Weeks later they thank me for mowing at a lower heigth..?? I guess they convince themselves somehow.

[Ric]

Yo

Quickest way to kill a health lawn is mowing too short. Mowing too short not only slows growth, it causes weed because you are killing the turf. Look at how you scalpe with a weed eater and there is no grass in those areas. There is your answer to cutting grass to short.

[MASTERMOWER]

Yo

Quickest way to kill a health lawn is mowing too short. Mowing too short not only slows growth, it causes weed because you are killing the turf. Look at how you scalpe with a weed eater and there is no grass in those areas. There is your answer to cutting grass to short.

Agreed Ric, but I don't think we are talking mowing down to 1/4-3/4" here. None-the-less mowing excessively short will allow for the intrusion of weeds and significant decline of the orginal turfgrass.

[Ric]

Agreed Ric, but I don't think we are talking mowing down to 1/4-3/4" here. None-the-less mowing excessively short will allow for the intrusion of weeds and significant decline of the orginal turfgrass.

MM

You don't have to cut to 1/4 or even 3/4 of an inch to kill turf. Depending on species and soil conditions 2 inch will do it.

BTW Isn't it past your bed time ??

[Shoal]

each type of grass has a recomended hieght this is not only for the look of the lawn it is for the health of the lawn. the height of the lawn has alot to do with the root system you cut a lawn too short and you can cause permanant damage. the sun and the wind can dry up a lawn that is cut too short in no time. besides cutting a lawn too short looks like crap and at least in my area it is very hard on the machinery shoal

[jrservices]

MM

You don't have to cut to 1/4 or even 3/4 of an inch to kill turf. Depending on species and soil conditions 2 inch will do it.

BTW Isn't it past your bed time ??

Old man,you know what time it is?

[KLC]

I was told that 3" is a good cut for winter. Not too short to hurt the grass and leaves a good finish as the last cut of the season. I like the 3.5" cut as dialed in on my ZTR for seasonal mowing. It is a tad longer than most after its cut, but its soft to walk on barefoot, looks greener and healthier especially in the Arkansas summer heat.

How short are these folks wanting their grass cut? Someone said that there are reccomended heights for different types of grass... what are these heights?

[yardboy]

I sometimes have goofballs call that want their grass cut shorter. It is mainly the ones with Bahai grass mixed in their other grass. This year I plan to nuke the Bahai with Ally and shut them up and make a few extra chips doing it.

[GrassMaster]

You can almost watch Bahia grow.

I came to the conclusion that cutting it an inch or so lower only hurts the other grass growing trying to thicken up. Thus reduces the Bahia from growing more.

Don't do this if your wanting to up sell them a app to take care of it. If you do please charge hell out of them because the Bahia is what gets you back there quicker unless you're doing regular scheduled maintenance.

Just pick a spot after mowing, try to make it the same spot every time & cut it lower. They should easily see the results after a few cuttings.

If the Bahia bugs them that bad they should have it cut before it seeds out. But if they already got Bahia, they not going to pay extra for early cuts to keep it under control.

Up sell them the app to control it & charge the crap out of them.