The cut above

Maybe it's just me, but I've been having trouble getting motivated for the 2013 lawn season. I understand why that is with the unforgiving weather we've had the past few years. It's like building a beautiful sand castle on the beach with the tide constantly pounding the shoreline and destroying any existence of your efforts.



Eventually, smacking your head against that wall is going to affect your thought process.

So what to do?

Soldier on I guess. But there are things you can do as a homeowner to help and one of the most important practices is raising your mowing height.

Now I understand I'm approaching this subject a little early, but the earlier the better in this instance. I still find it confusing that there are dudes out there still scalping their lawns when they cut it.

Is it they don't know? Laziness perhaps? Memories of chemical days gone by?

Let me ask you this, would you cut off most of your hair and then walk out into the blistering sun without any protection?

Well, your lawn is hair for your property. And like hair, if you don't take care of it, it's not going to look very nice.  Your split ends are simply going to be weeds, drought and insects.

Higher mowing allows for you to grass-cycle and return essential nutrients to your soil. It will also alleviate- hopefully- the chances of you removing too much (no more than 1/3) of the blade of grass and stress your lawn out. You'll find the lawn more drought tolerant in high temperatures.

Mowing at around the 3" mark also helps keep the soil temperature down and potentially the crabgrass/ weed-seed germination to a minimum.

I could go on, but let me just say, keeping your mower on a high setting, blades sharp for a precise cut and changing the direction you cut each time, will create a healthier lawn able to withstand what Mother Nature throws our way.

Perhaps this year we can spend less time kicking over sand battlements and ruining a perfectly good day at the beach. Fingers crossed.