1. Is there a right and wrong time to mow the lawn?

In terms of time of day, there really is not a right or wrong time to mow grass. If the facility has lights, turf can be mowed even at night.

If "time" refers to environmental conditions such as heat or drought stress, then it is a good idea to raise the height of the cut and allow the grass to grow a little higher than normal during those times.

The cutting height should also be raised if the turfgrass is recovering from disease, insect or other types of damage.

To ensure good cutting quality, turfgrass should not be mowed when it is wet.

2. What is the rule of thumb for the grass height before it should be mowed?

The general rule is that no more than one third of the leaf blade should be removed at any one mowing.

Another way to think about this would be to mow the grass when it reaches 50 percent higher than the desired height. For example, if you are maintaining the turf area at two inches, ideally it should be mowed when it reaches three inches in height.

Of course, turfgrass can be mowed more frequently, but the one-third rule establishes the maximum time between mowings.

3. Is there a right or wrong way to mow the lawn? What are the tips?

The one-third rule mentioned above is the most important.

If possible, try to change the mowing pattern at each mowing. In other words, try to alternate the direction of travel each time the grass is mowed. This helps to reduce compaction problems (traveling in the same path over and over) and also helps to keep the grass from leaning or growing in one direction.

4. What mower setting should I use throughout the season?

As a general rule, as the stress conditions increase (high temperature, low temperatures, drought, shade, pest damage), it is advisable to raise the cutting height towards the upper levels.

5. Aside from the aesthetic issues, can I wait longer between mowings, cutting the lawn when the grass is higher and reducing the overall number of cuttings?

Of course this can be done, but it is not advisable. The one-third rule should be adhered to as much as possible.

We know that if more than a third of the leaf tissue is removed at any one mowing, the turfgrass plant can experience physiological shock. Root growth is often suppressed when this occurs and if the practice is repeated regularly, turf density will decline.

6. Maintaining my lawn mower is important to keep the equipment in excellent running order, but does it also affect lawn health in any way?

A poorly maintained mower can affect the health and appearance of the turf area. Dull cutting blades will tend to tear the leaf tissue rather than cutting the tissue cleanly. The frayed ends of the leaf turn brown and give the lawn an overall brown or tan color for several days after mowing. The "jagged" ends are also excellent entry points for disease organisms.

Oil and gas leaks should also be avoided, certainly.

7. Should I bag the grass clippings, mulch them, or allow them to remain on the lawn?

To Bag or Not to Bag, that is the question.

a). When should I let the clippings lie? If mulching is possible, and if the use or the appearance of the area will not be affected, mulching is recommended.

If mulching is not available, it is strongly recommended that the one-third rule be strictly adhered to. Keeping the clippings short allows them to more quickly fall down off the surface of the turf to the soil surface and begin decomposing. The shorter the clippings, the more rapidly they fall to the soil surface and the less disruption there will be to the appearance of the turf area.

b). When should I mulch? If possible, clippings should be mulched every time the turf is mowed. Exceptions to this would be when the grass is unusually high and/or wet. In such cases it probably will be necessary not to mulch but rather bag or rake the area after mowing.

c). When should I bag? Bagging should be done only when mulching cannot be done or the presence of even a small amount of clippings left on the lawn is objectionable.

8. How can I control weeds with mowing?

The best weed control is a thick healthy lawn.

Proper mowing is an important part of maintaining a healthy turf area. Height of cut can influence weed invasion. A thick or dense turf that is mowed at the higher portion of the recommend range discourages most weeds.

The best weed control is to do the things (i.e. proper mowing, aeration, fertilization, overseeding, irrigation, etc.) necessary to ensure a thick and healthy turf area.

9. How dry must the grass be when I mow it?

As dry as possible. If the grass is wet, it won't mulch properly and the clippings will tend to clump together or stick to the mower deck. It is a good idea to let the dew evaporate before mowing. You should be able to pass your hand over the surface of the grass and not detect free moisture.

10. What should I do differently if I must mow wet grass?

Move slowly across the lawn. To reduce the volume of clippings that might cause the mower to bog down, it may be necessary to raise the cutting height. It also may be necessary to turn the mower over and scrape off the packed-on clippings that accumulate under the mower deck housing.

11. How can mowing patterns enhance the look of my lawn?

As evidenced by professional baseball fields, mowing patterns can add an extra dimension to a turf area. The pattern is the result of the light hitting the surface of the turf at different angles. This is often accomplished with rollers that lay the grass in contrasting directions.

Homeowners can achieve this effect to some extent by using certain types of mowing equipment. Traditional rotary mowers will establish patterns also, but the effect is less dramatic. In any case, mowing the lawn in perfectly straight lines or some established symmetrical pattern is much more pleasing to the eye versus a haphazard approach. Of course, as mentioned above, it is important to change the direction of mowing as often as feasible.

12. How should I water my lawn?

As a general rule, watering should be done in the early morning whenever possible.

Enough water should be applied to wet the soil at least one inch beyond the root system.

13. What does "going to seed" mean? Is this a good practice?

This means not mowing the grass and allowing it to go to seed. Some homeowners believe they can thicken up their lawn by not mowing and allowing the grass to form seed.

Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true. By allowing the turfgrass to form seed, nutrients normally used for shoot and root growth are diverted to nourish the developing seed. Developing seed always has priority over shoots and roots for nutrients.

Also, there is little chance that the seed formed will fall to the unprepared ground, germinate and grow through the existing grass to a mature plant.