How Low To Cut The Grass

[bt3]

Seems to me that it would be more like a southern grass.

Yes. I know in Florida, Zoysia is predominant. They say it can thrive as far north as Chicago, but prefers warm climates. I'm not sure Crabgrass would tolerate high heat and potential drought of some Florida summers. Perhaps. I don't recall seeing Crabgrass in Florida. I'm sure it exists there, but I just don't recall seeing it.

My Father (RIP) planted Zoysia plugs and his home was in the northern US. His lawn did fine. It just turned brown in the Winter but came back well every Summer. Zoysia needs less mowing as it grows out more than it grows up. It is drought tolerant and thrives well in the southern states. I'm just not a fan. I like a more northern or midwestern lawn grass mix. But that's me. Others will disagree I know.

I almost tried the Bob Vila endorsed, "Grassology" but after seeing the reviews on Amazon.com I passed. Most said NOTHING grew when planted, and that it was a huge waste of money.

 

[Carscw]

Yes. I know in Florida, Zoysia is predominant. They say it can thrive as far north as Chicago, but prefers warm climates. I'm not sure Crabgrass would tolerate high heat and potential drought of some Florida summers. Perhaps. I don't recall seeing Crabgrass in Florida. I'm sure it exists there, but I just don't recall seeing it. My Father (RIP) planted Zoysia plugs and his home was in the northern US. His lawn did fine. It just turned brown in the Winter but came back well every Summer. Zoysia needs less mowing as it grows out more than it grows up. It is drought tolerant and thrives well in the southern states. I'm just not a fan. I like a more northern or midwestern lawn grass mix. But that's me. Others will disagree I know. I almost tried the Bob Vila endorsed, "Grassology" but after seeing the reviews on Amazon.com I passed. Most said NOTHING grew when planted, and that it was a huge waste of money.

There are three types of zoysia grass.
I like emerald zoysia loves full sun but does fine in part shade. It is a grass not a vine so it grows up.

Is the best grass besides bent grass for stripping. And it will never have any type of weeds. It grows to thick for the weeds to grow.

Must have sharp blades to cut it. And most push mowers will just bog down.

 

[bt3]

My back yard is my biggest issue. Lots of trees. Lots. These rob the soil of everything needed to grow grass, and the shade is not a picnic for grass either. I've even tried a variety called "Grounhog" that was supposed to grow no matter what. Well, it didn't grow.

Finally, I culled the herd. I cut down three key trees in the lawn that were robbing sun, and three more died from disease and I removed them. And voila. Grass grows now.

I like using my Scott's push REEL mower during the summer when it's just simple cutting, so Zoysia is out for me. I have experience trying to cut Crabgrass with a Reel mower. Not pretty. I imagine Zoysia would be just as tough as you state. So it's standard lawn grasses for me. I'll just have to keep spraying the neighbor's Crabgrass when it invades.

 

[Shughes717]

Pray tell! What is this "something" you use? Is it commercially available? Does it kill ALL grasses or only Crabgrass? I don't want a "Roundup" product that lays waste to everything. I just want to kill the Crab.

I have tried "Scott's Pre Emergent" and it works OK, but since one of the Neighbors actually grows Crabgrass as his lawn, invasion is imminent. I need something good to kill it once it invades.

Again, Ortho Weed Be Gone with Crabgrass Killer works OK, but you have to be diligent. Perhaps your solution would be better.

Thanks!

It is called prowl. We used to spray it as a pre emerge while planting our crops. It has a residual, so it prevents crab grass and nut grass from coming up and will give my Bermuda grass time to establish. I have never used it on lawns with other grasses though. Don't know if it will kill zoysia, or other grasses. We use it with round up in the early spring before grass starts to grow. Round up will burn down my Bermuda lawn, but it will come back. If it is sprayed early enough it only kills weeds. I also mix round up with harmony in the early spring to keep clover out of my lawn. Worked great this year. I had thick clover all over when I purchased my home in march. Sprayed it with the round up harmony mix and had no clover all year. Cimmaron is another chemical we use. It does great killing weeds out of lawns, but very expensive to spray.

 

[bt3]

It is called prowl. We used to spray it as a pre emerge while planting our crops. It has a residual, so it prevents crab grass and nut grass from coming up and will give my Bermuda grass time to establish. I have never used it on lawns with other grasses though. Don't know if it will kill zoysia, or other grasses. We use it with round up in the early spring before grass starts to grow. Round up will burn down my Bermuda lawn, but it will come back. If it is sprayed early enough it only kills weeds. I also mix round up with harmony in the early spring to keep clover out of my lawn. Worked great this year. I had thick clover all over when I purchased my home in march. Sprayed it with the round up harmony mix and had no clover all year. Cimmaron is another chemical we use. It does great killing weeds out of lawns, but very expensive to spray.

Thank you. Good info.

 

[7394]

Good info here, Thanks....

 

[GeorgeR]

What type of grass? An answer is meaningless without knowing the location and grass species.

Check with your local University for recommended grass types and mowing heights. Recommendations are based on funded University studies and published, peer reviewed results. For example, a recommendation from someone who may be growing Kentucky bluegrass in Eastern Washington will be drastically different from someone growing fine fescue in Western Washington.

I don't know where you are located but a simple search comes up with:

Table 1. Mowing heights for Kentucky lawns.
Grass species Optimum height (inches)
Bermudagrass 1.0 to 2.0
Kentucky bluegrass 2.0 to 3.5
Perennial ryegrass 1.5 to 2.5
Tall fescue 2.0 to 3.5
Zoysiagrass 1.0 to 3.0


http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/AGR/AGR209/AGR209.pdf

 

[Carscw]

What type of grass? An answer is meaningless without knowing the location and grass species. Check with your local University for recommended grass types and mowing heights. Recommendations are based on funded University studies and published, peer reviewed results. For example, a recommendation from someone who may be growing Kentucky bluegrass in Eastern Washington will be drastically different from someone growing fine fescue in Western Washington. I don't know where you are located but a simple search comes up with: Table 1. Mowing heights for Kentucky lawns. Grass species Optimum height (inches) Bermudagrass 1.0 to 2.0 Kentucky bluegrass 2.0 to 3.5 Perennial ryegrass 1.5 to 2.5 Tall fescue 2.0 to 3.5 Zoysiagrass 1.0 to 3.0 http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/AGR/AGR209/AGR209.pdf

We are cutting bermuda at 3 inches right now.

The study might work in a class room but not out here in the real world.

 

[Lawnboy18]

We are cutting bermuda at 3 inches right now.

The study might work in a class room but not out here in the real world.

Very true! One of the limital factors in laboratory researches. Too many controlled variables.

Anyways, during Spring and summer, I mow KBG at 2.5-3" inches. I sometimes mow it at 2" if the customer want's it short (I do warn them tho). If it is very dry I keep it at 3". In the fall 2.5". You don't want it too short before the harsh winter.

 

[GeorgeR]

Very true! One of the limital factors in laboratory researches. Too many controlled variables.

Anyways, during Spring and summer, I mow KBG at 2.5-3" inches. I sometimes mow it at 2" if the customer want's it short (I do warn them tho). If it is very dry I keep it at 3". In the fall 2.5". You don't want it too short before the harsh winter.

You are disagreeing with the UK recommendations' yet cutting within their recommended range?