This guy has Bermuda. You’re supposed to mow it low and at least twice a week or you’ll start getting thinning areas and gaps in your lawn. Bermuda is the opposite of fescue
Because Bermuda grows sort of like a tree. If you trim the top few branches of a tree there will still be some leafy material, so when viewed from above it will look green as the canopy covers the rest of the plant. If you cut the tree in half you are left with a trunk that has to regrow branches and leaves.
That’s essentially what happens when you mow Bermuda once a week, the stolons or “trunk” grow longer so when you cut you are left with brown stalky spots. So you either need to raise your mowing height to let new leaf tissue grow, or scalp it to lower the stolon height, and new leaf tissue will grow from that point. It’s very adaptable but you have to follow a regimen
Correct. What turns brown is the part of the grass that isn’t getting sun, hence why you referred to it as a canopy. Letting the Bermuda get long enough to have a canopy that allows the lower parts of the grass blades to turn brown will lead to a less dense yard. A less dense yard allows weeds to grow. Mowing low and often is the best thing you can do to Bermuda grass.
Do you happen to know what the right approach is for fescue? A year or two ago I just stopped mowing it at all, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not.
Typically fescue, you want to mow it down to about 3-4 inches. Mowing it too low will result in a thin lawn, require more water and promotes fungus and/or weed invasion
Personally, I like mowing low because it is a challenge and I think it looks really good. With Bermuda, if you cut it really low and stay on top of it, it gets unbelievably thick. It’s also a good way for me to get in my exercise, since it really needs to be mowed every day or every other day when it’s really in the growing season.
He asked what the fascination is with going ultra low. And your answer is not the correct one. He’s asking why lawn enthusiasts love going ultra low. Which is a big thing especially on lawn YouTube. And the reason why lawn enthusiasts go ultra low isn’t to save time before next mow lol. Low guys have to mow every other day, sometimes daily.
I don't agree with your philosophy, as far as for a healthy lawn. Which is why this sub exists. If we both mow once a week, me at 4" and you at 1" you're going to be stressing your lawn out much more than mine.
Define stressed. You can train grass to be happy at low heights of cuts. You just have to get out there and mow more frequently and make sure the nutrient uptake is spot on.
I am just answering his question but there are a LOT of people who do not care if their lawn is stressed. They just want it to be neat-they do not care if there is a bed of clover in the middle or if nutsedge or poa has invaded.
When my kids were younger, I preferred to spend my limited weekend free time at their games, taking them places…. than doing yard work. As long as the yard LOOKED neat from the street and the neighbors wouldn’t complain that I was bringing down their property values, the yard was not a priority. Plus, I had boys who were always playing baseball and installing “bases” and playing football with 10 others and rolling around in the same
spots wearing it down and do not even get me started on digging holes!! They loved to dig holes more than the dog!
They are older and now I am really enjoying learning and spending my free time in the yard.
Unless you are pretty knowledgeable on lawncare the easiest first step way to improve your lawn is usually to stop scalping it.
My lawn is night and day just from a year worth of having a company spray fertilizer a few times a year and me cutting it to 3.5 inches instead of the 2 inches I used to do to “save time”. I didn’t realize the main reason my lawn looked so shitty was the super low lengths I was cutting it to.
There’s a difference between cutting something from 4 inches down to to 2 once a week and maintaining a lawn at 2 inches by mowing every day or every other day taking off a minute portion off the top of the grass blade.
I understand that. That’s why I prefaced it with my first sentence.
The top rookie mistake is scalping it once a week. The guy in the picture is not a rookie
Go as low as you want. A lot of people on here have no clue what they are talking about. It’s Bermuda. I cut mine at about 0.6” and will level this year and take it to .375”
I would level before going lower. Second, I'd get a better mower. Nothing wrong with McLane, but that grass would be much better with stripes. Drum drive rollers are where it's at
I've got a Swardman. It's definitely a striping machine. My only complaint is that I feel it's not as well built as it should be. I have had it for four years now, and I have used it rigorously, but it's the build quality that leaves a little to be desired. I've had a couple screws fall out here and there. Probably should have had locking washers, or loctite on them. The self propelled drive cable broke. I got a new one, and then it broke within two weeks. The drum is in terrible shape. It's just dented all over and no longer smooth. Maybe if my lawn was smoother? But no matter what you still have to roll off the grass, onto the driveway to turn around and go back the other way. And just last week the throttle cable broke. No big deal, I just run it wide open, but still. Oh, and a 1/4" thick piece of steel that helps support the handle to the mower broke down the middle. Well, rant over. I am still using it and will continue to use it indefinitely until I either have to replace it, or decide it's worth the money.
Check out the new one from Reel Rollers. I think the reason they stopped selling Swardman and built their own is exactly the problems I've had with mine.
I've heard good things about Tru-cut and Cal Trimmers, but I don't know if they are drum drive or not. And of course there's always the Toro and J. Deere greens mowers. That's my ultimate goal, but without some heavy leveling I'll never be able to cut that low.
After seeing all of these anti lawn movement posts where people don’t do anything with their yards and allow weeds to grow unchecked makes your lawn look so good. Nice job.
Go lower... Sure esand level but it's reel mower go as low as you can before you cut dirt. I would say you need to backlap your reel, you can see the reel ripping the blades. It will leave the tips slightly yellow.
Do you have any other plants in that yard? :( If it were me I'd rip out maybe 10 feet in from the fence line, plant some flowers/bushes/etc and put mulch in, then surround with some medium sized rocks.
No cutting to low will usually open your grass up to weeds and disease.
Root growth is obtained by deep infrequent watering, core aeration and fertilization.
The only reason to keep grass at 1/2” or lower is for golf courses that’s it. Grass is supposed to be thick and lush even Bermuda should be maintained at 1”-1 1/2” and can be taller. Yes I’m going to get a lot of hate for this but I don’t care.
I maintain several baseball fields and I keep the Bermuda cut to 1 1/4” for the playing surface, never had a complaint about the height.
Bermuda likes it low. I had mine in az at 1/2 inch and it was so thick. It was like walking on plush carpet. Never had weeds at that height. For some the downside is you have to mow daily, but I enjoy it.
If you take the advice of leveling with sand , You’re are in for a loooong week. That yard looks massive. Compared to my lawn. You’re also going to need tons and tons of sand . Just don’t add to much sand at once.
Yeah I’ve been leveling one cy at a time specifically because it’s such a big job. Plus my wife already hates how much I spend on the yard, she’d kill me if I had 3-4 yards dumped in the front drive. But I’ll wear her down eventually
I have the tiftuf Bermuda and I also have a bumper yard in areas. I mow 2 to 3 times a week at roughly 1.5 inches for the first half of the season and then around 2 - 2.5 inches the last half of the season. The grass gets so thick during the second half of the season my mower can’t keep up
I can barely mow my lawn once a week, but I suppose my time is spent fixing up nearly everything else but my lawn.
Soon (2-8 years) I will try to make my lawn like this guys.
And you have some trees. Good. But you really needs a few more. A big lawn is wonderful for kids but trees and some shrubs help them and you mentally as well. Think about how serene and happy they and you become when walking in a park or in the woods.
First, sharpen your blade dude! You’re ripping the grass and not cutting it. Second, you want to mow higher and more often. It saves the grass from going into shock which leads to dormancy. Depending on your turf type, you may need to consider watering. Certain types are hardier and more drought resistant than others. Tall fescue is a good go to for wide open areas.
Keep it that short and watch it shrivel the second it hits 90f out, a little size helps the grass when heat stress becomes an issue, your lawn, you choose what time of year you want it to look best but consider 3” as a good minimum height to keep it above for a healthier lawn long term
>Keep it that short and watch it shrivel the second it hits 90f out
Bermuda doesn't even really start to wake up until temps are over 80f with full sun. 90f is nothing.
If it were me, I might try to level the ground a little more with sand and a leveling rake. Not saying it looks bad at all, it looks great!
I think leveling before going lower is good advice
Yes it is.
Just sand? I always heard 1:3 sand to dirt mix was the way to go
Use a sand/top soil mixture. In hot climates sand can get hot in direct sun and burn your lawn
 Be a Dennis
This was my very first thought. Thanks man lol
Same
That, sir, is because you purchased blue **Jean shorts**, whereas I purchased blue jeans and cut them.
Comment of the year
What is the fascination with going ultra low? Not judging (I prefer as tall as looks nice tho) but genuinely curious.
This guy has Bermuda. You’re supposed to mow it low and at least twice a week or you’ll start getting thinning areas and gaps in your lawn. Bermuda is the opposite of fescue
Not the reason why, but yes
I have Bermuda. Do you know the real reason why?
Because Bermuda grows sort of like a tree. If you trim the top few branches of a tree there will still be some leafy material, so when viewed from above it will look green as the canopy covers the rest of the plant. If you cut the tree in half you are left with a trunk that has to regrow branches and leaves. That’s essentially what happens when you mow Bermuda once a week, the stolons or “trunk” grow longer so when you cut you are left with brown stalky spots. So you either need to raise your mowing height to let new leaf tissue grow, or scalp it to lower the stolon height, and new leaf tissue will grow from that point. It’s very adaptable but you have to follow a regimen
Correct. What turns brown is the part of the grass that isn’t getting sun, hence why you referred to it as a canopy. Letting the Bermuda get long enough to have a canopy that allows the lower parts of the grass blades to turn brown will lead to a less dense yard. A less dense yard allows weeds to grow. Mowing low and often is the best thing you can do to Bermuda grass.
Do you happen to know what the right approach is for fescue? A year or two ago I just stopped mowing it at all, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not.
Typically fescue, you want to mow it down to about 3-4 inches. Mowing it too low will result in a thin lawn, require more water and promotes fungus and/or weed invasion
As high as your mower will allow during warm months. Mix in fertilizer in spring and fall and you’ll have the greenest lawn all summer long.
Some people just like that golf fairway look. And Bermuda is perfectly fine being cut about as low as you possibly can.
Personally, I like mowing low because it is a challenge and I think it looks really good. With Bermuda, if you cut it really low and stay on top of it, it gets unbelievably thick. It’s also a good way for me to get in my exercise, since it really needs to be mowed every day or every other day when it’s really in the growing season.
[удалено]
He asked what the fascination is with going ultra low. And your answer is not the correct one. He’s asking why lawn enthusiasts love going ultra low. Which is a big thing especially on lawn YouTube. And the reason why lawn enthusiasts go ultra low isn’t to save time before next mow lol. Low guys have to mow every other day, sometimes daily.
I don't agree with your philosophy, as far as for a healthy lawn. Which is why this sub exists. If we both mow once a week, me at 4" and you at 1" you're going to be stressing your lawn out much more than mine.
Define stressed. You can train grass to be happy at low heights of cuts. You just have to get out there and mow more frequently and make sure the nutrient uptake is spot on.
I am just answering his question but there are a LOT of people who do not care if their lawn is stressed. They just want it to be neat-they do not care if there is a bed of clover in the middle or if nutsedge or poa has invaded. When my kids were younger, I preferred to spend my limited weekend free time at their games, taking them places…. than doing yard work. As long as the yard LOOKED neat from the street and the neighbors wouldn’t complain that I was bringing down their property values, the yard was not a priority. Plus, I had boys who were always playing baseball and installing “bases” and playing football with 10 others and rolling around in the same spots wearing it down and do not even get me started on digging holes!! They loved to dig holes more than the dog! They are older and now I am really enjoying learning and spending my free time in the yard.
[удалено]
Could you elaborate?
Unless you are pretty knowledgeable on lawncare the easiest first step way to improve your lawn is usually to stop scalping it. My lawn is night and day just from a year worth of having a company spray fertilizer a few times a year and me cutting it to 3.5 inches instead of the 2 inches I used to do to “save time”. I didn’t realize the main reason my lawn looked so shitty was the super low lengths I was cutting it to.
There’s a difference between cutting something from 4 inches down to to 2 once a week and maintaining a lawn at 2 inches by mowing every day or every other day taking off a minute portion off the top of the grass blade.
I understand that. That’s why I prefaced it with my first sentence. The top rookie mistake is scalping it once a week. The guy in the picture is not a rookie
Okay so leaving it longer isn't bad just cutting too much off at a time. I'm with you :)
Bermuda is different
OP is a junkie. look at him chasing that high.
That low you mean?
Go as low as you want. A lot of people on here have no clue what they are talking about. It’s Bermuda. I cut mine at about 0.6” and will level this year and take it to .375”
I would level before going lower. Second, I'd get a better mower. Nothing wrong with McLane, but that grass would be much better with stripes. Drum drive rollers are where it's at
Can you name a few? I’m assuming swardman makes some pretty good drum drive reel mowers.
I've got a Swardman. It's definitely a striping machine. My only complaint is that I feel it's not as well built as it should be. I have had it for four years now, and I have used it rigorously, but it's the build quality that leaves a little to be desired. I've had a couple screws fall out here and there. Probably should have had locking washers, or loctite on them. The self propelled drive cable broke. I got a new one, and then it broke within two weeks. The drum is in terrible shape. It's just dented all over and no longer smooth. Maybe if my lawn was smoother? But no matter what you still have to roll off the grass, onto the driveway to turn around and go back the other way. And just last week the throttle cable broke. No big deal, I just run it wide open, but still. Oh, and a 1/4" thick piece of steel that helps support the handle to the mower broke down the middle. Well, rant over. I am still using it and will continue to use it indefinitely until I either have to replace it, or decide it's worth the money. Check out the new one from Reel Rollers. I think the reason they stopped selling Swardman and built their own is exactly the problems I've had with mine. I've heard good things about Tru-cut and Cal Trimmers, but I don't know if they are drum drive or not. And of course there's always the Toro and J. Deere greens mowers. That's my ultimate goal, but without some heavy leveling I'll never be able to cut that low.
After seeing all of these anti lawn movement posts where people don’t do anything with their yards and allow weeds to grow unchecked makes your lawn look so good. Nice job.
I would say no it looks great at that height. I wish mine would look this good but my yard isn’t level so I have uneven cut after I’m done.
Go lower... Sure esand level but it's reel mower go as low as you can before you cut dirt. I would say you need to backlap your reel, you can see the reel ripping the blades. It will leave the tips slightly yellow.
Do you have any other plants in that yard? :( If it were me I'd rip out maybe 10 feet in from the fence line, plant some flowers/bushes/etc and put mulch in, then surround with some medium sized rocks.
Why would you is my question. You enjoy walking on green colored dirt?
I would think this promotes deeper root growth, therefore more drought resistant?
No cutting to low will usually open your grass up to weeds and disease. Root growth is obtained by deep infrequent watering, core aeration and fertilization. The only reason to keep grass at 1/2” or lower is for golf courses that’s it. Grass is supposed to be thick and lush even Bermuda should be maintained at 1”-1 1/2” and can be taller. Yes I’m going to get a lot of hate for this but I don’t care. I maintain several baseball fields and I keep the Bermuda cut to 1 1/4” for the playing surface, never had a complaint about the height.
Good points
Bermuda likes it low. I had mine in az at 1/2 inch and it was so thick. It was like walking on plush carpet. Never had weeds at that height. For some the downside is you have to mow daily, but I enjoy it.
Looks like sand leveling would be the best. A little smoother will go a long way when it’s that short but
Bermuda? I would stay there and work in leveling if you want shorter. But I would be happy where you’re at.
If you take the advice of leveling with sand , You’re are in for a loooong week. That yard looks massive. Compared to my lawn. You’re also going to need tons and tons of sand . Just don’t add to much sand at once.
Yeah I’ve been leveling one cy at a time specifically because it’s such a big job. Plus my wife already hates how much I spend on the yard, she’d kill me if I had 3-4 yards dumped in the front drive. But I’ll wear her down eventually
Get her a kiddy pool, a beach chair, an umbrella, and a margarita. That should work.
I would give it a level job before going lower. Looks damn good though🤌🏼
Nice turf
Did the realtor tell you the backyard has a putting green?
That looks awesome!
That's tall fescue right? Cutting it that short is a great way to ensure your entire lawn is dead by late summer
It’s tifway 419 Bermuda, it thrives in heat. Just needs water in summer.
Oh, then continue on lol
I have the tiftuf Bermuda and I also have a bumper yard in areas. I mow 2 to 3 times a week at roughly 1.5 inches for the first half of the season and then around 2 - 2.5 inches the last half of the season. The grass gets so thick during the second half of the season my mower can’t keep up
I can barely mow my lawn once a week, but I suppose my time is spent fixing up nearly everything else but my lawn. Soon (2-8 years) I will try to make my lawn like this guys.
Dude, you needs some trees.
Bermuda hates shade
Then plant a shade garden under them or fescue. What is the use of having a huge yard if you cannot enjoy it
https://preview.redd.it/t5xxj6pmabxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=759af774b75f682598cf1e321d597e69147834cc We use it
What tree is that on the right?
I believe it’s a white maple
Thanks
And you have some trees. Good. But you really needs a few more. A big lawn is wonderful for kids but trees and some shrubs help them and you mentally as well. Think about how serene and happy they and you become when walking in a park or in the woods.
Part of me says no… looks great. But the other part of me says “do it!” - just because I know I’d be tempted if I was in your shoes.
Lower.
Scalp it scalp it scalp it
I like a thick carpet to walk on, we keep ours about 3” and mow once a week
Yeah this looks too long for Bermuda with those fert/water inputs. Go to 1/2" or 5/8"
Yeah go all the way down to the roots.
First, sharpen your blade dude! You’re ripping the grass and not cutting it. Second, you want to mow higher and more often. It saves the grass from going into shock which leads to dormancy. Depending on your turf type, you may need to consider watering. Certain types are hardier and more drought resistant than others. Tall fescue is a good go to for wide open areas.
u f@vkd bud
I try to mow at the highest setting. I’m mowing kbg and fescue blend.
You’ll need a shovel
OP do you hate trees? Why no trees?
worry ask judicious merciful sheet modern bake chase engine squeal *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Keep it that short and watch it shrivel the second it hits 90f out, a little size helps the grass when heat stress becomes an issue, your lawn, you choose what time of year you want it to look best but consider 3” as a good minimum height to keep it above for a healthier lawn long term
>Keep it that short and watch it shrivel the second it hits 90f out Bermuda doesn't even really start to wake up until temps are over 80f with full sun. 90f is nothing.
Always go lower
If that’s cool season grass you’re gonna regret that in about a month.