Spring has sprung; time to mow your lawn

Source: Greg Munshaw

The smell of fresh cut grass wafting through the neighborhood is one of the surest signs of spring. You should already be thinking about lawn care since it’s time to clip the grass for the first time. Your most important annual lawn duties begin with that first mowing.

The first mowing makes the lawn look spring-like and attractive and can improve the aesthetics and value of your property. Subsequent regular mowing hardens the grass for drought and heat stresses that may occur later on. So when the first clump of grass grows above the mowing height, mow — even if a lot of the yard doesn’t need to be mowed yet.

Not all grasses start growing at the same time. Grass on northern slopes, or in heavy clay soil, will start growing several days later than others. Grass that wasn’t fertilized in the fall or early spring also has a delayed growth.

Following recommendations for mowing height and frequency will make your lawn-care duties easier and result in a more attractive yard.

If your mower has a fixed, all-year height, set it at two and one-half inches.

However, if you can easily vary the height, set it at 1.5 to two inches for the first several times you mow this spring. The shorter mowing height will help remove a lot of the winter-burned, brown leaves. Exposing more dark green growth will transfigure your lawn into the most uniform, attractive one in the neighborhood. Move the height up to 2.5 inches after you mow the grass several times.

To protect your grass from summer heat and drought injury, when summer arrives raise the mower height to three or 3.5 inches. However, remember that extra high grass, especially tall fescue, tends to fall over and mat down during hot summer weather causing increased summer disease problems.

Once you get the mowing under way, you should mow often enough to remove no more than one-third to one-half of the grass height.

If your mower is set for two inches, mow again when grass height reaches approximately three inches. Be sure not to scalp the lawn by mowing off most of the green leaves.

For tall fescue lawns, a rule of thumb is to mow at five-day intervals during the spring, and at seven-day intervals the rest of the year. If you have a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, a seven-day interval usually is sufficient at a mowing height of 2.5 inches. That interval can probably be expanded during hot, dry weather.

For more information on lawn care, check out the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Turfgrass Science lawn care information website at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/ukturf/lawns.html or contact the Clinton County Cooperative Extension Service at 606-387-5404.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Upcoming meeting of interest to the

Clinton County agriculture industry/family

Wildlife-woodland management series

The Clinton and Cumberland County Extension offices are hosting a wildlife and woodland management series beginning in April. The first meeting will be on predator control for livestock. UK Wildlife Extension Specialist Matt Springer will present on dealing with black vultures, and coyote. For cow/calf producers having issues with the black headed vulture, Dr. Springer will have some interesting tips on how to deal with them, as well as coyote. This meeting will be held at the RECC building in Albany on Tuesday, April 4th beginning at 6:00 p.m. For more information please contact the Clinton County Extension Office at 606-387-5404. These meetings will satisfy CAIP cost-share educational requirements.

Private pesticide applicator meeting

The Clinton County Extension Service will host a private pesticide applicator meeting Monday, April 10th at 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. The meetings will cover information necessary to obtain a private pesticide applicator’s license. The private pesticide cards are valid for three years and are required to purchase restricted use pesticides. Please call the extension office at 606-387-5404 for more information. These meetings will satisfy CAIP cost-share educational requirements.

Beef Quality Assurance meetings

Two Beef Quality Assurance meetings will be held on Monday, April 17th at 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Clinton County Extension Office, producers approved for cost-share under the large animal investment area are required to have a valid BQA number. The BQA meeting will last approximately one hour. BQA certification cost is $5 and valid for three years. More BQA meetings will be planned for this spring, so there will be other opportunities to get BQA certified. For more information or to enroll in BQA training, please call the extension office at 606-387-5404, space is limited.