South Carolina Lawn Mowing Service
Whether you live in the Piedmont, on the coast, or in the Sandhills, understanding how to care for your South Carolina lawn takes time and patience. At Lawn Love, we understand what South Carolina lawns need, which is why we offer services all over the state in:
We offer a variety of services too, such as:
- Lawn Mowing
- Gardening
- Lawn Fertilization
- Lawn Aeration
- Weed Control
- Lawn Seeding
- Yard Clean Up
- Leaf Removal
- Gutter Cleaning
- Snow Removal
- Christmas light installation
One of the most important tasks your lawn requires is mowing. It may be something you’ve been doing for years, but it’s a little more complicated than you may suspect. Here are some of our best mowing tips to help you keep your lawn healthy, lush, and thriving!
What Kind of Grass is Growing?
The very first thing that must be identified in order for you to care for your lawn properly is the kind of grass you have growing in it.
Two types of grasses may be growing in your lawn: warm-season and cool-season. The most common warm-season grasses in South Carolina are:
- Zoysiagrass
- Bermudagrass
- Centipedegrass
The most common cool-season grasses are:
- Tall Fescue
- Ryegrass
Warm-season grasses thrive in warmer conditions, they even do well in the wet and shady areas of the state. Cool-season grasses are used in South Carolina when a green lawn all year round is desired. Ryegrass, however, is typically used only for overseeding warm-season grasses.
If you need help identifying the types of grasses growing in your lawn, then this turf identification tool can help.
Ideal Mowing Height
Now that you’ve identified your grass, you can find out what its ideal mowing height is! If you had no idea that different kinds of grasses had ideal mowing heights, you’re not alone. A lot of people assume that grass is just grass, but the truth is that finding the ideal mowing height for the type of grass in your lawn will help it to be healthy and ward off disease, pests, and weeds. It also helps to make it more resistant to heat and drought.
For the most common South Carolina grasses, the ideal mowing heights are:
- Zoysiagrass – 0.50 to 1.0 inches
- Bermudagrass – 1.0 to 1.5 inches
- Centipedegrass – 1.5 to 2.0 inches
- Tall Fescue – 1.5 to 3.0 inches
- Ryegrass – 1.5 to 2.5 inches
It’s important to note that you should never cut off more than one-third of the height of your grass at a time. That’s why you must let your lawn guide you and mow as frequently as it needs in order to mow it to its ideal height without needing to take more than one-third off. Cutting off too much puts you in danger of scalping your lawn, which not only makes it look bad but also damages its health and makes it more susceptible to weeds and other environmental stressors.
Your Mower
For the kind of turf that grows in most neighborhoods, a reel mower will provide the best cut. But if you’re not interested in using that much elbow grease, a rotary mower works just fine. The most important thing to remember about your mower, no matter which type you use, is that the blades must be sharp.
Sharp blades will provide a cleaner cut for your grass while dull blades with tear or rip the grass, causing damage and discoloration. Dull blades also make your grass more susceptible to disease, pests, and drought. Reduce damage to your lawn and stress on it by making sure to always have sharp blades on hand. If you notice your grass ends look ragged, then switch out your blades for the sharper pair.
What About the Clippings?
Some people take the time to clean their grass clippings up after they mow, but we’re going to let you in on a little secret – it’s OK to leave them! In fact, leaving your lawn clippings can help to reduce your fertilizer needs since the clipping decompose quickly and return essential nutrients to your soil. You don’t have to worry about it contributing to thatch, either. If you’re mowing your lawn as frequently as you should be, then it won’t be a problem.
Your Mowing Pattern
You don’t have to get fancy with mowing your South Carolina lawn, but you should make an effort to change the direction and pattern each time you mow. If you go the same way each time, your grass may start to lean in the direction you mow, making for an uneven cut. You also run the risk of the tires from your mower compacting the soil, which can lead to other problems.
Your lawn is a living thing that requires constant attention. If you need help giving it what it needs to be as healthy as it can, then the pros at Lawn Love are here to help!
