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I used to think we are supposed to let grass grow longer when temp gets high (90s) and there isn't much rain. At least that's what I did in the NE (near Boston). I just moved to a nice suburb in Cincinnati Ohio and EVERYONE here mows their lawn super short even in this heat. I'm the only one with 2+ weeks old grass - which I purposely left longer.
I notice the grass here has tougher / thicker texture than what I had in the NE. Is holding off on mowing still the way to go when it gets hot?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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It depends on how often you water it. Longer blades will shade the soil and slow down the drying out. Here in the Puget Sound area I have yet to water this year with all the rain, but when we lived in California some people would have their sprinklers come on every day, and it could be cut short even at 90-105F.
Three to four inches is the rule of thumb to provide a little shading. More than that isn’t needed and allows more transpiration from the leaves thus pulling more water from the soil. So cut it before it gets any taller. It will look nicer as well.
I live in a dry climate, so I keep my Bermuda grass cut short in the summer because of fire. I don't water, and it's usually dormant by the 4th of July. I could water and have a green lawn, but I save at least a hundred bucks a months by not doing so.
You're mowing when it's in the mid 90s outside?
That's nuts.
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Here in eastern Tennessee the dew isn't off until nearly noon and by then it's pushing 90. It's either mow then or wait until nearly dark.
A lawncare guy told me that a blade of grass has a root as long as the blade is kept. So, a 4 in blade of grass has a 4 in root, thus able to reach more moisture. I cut mine at about 3 in, my neighbor chops his short. My grass is generally greener, neither of us fertilize.
I don't plan to water ... it's crazy expensive and I read just letting the grass go dormant doesn't hurt it. When weather gets cooler and wet in the fall, it'll naturally come back. Appreciate all your comments. I plan to set the mower to highest or 2nd to highest height and mow when temp drops to 70s in 2 days.
When it’s hot and dry, cut the grass when it’s longer and cut less off than you would in spring when the grass and their roots are stronger and actively growing.
The rule of thumb is cut off no more than one third of the total height of the grass.
You're mowing when it's in the mid 90s outside?
That's nuts.
When in Yuma, I would mow at 115 degrees and <20% humidity...and felt better than at 85 degrees and 90% humidity here in VA.
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