Proper mowing technique is an important aspect of overall lawn care. Mowing the lawn is about more than just keeping your lawn's height under control. If done properly , mowing stimulates the grass to becom more lush and healthier, similar to pinching off growth from a garden plant to improve its appearance. Proper mowing technique is an important aspect of overall lawn care.
Alternate the direction in which you mow each lawnmowing session. If the lawn mower wheels pass over the same area in the same direction each time the lawn is mowed, they can form ruts over time. Switching lawnmowing patterns also avoids having the grass "beaten" in the same direction at every mowing by the lawn mower blade.
Grass clippings remaining on the lawn become a problem only if they are too thick. If the grass is mowed before the grass gets too tall, the amount of clippings will not be enough to require raking. A good height for a mowed lawn of cool season grass (Fescue for example) in summer is about 2 1/2 inches. At each mowing, only about 1/3 of the top of the grass blade should be cut. Therefore, a good time to mow such lawns is when your grass is about 3 1/2 to 4 inches high. However, warm season grasses may usually be cut shorter.
PruningReasons for pruning ornamental and shade trees include safety, health of the trees, and aesthetics.
Pruning for safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, trimming branches that interfere with lines of sight on streets or driveways, and removing branches that grow into utility lines.
Pruning for health involves removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow and reduce some pest problems, and removing crossing and rubbing branches. Pruning can best be used to encourage trees to develop a strong structure and reduce the likelihood of damage during severe weather. Removing broken or damaged limbs encourages wound closure.
Pruning for aesthetics involves highlighting the natural form and character of trees or stimulating flower production.
When to PruneConifers may be pruned any time of year, but pruning during the dormant season may minimize sap and resin flow from cut branches.
Hardwood trees and shrubs without showy flowers should be pruned in the dormant season to maximize wound closure in the growing season after pruning, to reduce the chance of transmitting disease, and to discourage excessive sap flow from wounds. Recent wounds and the chemical scents they emit can actually attract insects that spread tree disease. Usually, the best time is during the late fall and winter.
Flowering trees and shrubs should also be pruned during the dormant season for the same reasons stated above. However, to preserve the current year's flower crop, prune trees and shrubs that flower in early spring (azaleas, dogwood, etc.) immediately after flowering (flower buds form the year before they bloom, and will appear on the new growth). Prune trees and shrubs that flower in the summer or fall during the dormant season (flower buds will form on new twigs during the next growing season, and the flowers will bloom normally).
Dead branches can be removed any time of the year.