What is the ideal mowing deck height for a lawn mower?

Sam N

When i mow my yard and my customers yards i want the best results for them as well as me. I want to know the ideal mowing deck height so the grass isn't too short or too long.

Answer
Honestly, it all depends on what type of grass you are mowing. Bermuda and zoysia can be cut really short. And all others (too many to mention) have other varying heights.

GANG REEL MOWERS??? Does anyone know how well they work?

wanderlust

I just bought a home with five acres of land, most of it native grass/weeds with a nice lawn nearer the house. I went out and ordered a 26HP Craftsman riding mower with a 54 inch mowing deck to get through the thicker stuff first, but then plan on getting a 5 or 7 gang reel mower so I can have a large manicured lawn where the kids can play practically anything they want. There is a 1/4 acre pond which has weeds growing around the periphery and I would like to clean this out when I mow, so some of the gang reels would get wet as I get close to the edge of the pond. Safety is a main concern, if the lawn is well manicured and relatively short, probably with zoysia grass (which is weather and drought resistant) the problems associated with fire ants and snakes will be minimized. I plan on leaving the outer edges of the property "wild" and planting three or four rows or trees, probably pines, for privacy and for the wild animals to have some refuge. Is this overkill? What do you say?

Answer
Gang reel mowers are great! They're also a lot of maintenance!!! To pull a 5 or 7 gang mower you'd need a pretty good size tractor. The reels need to be checked every time you mow -- checking the "cut". They would need to be sharpened a few times a year, especially with zoysia. Once a year this should be done by grinding them, which requires special equipment, usually only owned by golf courses. The other times they can be back-lapped.
Reel mowers give a superior cut. they basically cut like a scissors. this link will show you the cost of a good brand, but not the "top of the line" costing stuff. it is commonly used on golf courses. http://www.rrproducts.com/pdfcatalog/fitsjacobsen/fitsJacFairway.pdf
I would only suggest a three gang unit probably, though a 5 gang would get you finished faster.
What do you consider "relatively short"? Reel mowers are only good for really short heights. I would not use one if not cutting below 1 1/2". Reel mowers will not prevent fire ants.
It would be best to speak to a golf course superintendent about the maintenance of reels.
Like I said, they give a superior cut, but they're much more intensive to maintain.

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What is the ideal mowing deck height for a lawn mower?

Sam N

When i mow my yard and my customers yards i want the best results for them as well as me. I want to know the ideal mowing deck height so the grass isn't too short or too long.

Answer
Honestly, it all depends on what type of grass you are mowing. Bermuda and zoysia can be cut really short. And all others (too many to mention) have other varying heights.

GANG REEL MOWERS??? Does anyone know how well they work?

wanderlust

I just bought a home with five acres of land, most of it native grass/weeds with a nice lawn nearer the house. I went out and ordered a 26HP Craftsman riding mower with a 54 inch mowing deck to get through the thicker stuff first, but then plan on getting a 5 or 7 gang reel mower so I can have a large manicured lawn where the kids can play practically anything they want. There is a 1/4 acre pond which has weeds growing around the periphery and I would like to clean this out when I mow, so some of the gang reels would get wet as I get close to the edge of the pond. Safety is a main concern, if the lawn is well manicured and relatively short, probably with zoysia grass (which is weather and drought resistant) the problems associated with fire ants and snakes will be minimized. I plan on leaving the outer edges of the property "wild" and planting three or four rows or trees, probably pines, for privacy and for the wild animals to have some refuge. Is this overkill? What do you say?

Answer
Gang reel mowers are great! They're also a lot of maintenance!!! To pull a 5 or 7 gang mower you'd need a pretty good size tractor. The reels need to be checked every time you mow -- checking the "cut". They would need to be sharpened a few times a year, especially with zoysia. Once a year this should be done by grinding them, which requires special equipment, usually only owned by golf courses. The other times they can be back-lapped.
Reel mowers give a superior cut. they basically cut like a scissors. this link will show you the cost of a good brand, but not the "top of the line" costing stuff. it is commonly used on golf courses. http://www.rrproducts.com/pdfcatalog/fitsjacobsen/fitsJacFairway.pdf
I would only suggest a three gang unit probably, though a 5 gang would get you finished faster.
What do you consider "relatively short"? Reel mowers are only good for really short heights. I would not use one if not cutting below 1 1/2". Reel mowers will not prevent fire ants.
It would be best to speak to a golf course superintendent about the maintenance of reels.
Like I said, they give a superior cut, but they're much more intensive to maintain.

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What to look for in when purchasing a lawn mower?

Cochy

We close on our first house March 30th and we are total newbies to homeownership. One of our first purchases should be a lawn mower. The house sits on just over a third acre. What should we look for in a lawn mower? Not even sure where to start. What makes a good lawn mower? Is a rider worth it?

Answer
Depends on your preference. If you want to walk, a push mower would be fine. If you want it to be a little quicker and easier, a rider would do. You should also know what type of grass you have. St. Augustine grows faster and needs cutting weekly during season, while bermuda would grow a little slower, and zoysia even slower. You may need to mow weekly, or every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the grass. The less often you have to mow it the more a push mower makes sense. And with some grass types, such as zoysia or rye, you do want to use a catcher to bag the clippings.

I need help with striping my lawn and making it look professional?

Aztec

We have about 1 acre of land and we use a cub-cadet lawn mower. I have tried to stripe it but I cant get it to look like the pros. Is my technique wrong? Is there something i could make to pull behind the tractor to bend the grass down? That is what they do at the golf course. I mow it at about 4.5 inches. Any tips?

Answer
Stripes in grass work best on fine textured turf such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Bent or Fescue. If you are growing a turf that requires a mowing height of 4.5 inches such as St Augustine or Bahia, then striping is tougher.

Be sure the blades are very sharp. Mow often and make marks somewhere unobtrusive so that you are mowing in the same direction in the same place every time you mow. Mow often. It is the repetition of direction that eventually puts stripes in turf..

Reel mowers often have rollers behind them to prepare the surface for playing. The rollers should not be too heavy to prevent soil compaction.

Remember, the striping in turf is much more visible from above and on TV, you may have more striping than you can see from ground level.

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Please help - I cut my Emerald Zoysia lawn way too short. How can I help it recover?

Jetset

I just bought a house with Emerald Zoysia. I had a rotary mower but traded it in for a reel mower. The first day I had the new mower I cut the lawn way to short. The back of my lawn has a pretty significant slope and now nearly half of the lawn is brown. I guess I scalped a lot of it. It's been about a week since I mowed it last and in some areas the grass is growing, but the brown areas are not growing. What should I do? I bought Weed and Feed but haven't been able to put it out yet. Please help because I love this lawn and don't want to ruin it! Will it recover?

Thanks!

Answer
The good news is that it's going to grow back. It looks ugly when brown, true, but it will grow green again. Next time, leave it at least 3" tall and plan to mow it weekly. Best if you bag the clippings, too, IMHO.

Emerald Zoysia produces an excessive thatch layer and will need to be thatched at least once a year.

It does make a beautiful lawn!

I'm planting zoysia grass in Georgia, and my original lawn has a lot of weeds (real fat leaves).?

linktoterr

Will the new plugs kill out the weeds or can i use weed killer on the weeds while the zoisia is trying to take root and grow?

Answer
Make sure the label reads "kills the weeds and not the lawn" before you spray. That grass is pretty hard to mow. It's hard to push anything with wheels through it. I use a self propelled walk behind mower for part of mine and the rest of the half acre I use a riding mower. The roots are deeper than other grass and also very thick and tough. I never water mine.

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Can I seed centipede grass on top of an established lawn seeded with fescue in June?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

rumell

My lawn is currently somewhat green/brown and I desire a green lawn for the upcoming hot summer months

Answer
I personally had great success overseeding with centipede (I live in a southern state). As opposed to the aforementioned method, I utilized a "de thatching" blade on my lawn mower set at the lowest setting, which tore out all the old thatch and exposed the ground for the seeds (which need to be kept damp after sowing, of course).

Having said that, my greatest success in re-seeding my southern lawn has been through the use of Zoysia plugs (available online through various nurseries). They took much longer to establish than the centipede (about 3-4 years), but now never require water, and keep a dense, carpet-like mat of turf all summer long. Check out Zoysia before you make your final decision to go with centipede.

What's the most effective way to get rid of wild onions growing in my lawn?

clacher

Hi, I spent several hours digging these wild onions up last year but they are now back and worse than ever.

Answer
Chemical Method

Make a bunch of donut-shaped plastic lawn protectors. Each should be about a foot square (no reason to make it round) with a small hole cut in the middle. Make a "crochet hook" from a hanger. The hook must fit through the hole.

This works best if you follow these two rules:

1. Before cutting the grass in the spring so that the weed sticks up from the other grass.
2. When there is no wind.

You can cheat on rule 1, but cheating on rule two is at your peril.

To use, I place a folded protector so that the hole is next to the target weed and use the "crochet hook" to snag the weed and pull its leaves through the hole. Donât make the hole larger than it needs to be to get the leaves through easily. Lay the plastic flat on the lawn so that it protects the good grass.

I use a sponge brush to apply roundup (cheap ones available in the paint department). Barely dip the sponge so that the roundup does not drip. Stroke all of the exposed leaves. Spraying will almost certainly get some of the roundup on your lawn. and you will get dead spots. If your grass is St. Augustine or Bermuda, the dead spots can be quite large. They usually donât last more than a month or two, however.

Leave the plastic protectors in place for at least 30 minutes while the roundup is absorbed, then remove them. If you reuse the plastic protectors, make certain there is a clear upside and downside marker on each one. A small printed sticker works well. If you see the print on the sticker, the correct side is up.

No Chemicals, HEAT Method

If you donât like to use a chemical, you can do a lot with a piece of black plastic sheeting, 30 pound felt, or an asphalt shingle. Cut a square of the black material larger than the area with weeds. Use a sheer to cut the leaves that will be under the square close to the ground. Cover the area with the square, and use nails to pin the square to the ground. The sun will heat the square and the ground and prevent air from getting to the grass. Leave the square in place for two or so weeks of good sunny days. This can even kill weed seeds if it lets the ground get hot enough. When the plants under the square are dead, remove the square and the dead plant material. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda will quickly fill the square, but other grasses must be seeded into the area. Make certain you count every nail as you insert it and remove it so that you get every one. You don't want a mower to pick one up!

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Lawn Mower question, if you have experience mowing lawns?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

You may be

For just a small lawn, do you think a reel mower is ok, or will they get rusted up and hard to push after a while.

What do you think, reel, electric, gas.

I need to buy one, but it's just a small lawn about 20 feet by 15 feet.

Answer
It depends on how big your lawn is, and what type of grass you have.

My old lawn was about the same size as yours and I used a reel mower very effectively on it. But with some "cool season" grasses (bluegrass, rye, fescue), you really have to keep up with it. Taller grass can be dificult to cut w/ a reel mower.

If you have a Southern grass, like Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine - they are great mowers. You'd definitely be better off using a reel mower on one of these.

You can pick up a new reel mower for about $60, so it's not a big investment. A gas or electric will run you considerably more.

What happens if my Zoysia grass lawn is cut/ mowed too short?

magast91

My father-in-law was in town last week. He took it upon himself to mow our lawn, but failed to realize our mower has a flat tire. My poor lawn received the punishment. I know Zoysia grass is not supposed to be shorter than 1- 1.5 inches. But none of the information I find actually says what happens if it gets cut too short! Will my lawn die? What's going happen exactly? How long will it take for the grass to grow back and look healthy again? Please, your help is needed.
The current height of the grass is about 1/2 an inch.

Answer
The grass will probably grow back it is pretty persistent. I would say just give it a dose of fertilizer if yo haven't done so this spring and don't worry about it . As long as it is not cut that short on a regular basis it will survive.

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how do the shades on the baseball fields come to appear on the grass?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

benedict k

i'd like the grass on my yard to look like a baseball field..by using just my push lawn mower how can i make shaded lanes on my yard?

Answer
I just ran across this webpage the other day which will answer your question. Part of the answer is here, but check the source for the web address for the full article and other links.

"The designs are created through a process called lawn striping. To create lawn-striping designs of your own, you only need two pieces of equipment: a lawnmower and a roller. Many professional groundskeepers use old-fashioned reel mowers to cut a stadium's grass. Attached just behind the blades of the mower is a lawn roller that bends the grass down. Some lawnmower manufacturers are beginning to make riding mowers with full-width rollers mounted to the rear of the mower to make this task easier.

Whatever pattern you make is revealed by the light shining off of the bent grass. A checkerboard design is created by passing over the grass in side-by-side rows, first going north to south, then making east-to-west stripes in the grass that intersect the north-south stripes. In this way, you alternate the way the grass bends. When you look at your lawn, the stripes of grass leaning away from you will look lighter. This lighter green is caused by the sunlight reflecting off the entire blade of grass. In the darker green stripes, formed by the blades of grass leaning toward you, the sunlight is reflecting only off the tips of the blades.

Different grasses can be used to accentuate the striping effect, including rye grass, fescue and bluegrass. You won't see such a big contrast between the stripes' colors if you have a warm-season grass, such as Bermuda or zoysia. Watering the grass after mowing can make your pattern stand out even more. "

Lawn Mower question, if you have experience mowing lawns?

You may be

For just a small lawn, do you think a reel mower is ok, or will they get rusted up and hard to push after a while.

What do you think, reel, electric, gas.

I need to buy one, but it's just a small lawn about 20 feet by 15 feet.

Answer
It depends on how big your lawn is, and what type of grass you have.

My old lawn was about the same size as yours and I used a reel mower very effectively on it. But with some "cool season" grasses (bluegrass, rye, fescue), you really have to keep up with it. Taller grass can be dificult to cut w/ a reel mower.

If you have a Southern grass, like Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine - they are great mowers. You'd definitely be better off using a reel mower on one of these.

You can pick up a new reel mower for about $60, so it's not a big investment. A gas or electric will run you considerably more.

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I need help with striping my lawn and making it look professional?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

Aztec

We have about 1 acre of land and we use a cub-cadet lawn mower. I have tried to stripe it but I cant get it to look like the pros. Is my technique wrong? Is there something i could make to pull behind the tractor to bend the grass down? That is what they do at the golf course. I mow it at about 4.5 inches. Any tips?

Answer
Stripes in grass work best on fine textured turf such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Bent or Fescue. If you are growing a turf that requires a mowing height of 4.5 inches such as St Augustine or Bahia, then striping is tougher.

Be sure the blades are very sharp. Mow often and make marks somewhere unobtrusive so that you are mowing in the same direction in the same place every time you mow. Mow often. It is the repetition of direction that eventually puts stripes in turf..

Reel mowers often have rollers behind them to prepare the surface for playing. The rollers should not be too heavy to prevent soil compaction.

Remember, the striping in turf is much more visible from above and on TV, you may have more striping than you can see from ground level.

how do the shades on the baseball fields come to appear on the grass?

benedict k

i'd like the grass on my yard to look like a baseball field..by using just my push lawn mower how can i make shaded lanes on my yard?

Answer
I just ran across this webpage the other day which will answer your question. Part of the answer is here, but check the source for the web address for the full article and other links.

"The designs are created through a process called lawn striping. To create lawn-striping designs of your own, you only need two pieces of equipment: a lawnmower and a roller. Many professional groundskeepers use old-fashioned reel mowers to cut a stadium's grass. Attached just behind the blades of the mower is a lawn roller that bends the grass down. Some lawnmower manufacturers are beginning to make riding mowers with full-width rollers mounted to the rear of the mower to make this task easier.

Whatever pattern you make is revealed by the light shining off of the bent grass. A checkerboard design is created by passing over the grass in side-by-side rows, first going north to south, then making east-to-west stripes in the grass that intersect the north-south stripes. In this way, you alternate the way the grass bends. When you look at your lawn, the stripes of grass leaning away from you will look lighter. This lighter green is caused by the sunlight reflecting off the entire blade of grass. In the darker green stripes, formed by the blades of grass leaning toward you, the sunlight is reflecting only off the tips of the blades.

Different grasses can be used to accentuate the striping effect, including rye grass, fescue and bluegrass. You won't see such a big contrast between the stripes' colors if you have a warm-season grass, such as Bermuda or zoysia. Watering the grass after mowing can make your pattern stand out even more. "

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What's the most effective way to get rid of wild onions growing in my lawn?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

clacher

Hi, I spent several hours digging these wild onions up last year but they are now back and worse than ever.

Answer
Chemical Method

Make a bunch of donut-shaped plastic lawn protectors. Each should be about a foot square (no reason to make it round) with a small hole cut in the middle. Make a "crochet hook" from a hanger. The hook must fit through the hole.

This works best if you follow these two rules:

1. Before cutting the grass in the spring so that the weed sticks up from the other grass.
2. When there is no wind.

You can cheat on rule 1, but cheating on rule two is at your peril.

To use, I place a folded protector so that the hole is next to the target weed and use the "crochet hook" to snag the weed and pull its leaves through the hole. Donât make the hole larger than it needs to be to get the leaves through easily. Lay the plastic flat on the lawn so that it protects the good grass.

I use a sponge brush to apply roundup (cheap ones available in the paint department). Barely dip the sponge so that the roundup does not drip. Stroke all of the exposed leaves. Spraying will almost certainly get some of the roundup on your lawn. and you will get dead spots. If your grass is St. Augustine or Bermuda, the dead spots can be quite large. They usually donât last more than a month or two, however.

Leave the plastic protectors in place for at least 30 minutes while the roundup is absorbed, then remove them. If you reuse the plastic protectors, make certain there is a clear upside and downside marker on each one. A small printed sticker works well. If you see the print on the sticker, the correct side is up.

No Chemicals, HEAT Method

If you donât like to use a chemical, you can do a lot with a piece of black plastic sheeting, 30 pound felt, or an asphalt shingle. Cut a square of the black material larger than the area with weeds. Use a sheer to cut the leaves that will be under the square close to the ground. Cover the area with the square, and use nails to pin the square to the ground. The sun will heat the square and the ground and prevent air from getting to the grass. Leave the square in place for two or so weeks of good sunny days. This can even kill weed seeds if it lets the ground get hot enough. When the plants under the square are dead, remove the square and the dead plant material. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda will quickly fill the square, but other grasses must be seeded into the area. Make certain you count every nail as you insert it and remove it so that you get every one. You don't want a mower to pick one up!

Does it matter if I bag grass clippings when I mow a Zoysia lawn?

Andrew A

I have a standard self-propelled mower with bag. Recently I've just been mowing with the "trap door" in the back shut and no bag.

Will this damage my lawn? Does it matter for this type of grass in particular?

Answer
Some people do not like to see the dead clippings lying on the grass. It does not harm the grass to do this and provides mulch and as it deteriorates, adds nutrients. Zoysia grass is very thick so you will probably be emptying the bag quite often.

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What's the most effective way to get rid of wild onions growing in my lawn?

best lawn mower for zoysia image

clacher

Hi, I spent several hours digging these wild onions up last year but they are now back and worse than ever.

Answer
Chemical Method

Make a bunch of donut-shaped plastic lawn protectors. Each should be about a foot square (no reason to make it round) with a small hole cut in the middle. Make a "crochet hook" from a hanger. The hook must fit through the hole.

This works best if you follow these two rules:

1. Before cutting the grass in the spring so that the weed sticks up from the other grass.
2. When there is no wind.

You can cheat on rule 1, but cheating on rule two is at your peril.

To use, I place a folded protector so that the hole is next to the target weed and use the "crochet hook" to snag the weed and pull its leaves through the hole. Donât make the hole larger than it needs to be to get the leaves through easily. Lay the plastic flat on the lawn so that it protects the good grass.

I use a sponge brush to apply roundup (cheap ones available in the paint department). Barely dip the sponge so that the roundup does not drip. Stroke all of the exposed leaves. Spraying will almost certainly get some of the roundup on your lawn. and you will get dead spots. If your grass is St. Augustine or Bermuda, the dead spots can be quite large. They usually donât last more than a month or two, however.

Leave the plastic protectors in place for at least 30 minutes while the roundup is absorbed, then remove them. If you reuse the plastic protectors, make certain there is a clear upside and downside marker on each one. A small printed sticker works well. If you see the print on the sticker, the correct side is up.

No Chemicals, HEAT Method

If you donât like to use a chemical, you can do a lot with a piece of black plastic sheeting, 30 pound felt, or an asphalt shingle. Cut a square of the black material larger than the area with weeds. Use a sheer to cut the leaves that will be under the square close to the ground. Cover the area with the square, and use nails to pin the square to the ground. The sun will heat the square and the ground and prevent air from getting to the grass. Leave the square in place for two or so weeks of good sunny days. This can even kill weed seeds if it lets the ground get hot enough. When the plants under the square are dead, remove the square and the dead plant material. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda will quickly fill the square, but other grasses must be seeded into the area. Make certain you count every nail as you insert it and remove it so that you get every one. You don't want a mower to pick one up!

Does it matter if I bag grass clippings when I mow a Zoysia lawn?

Andrew A

I have a standard self-propelled mower with bag. Recently I've just been mowing with the "trap door" in the back shut and no bag.

Will this damage my lawn? Does it matter for this type of grass in particular?

Answer
Some people do not like to see the dead clippings lying on the grass. It does not harm the grass to do this and provides mulch and as it deteriorates, adds nutrients. Zoysia grass is very thick so you will probably be emptying the bag quite often.

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