MOWING

PART 1-RULES OF MOWING

Introduction
Mowing is the most fundamental and universal practice utilized in turfgrass culture and is one of the most important turf management processes. It provides a uniform surface for sports and recreational activities. Mowing is the process of cutting turfgrass parallel to the soil surface so that upward extension of the turf (leaves, stems and seed heads) is removed. Regular mowing helps keep the turfgrass neat and tidy, it encourages the turfgrass to thicken and keeps weeds at bay. The result is a greener, better looking and healthier turfgrass. When it’s done right, mowing can help to regulate moisture in the turf, control pests, and recycle nutrients. Unfortunately, it’s also a process that is often conducted with little or no thought about the impact of mowing practices – and poor management of this operation can almost ensure sickly unattractive turf.

When it’s done right, mowing can help to regulate moisture in the turf, control pests, and recycle nutrients.
Unfortunately, it’s also a process that is often conducted with little to no thought about the impact of mowing practices – and poor management of this operation can almost ensure sickly unattractive turf.

The basic rules in the principle of proper mowing are as follows;

RULE NO. 1
Mowing is a defoliation process in which a portion of the turfgrass leaf is removed. Since the photosynthetic process occurs primarily in the leaf tissue, removal of excessive leaf area influences the physiological and development condition of the turfgrass plant.
Therefore, do not cut off more than ONE-THIRD of the grass blade in a single mowing.
Following this rule on a field that’s being maintained at lower cutting heights means more frequent mowing. For example, when cutting at 25mm, and following the one-third rule, the staff will need to cut the grass when it reaches 38mm. The grass can be allowed to grow only 13 mm before being cut again, so mowing every 3 – 4 days may be necessary, of course, it depends on the type of grass and its growth.

RULE NO. 2
Always mow with a sharp blade. A sharp blade cuts each plant cleanly, and clean cutting minimizes the impact of the mowing process on the health of the turf. A dull blade pulls and shreds the blades of the plants, and that makes the turf vulnerable to disease by exposing more surface area of the plant to the penetration of pathogens. An exudation is also associated with a cut tip. Exudates contain essential elements that enhance the spore germination, penetration, and infection rates of pathogens. Sharpening the blades on a regular basis is absolutely essential to achieve a quality cut. For some facilities, this may mean sharpening blades every week, or perhaps developing a program where the blades are sharpen based on the number of hours of operation of the equipment.

RULE NO. 3
When using a rotary mower, always use the highest recommended blade speed. Rotary mowers cut by the sheer impact of the spinning blade hitting a leaf blade, the action is not a true cut, but rather more of a tearing action. Sharp blades and high blade speed make for a cleaner, even, higher-quality cut and distribute clippings in a more uniform layer.
Anytime a rotary mower must be operated around people, it’s absolutely essential to use a shield to direct and control discharge, because debris can be discharged at high speed along with turf clippings, and can cause serious injury.

RULE NO. 4
Do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended ground speed with any type of mower. Speeding across the field gets the job done faster, but results in tearing of grass blades and uneven mowing. Operating at excessive speeds causes the mowers to bounce and results in an uneven cut.

RULE NO. 5
Avoid mowing when the soil of the field surface is wet and soft; the mower wheels will cause ruts that can affect footing and ball response. Mowing wet grass should also be avoided. By mowing when the turf is dry, it cuts more easily, does not ball up and clog the mower, gives a finer appearance, and minimises the bunching of clippings.

RULE NO.6
Avoid mowing in the same direction, because turfgrass leaves tend to lean or become oriented in the same direction that the mower is operated. This can be minimised by alternating the mowing in two or more directions. Alternating the mowing direction also minimises the wave-like ridges that develop at right angles to the direction of mowing when it is consistently done in the same direction.

RULE NO. 7
When setting the mower’s cutting height, ensure that all the blades are set at the same height; on a reel mower, the height adjusting rollers are balanced. Failure to do so could cause uneven cuts which can affect the quality of the game.

Media Department; The RS Group.