Almost all homeowners use a “Professional” mowing service these days.  While many of them are very good and many are very professional, many, many more are not, I’m sorry to say.  The mowing business is very easy to get into as there is a very low start up cost. A lot of young people, as well as those who are laid-off, or can’t get a decent job, they buy some mowers, and walla! they’re a “professional” lawn & landscape company. Homeowners looking to pay as little as possible for mowing, hire these types of “Professionals”  And then when they do shoddy work or provide lousy service, the homeowner complains. We all heard the saying: “You get what you pay for”  With thousands of these types of “Professional” Mowing services out there, it gives the “True Professionals” a bad reputation as well. Most homeowners have a very low opinion of the “Mowers” as well as the “Landscapers”  I could write an entire book on this subject, but will only list “some of the major mistakes” they and you make.

Mistake #1:  You the Homeowner hire the “cheap type”  mowing service.
Mistake #2:. They do a spring clean-up “Way to early” in the season when the lawn is Dormant.
they pull out a lot of good grass, thinning the lawn, which increases weeds & crabgrass.
Mistake #3:  Having your mowing service do a “Spring seeding” (See seeding)
Mistake #4: Mowing the lawn weekly during hot weather when grass isn’t growing.
Mistake #5:  Mowing when the lawn is wet.
Mistake #6  Leaving large/heavy “clumps” of grass clippings on the lawn which smothers the
grass. (See proper Mowing).
Mistake #7: Mowing a “Diseased” lawn, failure to clean mowing deck, transports the disease to your lawn.
Mistake#8: Mowing a “weedy” lawn, failure to clean mowing deck, transports “weed seeds” to your lawn.
Mistake #9: Mowing with dull mower blades
Mistake #10: Mowing the lawn right after a lawn treatment was performed (They ignore the
“Posting sign”)
Mistake #11: Applying fertilizers or pesticides which they may be non-certified and licensed to do so.
Mistake #12:  Mowing your lawn too short during dry hot weather.

Look at the picture to the right. All three lawns are my customers. It’s a hot summer (90degrees) and it hasn’t rained in a couple of weeks. The 2 end lawns are green. They mow the lawn themselves at 3 inches every other week. The middle lawn is all brown. He uses a “Professional mowing service” that mows every week at one inch. He doesn’t believe in watering his lawn. He’s blaming me for the condition of his lawn and is threatening to cancel service if I don’t improve his lawn. He doesn’t understand why his lawn is brown but his neighbors lawns are green. I told him about the improper mowing and watering being done (or lack there of). I told him to fire his mowing service and hire one that I recommended. He refused! The two lawns on the end are still from my satisfied customers. He continues looking for yet another Lawn service!

Please look at Mistake#10: again, this a very serious problem. When a lawn is treated with pesticides and posted properly by any lawn service, this sign is telling the customer and people in general  not to walk on this lawn:

PROPER MOWING & WATERING IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVING A GREEN LAWN DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS.
MOWING BY SEASONS:
March: Generally no mowing is needed. Some people mowing this early will rip out a lot of grass, thinning the lawn which increases weeds & crabgrass.

April: Before you start mowing, make sure your blades are sharp! Start mowing after 4/15 (no earlier) at 1 inch high. Mow every week.

May: Grass begins to grow rapidly. Mow weekly, or sometimes twice a week if needed. Mow at 2 inches high. Leave the clippings!  Your grass clippings will return 40% nitrogen back into your lawn.  This re-feeds your lawn naturally.

June/July/August: Make sure your blades are sharp! The hot weather setting in, changes the way you mow your lawn.  Around 6/15, start mowing high 3-4 inches!  Mow every other week!  Continue to leave grass clippings, however rake up any heavy clumps.

September-November: If/when the weather cools, return to weekly mowing at 2-3 inches high.  By November, mow at 1 inch high. Do your last mowing around Thanksgiving.

Watering by seasons:
April; Start watering your lawn. Water just once a week for 1/2 hour.

May: Water your lawn twice a week for 1/2 hour.

June-August: Now is the hot dry months. Water the lawn 3 times a week but for 1 hour each time.  If temperatures are in the 90’s with no rainfall, and your lawn is discoloring, water 4 -5 times a week for 1 hour!  If there is a drought, Stop watering!  Let your lawn go dormant. Do not worry, your lawn is not dead.  Grass color will return when cooler wet weather comes  by September (See Drought times).

September-October: Water as needed 1-2 times a week for 1/2 hour.

November: No watering needed

Look at the picture on the right, The temperatures are in the 90’s and it hasn’t rained in a couple of weeks.  All three of these lawns are my customers. The end lawns are green but the middle one is all brown.  Why?  The green lawns are mowed by the homeowner themselves every other week or as needed. Plus they are watering correctly.  The brown lawn is being mowed by a “Professional” mowing service which is mowing every week at only 1 inch high. Plus this customer doesn’t believe in watering his lawn. So the end result is apparent.

Proper Mowing & watering is essential to having a green lawn during the hot summer months.