When to cut a new lawn

[element009]

About 2 weeks ago I killed a weed infested lawn, spread 10 yds of fresh topsoil and planted seed. The lawn is looking really good now. It's only been 2 weeks so the grass is still thin, but growing everyday. How long should I wait before cutting. I've read some people saying I should let it go to seed before cutting, others just say to let it grow about an inch higher than you want it cut. What do you guys think? I used a mix that is reccommended for very shady lawns: 40% Carmen Chewing Fescue 35% Eugene Creeping Red Fescue 15% Stanton Perennial Ryegrass 10% Deepblue Kentucky Bluegrass

[cruzgardening]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by element009 About 2 weeks ago I killed a weed infested lawn, spread 10 yds of fresh topsoil and planted seed. The lawn is looking really good now. It's only been 2 weeks so the grass is still thin, but growing everyday. How long should I wait before cutting. I've read some people saying I should let it go to seed before cutting, others just say to let it grow about an inch higher than you want it cut. What do you guys think? I used a mix that is reccommended for very shady lawns: 40% Carmen Chewing Fescue 35% Eugene Creeping Red Fescue 15% Stanton Perennial Ryegrass 10% Deepblue Kentucky Bluegrass Where i live in california we usually let the seed grow about 3-4 weeks before the first mowing, it can be tricky but you can tell when the grass is ready you want to get it before its starts to bend on its on but not so soon where the roots are not stable, also make sure you cut a week after you drop the irrigation to once a day and turn off the water the day before you mow.

[CHEESE2009]

Time is money, cut it before it becomes hell.

All grass seed recommends a time-frame that just doesn't work for us guys on the field, too much time is lost, and clients aren't going to be paying you for cuts you don't do.

Don't let the grass become too high, that it takes you forever to mow, or causes any sort of problems.

I've got a friend who follows the recommendations on the bag, he cut's his lawn at the highest possible settings every 3 weeks. It works for him, his grass is healthier than everyone else - but it doesn't look well kept, the way clients want it.

Grass is the accent of a home, not the other way around. Packaging directions seem to forget that.

[boats47]

Once it reaches 3.5" to 4", assuming that you cut at 3" min. Worst thing you can do is not mow it, need to promote new growth.

[element009]

Originally Posted by boats47

Once it reaches 3.5" to 4", assuming that you cut at 3" min. Worst thing you can do is not mow it, need to promote new growth.

Cool. I just cut it for the first time on Thursday. I think I took less than an inch off. It's lookin good.

[boats47]

I know I don't have to say it, but keep to the 1/3 rule and you can't go wrong.

[Steve]

keep to the 1/3 rule and you can't go wrong.

For the newer business owners that don't know, can you tell us what the 1/3 rule is?

Also, how does that apply when you are dealing with really tall overgrown lawns? Lawns where the grass is measured in ft and not in inches.

[boats47]

Originally Posted by Steve

For the newer business owners that don't know, can you tell us what the 1/3 rule is?

Also, how does that apply when you are dealing with really tall overgrown lawns? Lawns where the grass is measured in ft and not in inches.

The third rule is easy never cut more than a third of the blade's total hieght in one cut. e.g. 3" grass hieght would never be cut by more than an inch per cut. so the lowest you be able to drop that total hieght to is 2".

As far as grass that is measured in feet, well you need a sickle and alot of redbull.... LOL You have turf that is feet and you wnat it be inches, I would start over and seed again, as the turf will always look like crap. I had a section of my yard that I let go (fishing season more important), new lawn, let it go to about 6" and then one day decided to drop it without using the 1/3 rule. Needless to say after month and half the turf recovered and accually looks like perfect sod.

[Steve]

Do you ever run into situations with customers where they want you to hack their lawn down a lot more than the 1/3 rule allows for? If so, what's the best way to handle such customers and their expectations of the outcome that will most likely follow from cutting it?

[boats47]

Originally Posted by Steve

Do you ever run into situations with customers where they want you to hack their lawn down a lot more than the 1/3 rule allows for? If so, what's the best way to handle such customers and their expectations of the outcome that will most likely follow from cutting it?

Oh we have those customers, believe me you! Most of our customer base are in the 1%, LOL referencing the current protests, where they feel compelled to keep thier lawn like a golf green without the bent grass. My conversations go like this, "Mr. Cage cutting your lawn at 1" is going to kill the lawn no matter how much water you put on it and I will not be responsible nor do I want to hear about it later in the summer. I also want to add that I need to charge you extra for weed control, because the lawn once dead and burt out it will become inadated with weeds".
Once I have this very blunt conversation with the customer they seem to receptive and listen to the professional. Some say it is a little harsh, but I am a retired Coast Guard Boatswain Mate who has no filter and I always let customers know I am not here to BS them. I wish people would grow a set when it comes to issues like this and let the customer know when they are not right. I think people respect you more when you are streight and up front with them and give them the facts and not be a "yes'em master".