Cutting long grass is a tiresome job and takes a lot of time to get it to the right length. Well-maintained grass involves lesser time and less labor.
But now that you already have your grass grown to unhealthy length, you have no option but do the trimming before things turn chaotic and costly.
Grass can make some places inaccessible and even harbor dangerous wild animals. But you can’t entirely avoid overgrown grass, especially if you’re out on a trip and you have no one back home for lawn care.
Now that the problem is here, you have no option but to find ways to avoid it. So how do you cut those overgrown grass the correct way? This article offers that guide.
Start by Understanding the Rules for Cutting Long Grass
- Do not trim the grass too short; short means don’t cut more than a third of the grass’s length because cutting too much height will give the plant stress and not give you the right height
- Cut the grass frequently; doing this will help achieve the correct size faster. You can do it in two to three days. A frequent cut will help in reducing the height of the long grass.
- Do the cutting when it is dry; wet grass is not easy to cut because it is slippery, making it tear and not make a clean cut. When using an electric mower, it will be dangerous and adds unnecessary load on the motor, which can result in corrosion.
Ways of Cutting Very Long Grass
Photo by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
1. Assess the Garden
When you do a garden assessment, you will be able to know the condition of the tall grass, the possibility of an animal staying under the grass, or if it has rocks or debris.
Knowing the condition of the garden will help you choose the right machine to use and consider your safety as well. Checking will also make you psychologically prepared for the work ahead and warn you of the work’s dangers.
2. Cut Off the First Layer
Cutting the grass from the top is the hardest step to achieve because it involves a lot of work, regardless of the types of tools you decide to use. Use a grass Trimmer for this because they are capable of maneuver around obstacles and get a clean cut around the edges.
When doing the trim for the first time, don’t forget to work with a third rule where you get to cut to some extent then leave it for at least two days.
Ensure that your mower blades are sharp because long grass has hard stems that are hard to cut. Also, blunt blades will leave a bad looking grass edge that can easily allow diseases to creep in through the open wounds.
3. Do a Second Trim
Photo by Skitterphoto from Pixabay
After leaving the grass to heal from stress, consider doing a second cut. It would be best if you were doing this after one week.
Here the grass is of an exact height where you can use a lawnmower in the highest setting to get the right size. You will not achieve the desired look after doing the cut, but there will be improvements with time.
A second trim helps revitalize nutrients which have been dormant before doing the cutting. Trimming in different directions helps the grass spread adequately, and the stems grow straight, making them lie on one side.
| See Also: 5 Simple Tips for Maintaining Your Gardening Tools |
4. Do a Lawn Scarification
In this step, you will need to put in a lot of effort because, in the second trim, your grass is always in a bad state, which results from it not being able to heal after trimming. Scarify using a rake to help get rid of moss and weeds that grow together with grass. Do so in bits like one meter at a time.
When you scarify, it will not only help you in controlling thatch build-up that will help get your grass to grow densely but also prevent mossy lawns that cannot tolerate drought.
Scarification also helps water to reach the soil and also helps in allowing air to reach sward and grass get nutrients after the work. Scarifying results will show later when the lawn gets its beauty back.
5. Work on the Areas with Poor Drainage
Photo by Thoxuan99 from Pixabay
If there is an area with grass that is always wet, use a fork to prod it then pour sand to help fill holes, thereby creating drainage. Wet grass brings in problems like weed outbreaks of diseases that result in the grass getting thin and eventually die.
Poor drainage will also cause other environmental issues like flooding home areas, leading to unusable grass. Good drainage will help improve air circulation in the soil, improving the lives of the grassroots.
6. Feed the Grass
Feeding the grass helps in protecting the lawn from weeds. After cutting, weeds will want to grow together with the grass, which is not easy to manage.
Buy a packet of grass fertilizer and use it according to the use of instructions when it is springtime. When buying fertilizer, don’t forget that they always encourage grass growth in autumn, so don’t use them this season.
The fertilizer will help the grass clippings grow faster by providing nutrients that are needed daily. Also, after cutting, grass tends to lose its green nature. Feeding will bring back the lost color, which was as a result of stress.
7. Reseed the Grass
When cutting the grass, there are always bare patches left in the process to help repair the patches.
Buy a bag of lawn seeds, and use the product directly on the packet to guide you on how to use it. Doing this will help you cover the areas with no grass and prevent the birds from eating the grass seedlings.
When cutting very long grass, be ready for good tiring work that will take you several days because it will require that you follow a proper procedure. Expect your grass to look bad after doing the above steps for some time before it starts to get a better look.
Afterward, you will get a good looking grass that will only require maintenance to be in the perfect shape. Be careful to avoid an overgrowth that gives you a hard time trimming.
About The Author:
Mark is a keen gardener, a DIY addict, and a father of two beautiful girls. He is originally from Perth and is a true Eagles fan.
