Garden Tip 184

There are several advantages to mowing your lawn high, especially during the hot, dry summer months. The leaf surface, the blade of grass, is where photosynthesis occurs. Using energy from the sun, water from the soil, and carbon dioxide from the air, grass blades produce carbohydrates, the food they need to grow. The greater the leaf surface, the greater the amount of carbohydrates produced.

Additionally, longer blades of grass encourage a robust root system and shade the soil, helping to preserve moisture. The tall blades also reduce the growth of broadleaf weeds and crabgrass by shading them out and robbing them of much-needed moisture. Summer in the garden is high season, and a good gardening practice is high mowing.