Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - August 21, 2008
From: Atlanta, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Watering grass, before or after cutting it
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Should I water my grass before or after cutting it, after it has not been watered in a few days along with dry times?ANSWER:
Both the University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program and Ohio State Extension Master Gardener agree that it is better to mow grass when it is dry, but the only reason seems to be that the cut grass blades tend to stick together when they are wet and leave clumps of unsightly grass piles on your lawn. If the piles are too dense, they could damage the grass underneath them unless they are removed. Otherwise, cutting the grass when it's wet won't hurt it. In fact, if your grass needs cutting and it is wet, it's better to go ahead and cut it rather than let it grow too high. Both sites listed above recommend not cutting more than 1/3 the length of the grass when it is mowed. They recommend a height of 2 to 3 inches for the lawn so if you are using a two-inch cutting length, you should cut your grass when it is no more than 3 inches high. The bottom line is—if your grass is growing too high and it's wet, cut it!
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Seed source for Carex texensis from Louisville KY
May 02, 2012 - Your reply to my question re a grass for my Kentucky home with cistern only water available was much appreciated, Carex texensis was recommended. I am unable to find this product for sale other than ...
view the full question and answer
Seed Habiturf on top of existing St. Augustine from Austin
January 26, 2012 - We don't want to rip up an existing St. Augustine lawn (potential HOA problems), but we'd like to go native grasses (like Habiturf?). Is there anything we can just seed on top of our present lawn a...
view the full question and answer
Grasses for a pasture in Hays County, Texas with horses
March 20, 2015 - I intend to sow grass seed over a few acres of pasture on which I'll have a couple of horses in Driftwood, TX. I'd like to know what variety of seed(s) would be most beneficial to the land - and th...
view the full question and answer
Trimming of native muhly grasses
February 11, 2008 - Do pine muhly, gulf muhly, and bull muhly need an "annual haircut"? I started wondering after reading that Lindheimer's muhly does not have to be cut back each year. I cut back all my non-muhly n...
view the full question and answer
Need plants to replace cedars on a 40 degree slope in Boerne, TX.
August 28, 2012 - My backyard is a roughly 40 degree slope that is covered with cedars. The slope is basically all rock, what can I grow here to replace the cedar which drink too much water. I would still like the area...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |