Using an engine-powered reel mower offers unique advantages when mowing heights. Unlike rotary mowers, which can tear grass blades, reel mowers provide a clean, scissor-like cut. This allows you to maintain your lawn at shorter heights without compromising its health. Understanding the optimal mowing heights for different grass types will help you achieve a lush, healthy lawn while maximizing the benefits of your reel mower.

How Do Reel Mowers Cut So Low?

Reel mowers operate by shearing the grass between a rotating cylinder of blades and a stationary bedknife. This precise cutting action minimizes damage to grass blades, allowing you to mow shorter without risking the health of your lawn. The biggest reason reel mowers can achieve such low cutting heights is due to the front and rear drums and the depth of the reel. The drums provide stability, distributing the mower’s weight evenly across the lawn, which prevents scalping and ensures an even, close cut. Additionally, the deeper reel design allows for greater control over cutting heights, giving reel mowers the unique ability to maintain a consistently low cut that’s both clean and healthy for the lawn.

Why You Should Mow Shorter with a Reel Mower

 

  1. Encourages thick growth: Regularly mowing at lower heights with a reel mower encourages grass to grow thicker. The clean cut stimulates lateral growth and root development, leading to a denser lawn that can outcompete weeds.
  2. Improved airflow and sunlight penetration: Shorter grass allows for better air circulation and sunlight penetration, both of which are vital for the health of the turf. This helps prevent diseases and promotes even growth across the lawn.
  3. Better aesthetics: Many homeowners prefer the manicured look that shorter grass provides. A reel mower can achieve this professional appearance without damaging the grass.

How Low Should You Cut Your Turf?

Recommended Mowing Heights for Different Grass Types

perfectly straight cut grass

Different grass species have varying optimal mowing heights, influenced by their growth habits and tolerance to cutting. Here are some general guidelines for mowing heights based on common grass types:

  1. Bermudagrass

    • Recommended height: 0.8” -1.0”
    • Description: A popular warm-season grass, Bermudagrass thrives in sunny environments and can tolerate low mowing heights. Using a reel mower allows you to maintain a tight cut, promoting a dense and lush lawn.

  2. Zoysiagrass

    • Recommended height: 0.5″ – 1.0″
    • Description: Zoysiagrass is drought-tolerant and has a dense growth habit. It can handle lower heights, making a reel mower an excellent choice for maintaining its health and appearance.

  3. Kentucky Bluegrass

    • Recommended height: 0.5″ – 1.5″
    • Description: This cool-season grass performs best when mowed higher. A reel mower can achieve a clean cut at this height, allowing for healthier root systems and better resilience to drought.

  4. Tall Fescue

    • Recommended height: 2.0” – 4.0”
    • Description: Tall fescue is adaptable and can thrive in various conditions. It benefits from higher mowing to promote deep rooting and better drought resistance, while a reel mower can provide a clean cut at these heights.

  5. Perennial Ryegrass

    • Recommended height: 0.5″ – 1.25″
    • Description: Ideal for overseeding and quick establishment, perennial ryegrass is best maintained at moderate heights. A reel mower can efficiently handle the cutting while promoting lush growth.

Tips for Mowing with a Reel Mower

  1. Mow frequently: Regular mowing keeps your lawn at optimal height and promotes thick, healthy growth. Aim to mow often enough to remove no more than one-third of each grass blade at a time. Also, vary your mowing direction with each pass to avoid creating patterns that can stress the turf. For example, start the week mowing horizontally, then go vertically a few days later, and finish with a diagonal cut. This rotation encourages even growth and reduces wear on your grass.
  2. Adjust cutting height: Most reel mowers come with adjustable cutting heights. Familiarize yourself with the adjustments to ensure you’re mowing at the cutting height on the look you prefer, not a number on the height of cut gauge. Each lawn is different.
  3. The Height of cut (HOC) sticker on your reel mower is a handy reference for setting the precise mowing height. Before mowing, check the HOC sticker and adjust your mower to the recommended height for your grass type. This simple step helps prevent scalping and ensures consistent, healthy cuts every time. Regularly using the HOC sticker as a guide keeps your lawn evenly trimmed and promotes stronger, greener grass.
  4. Keep blades sharp: A sharp reel mower blade is essential for achieving a clean, precise cut. Dull blades can tear the grass, giving it a ragged appearance and leaving it vulnerable to disease, even at higher mowing heights. Backlapping is an effective maintenance technique for restoring sharpness between major sharpening sessions. By applying a lapping compound and running the reel blades in reverse, you can keep them honed and ready for a professional-quality cut. We have backlapping kits that include everything you need to get started.
  5. Mow when dry: For the best results, mow when the grass is dry. Wet grass can clump and cause uneven cuts, making it harder to achieve the desired height.
  6. Monitor lawn health: Pay attention to the health of your lawn as you adjust mowing heights. If you notice stress or browning, consider raising your cutting height.

Avoiding Scalping When Mowing Low

Mowing your lawn too low can lead to scalping, where the grass is cut so short that it exposes the soil or stems beneath, leading to unsightly brown patches, stressed grass, and increased vulnerability to weeds and disease. Scalping can also dull your reel mower’s blades, reducing cutting efficiency and potentially damaging the mower over time.

Reel Rollers offers several accessories designed to help prevent scalping and keep your lawn looking its best. One of our key products is our front rollers, which replace the mower’s stock caster wheels. Available in both smooth and grooved options, this roller keeps the mower level at the highest point across uneven surfaces, helping avoid low spots that can lead to scalping. 

Reel Rollers’ products are specifically crafted to enhance the performance of reel mowers, allowing you to achieve a professional-looking cut even on challenging terrain.

[FIND THE RIGHT FRONT ROLLER FOR YOUR MOWER]

Mowing with an engine-powered reel mower allows for shorter cutting heights, resulting in a healthier, more attractive lawn. By understanding the recommended mowing heights for different grass types, you can optimize your mowing practices to enhance lawn health, aesthetics, and resilience. Regular maintenance, sharp blades, and appropriate mowing frequency will help you achieve the best results with your reel mower.