New Grass - When And How To Remove Straw Mulch?

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DIY: Plants & Garden
New Grass - When And How To Remove Straw Mulch?

new grass - when and how to remove straw mulch? archived mjc

mjc

Aug 21, 2008 at 7:28am Edited So the gas company has filled in the holes in our yard, seeded, and mulched with straw. I've been watering daily, and this morning the new grass seems to be up in some places. How long do I wait, or what do I look for, before removing the straw? And can I just (gently) rake it away, or should I try to think of something even more gentle? many thanks, yard gurus!

locowolfy

Aug 21, 2008 at 8:30am Usually you leave the straw down and it will slowly degrade as the grass takes over, kind of a compost effect. It also helps stop evaporation of ground water. As you mow, almost all will disappear. Happy Mowing! WOLFY mjc

mjc

Aug 21, 2008 at 8:56am Edited Thanks so much! That's not what I would have guessed. I think it will be a while before mowing, though. Let the new grass go to 3 or 4 inches?

locowolfy

Aug 21, 2008 at 10:08am I wouldnt let it get that tall because the root system will get used to that. Short promotes deeper root growth. Cut same as a regular lawn cut. You may have to reseed "bare" areas. short is good, espeacially when drought times come! good luck ( two inches is nominal!)

bobk

Aug 21, 2008 at 10:59am Everything I have read and my own experience indicates it is a good idea to let the new grass grow to three or four inches before the first mowing. Also, we keep our lawn about three inches high during the summer to help choke out weeds (a problem on a sunny lawn) and I think the grass stays greener that way. I agree that you shouldn't remove the straw until after the first mowing and that it will usually decompose into the soil. Also, be patient. Sometimes the grass seed isn't covered evenly and it takes longer for some seed to sprout than other seed.

locowolfy

Aug 21, 2008 at 11:04am if the new grass gets too tall, when you cut it, it gets down to the "yellow" part. When this happens, photosynthesis is compromised and could result in lawn loss of new area, just some input!

jersey_boy

Aug 24, 2008 at 2:25am I've read that you should only ever cut off the top 1/3 of the grass no matter how tall. I've also read that cutting grass too short stresses it and allows more evaporation during a drought. Also, the more green area the grass has the MORE photosynthesis it can produce. Basically, I've been taught the opposite of what locowolfy suggests. Now, I've read mostly organic/natural lawn care books/websites. Okay, I found some information to reconcile my reading with locowolfy's: MOWING WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? --- Mow when the grass is high enough. Mow often to stimulate runners and to thicken turf. When a lawn is allowed to grow tall, it also thins. With Bermuda grasses, the green is in the top 1/3 of the plant.. so, if you let it grow too tall, it will look yellow after mowing (you cut off all the green part) Bermudas are greener if mowed twice a week. It can be detrimental to all lawn grasses to let grow too tall, plus it is hard to mow. And a professional landscaper's chat on the topic: Scully

Scully

Aug 24, 2008 at 10:30am Edited

Posted By: locowolfyif the new grass gets too tall, when you cut it, it gets down to the "yellow" part. When this happens, photosynthesis is compromised and could result in lawn loss of new area, just some input!