Okay, that time of year is here.  So from me, the Urbanite, to those of  you who own yard space, a few… MOWING TIPS

• Don’t cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher grass heights usually provide for a deeper root system, look better, and are less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.
• Don’t remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowings to get caught up with 3 or more days between cuttings.
• Try to avoid mowing when the grass is wet.
• When mowing only a third with each cutting, you can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.
• Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.
• Keep your mower’s blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season.  Keep several blades around so you’ll always have a sharp one on hand.
• Don’t forget to change your mower’s oil at least once during the mowing season.  If you didn’t drain the gas tank in the fall, or use a fuel stabilizer, don’t use that old gas, it can cause a number of problems.  Better to use fresh gasoline in the new mowing season.