Why Does Grass Turn Yellow After Cutting It?
If you’re anything like me you will take good care of your lawn you water it feed it fertilizer and cut it when it needs cut.
The problem is after I cut my grass it tends to turn yellow so I have done lots of research to try and find a solution for this and this is what I am going to share with you.
If your grass turns yellow after cutting it this could be for a number of reasons. It could be you are cutting your grass too short for the weather conditions, it could be you are following incorrect watering procedure or it could be a fungus or maybe you are growing the wrong grass for your local climate.
In my quest to find a solution for why my grass turns yellow after cutting it I found out there are a number of things that may be causing this to happen.
If you cut your grass too short during the summer it can actually get burnt by the sun so you don’t want to be cutting your grass too short during the summer months when the sun is shining.
If you water your grass at the wrong time like when the sun is out this can magnify the sun and end up and you burning your grass.
At the same time if you don’t water your lawn for long enough it will dry out and start to turn yellow.
There are also a number of funguses that will turn your grass yellow and this is easy enough solved with a fungicide. Read on and I will tell you what I have learned.
Check out my article on the first grass cut of the year.
What Is The Best Length For Grass To Grow Healthy
When you’re cutting your grass there are a number of things you should take into consideration like what season is it and what height should you cut it to keep it in optimum condition.
If you cut your grass too short it can start to grow a shallow root system and this will lead to a number of problems including turning yellow and it will be generally unhealthy and not the beautiful lawn you are hoping to achieve.
After investigating, this is what I discovered is the best lengths to cut your lawn for the different seasons.
The best length to cut grass for different seasons:
- Spring first cut 2.5 inches (This short length will stimulate growth)
- The rest of spring 3 inches (Days are short this allows more light)
- Summer months 3.5 inches (This shades the roots in the summer sun)
- Fall cut to 3 inches (Shorter length stimulates root growth)
- Final cut of the year 2.5 inches (Before or just after the first frost)
This is the routine I now use to cut my grass as I think I may have been cutting it too short during the summer months which was partly responsible for turning it yellow.
Check out my article on 9 reasons and solutions for yellow grass.
Can A Bad Watering Routine Cause Yellow Grass
Everyone knows that watering grass is good for it, but most people don’t know how much water the grass actually needs to give it the optimum conditions for growing healthy which can lead to yellow grass amongst other problems.
Lots of people enjoy giving their grass a daily water but this is the wrong tactic as it will eventually lead to your grass having a shallow root system.
Shallow root systems are prone to drying out, the goal is to have a deep root system so that your lawn will grow stronger and be more drought resistant.
You are best to give your lawn a deep watering 2-3 times per week, this will encourage the root system to grow deep which means a healthier lawn.
During hot periods you may have to increase how much water you give your lawn.
The easiest way to test if your lawn is getting enough water or becoming dried out is to use a 6-inch screwdriver, stick it in your lawn and if you can’t get it all the way down and you need to water your lawn more.
You have to water your lawn at the correct time which would be early in the morning or late in the evening.
This is because if you water it in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest and strongest the water will magnify the sun and this can lead to your lawn becoming sunburnt and yellow.
Have You Chosen The Wrong Grass For Your Local Climate?
There are different grasses that are more suitable for different climates these are normally classified as warm grass and cool grass.
If you have chosen to grow the wrong class for your local climate then you will be in a constant battle and your grass turning yellow after cutting it may well be the least of your problems.
People who live in a cool area like northern USA or Canada then you should choose a cool season grass like perennial ryegrass, tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass.
If you live in a southern hot zone then grass that would be ideal for your climate include bermudagrass, St. Augustine grass, centipede grass or zoysia grass, they will all thrive in hot weather conditions.
If you live somewhere that is in the middle I would recommend you grow tall fescue grass as it is tolerant of hot summer weather and cooler weather over the winter.
To find out why grass turns yellow during the winter Click Here.
Can Yellow Fungus Spread After Cutting Grass?
When you cut your grass the cuttings will be spread all over the place so if your lawn does have a fungal infection it is highly likely that it will be spread every time you cut your grass.
The only real solution to this problem is to make sure your lawn doesn’t have a fungal infection in the first place as prevention is better than a cure.
There are a number of fungal infections that could cause your grass to turn yellow such as:
Rust – When your grass is infected by rust fungus your lawn will develop yellow patches.
Rust fungi need damp conditions to be able to grow so it will normally appear when it is a wet summer or in fall when there are heavy dues, or maybe you have been overwatering your lawn.
There are no fungicides available that can treat rust the only solution is to make your lawn dry out by watering it less and aerating it to improve drainage.
Rhizoctonia Root Rot – This disease can infect most types of lawn turf and will be most prevalent when the temperature gets below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20C) that normally happens during the transition between fall and winter and winter to spring.
If your grass is infected with this disease there are lots of problems that can occur but one of the main signs is the grass turning yellow you should treat this disease with a fungicide.
Leave a comment and let me know if you have any suggestions.
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