re: Centipede mow height

I don’t know enough to disagree with all of the universities who universally say that long centipede can lead to centipede decline. I’ve seen the over fertilization thing cause problems first hand. I haven’t ever cut mine long because I was warned. It may work fine.

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If you cut 33% percent of the leaf blade off each mow 33% of 1.5 is less than 33% of 3. Also if it grows that tall you will cut some stems and that will take longer to break down. Mowing at the lower height does create more lateral growth.

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Certainly. But are you saying your grass that is 2 inches high grows slower than grass that is 2.5 inches high?

I don't know? Would grass not grow at the same rate or grow slower as its taller? 33% of 3 inches is 1 inch and 33% of 2 inches is .66 inches. So if that was the case your 3" tall grass would have to be growing almost twice as fast as your 2" tall grass every week.

ETA: Furthermore, no one is cutting 33% off. People are setting their mowers at level 4 or level 5 or whatever and running it every Saturday. It doesn't matter what the height is.

ETA2: I have still yet to see any evidence that taller grass that is bagged is worse than shorter grass.

I don’t think it’s really that much of an issue as soil ph and proper fertilization and watering is. You can walk around my neighborhood (every lawn is centipede and under 3 years old) and see all the over fertilization stripes and dead spots on lawns that looked great last year. It’s clear as day that everyone is over ferting their yard. The guy from the lawn doctor is cleaning up In my neighborhood.

As long as you are minding those You’ll be fine. Personally I’m going to take the recommendations to mow lower. Some of the best looking centipede lawns I’ve seen have been cut at 1 - 1.5 inches. these were all cut with a reel mower but still food for thought.

I used to mow close to 3. I’m down to 2.5 and trying to get it down to 2 but there are a few high spots that want to scalp. I need to correct those.

Of course right now my lawn is thirsty af. Nothing I’m doing is showing any benefits. We need rain bad.

My point is no one is going out there and measuring their grass before they cut. They are on whatever level their mower is and let it ride 90% of the time.

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ETA: Furthermore, no one is cutting 33% off. People are setting their mowers at level 4 or level 5 or whatever and running it every Saturday. It doesn't matter what the height is.

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You'd be surprised. I mow every 3 or 4 days to stay below the 33% rule on my grass.

I have a cool season grass yard but just mowing more regularly and sharpening blades more often did more for my grass quality than anything else I have done. People really neglect their grass when it comes to proper mowing techniques for the most part.

I remember when I was younger:

“shite I need to mow”

Now it’s more like:

“Damn will you grow quicker so I can mow?”

So true. The nicer the grass gets the more enjoyable mowing becomes. It is one of the oddest things I have experienced.

On why you shouldn’t let the grass get too high:

Found this on the Scott’s site

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Mowing. Centipede grass should be maintained at 1½ to 2 inches tall -- any higher and you start to see excess thatch develop. Also, make sure your mower blade is nice and sharp for a good, clean cut and only remove the top ? of the grass blades at any one time.

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Seems to be more of a thatch buildup concern. If you’re not taking off much with each cut and you have a sharpened mulching blade, then i don’t see why this would even be a problem. I’m planning on it cutting mine 3”-4” and I’ll be making grass angels in that thick luxurious turf.

Do you have a reel mower?

Have any pictures of your lawn after a reel cut?