Hi @sudogardener
Firstly, you're not going insane, and I can see why the different advice has you confused and exhausted!
There are two main approaches to lawn care.
1 - Those who cut regularly to keep the grass uniform and neat
2- The lazy mow or no mow group, who leave grass to grow to its full height and then cut twice or three times a year only.
Mowing weekly or twice a month advice:
If you want your grass green, well-kept and neat the cutting it once a week or twice a month is the way to go. Mowing lawn is actually pruning the grass. It keeps it tidy and vibrant, as light can get to the entire stalk. The only drawback is that it's pretty useless for wildlife or any insects that try to live there, as you're cutting it, disturbing them, and removing their protective habitat. That said, formal or ornamental lawns and turf were never designed as a habitat for wildlife.
However, if you do this and don't mulch the clippings back into your lawn, you will have to feed your lawn at intervals, usually at least once a year, to replenish all the nutrients you're removing with each cut.
https://youtu.be/5BhGtCjT2TQ
No Mow Lawn Advice:
If you leave your lawn and only cut it periodically in early spring and then autumn, the grass or lawn is far more suitable for wildlife. The taller grass provides a habitat and allows other native flowers to potentially emerge (I say potentially, as most new build gardens won't have any present in the turf. They have to be introduced).
No mow strips or tall grass strips are a good idea to give wildlife a helping hand. But rather than just leaving your ornamental grass to grow long and leggy, it's better to follow wildflower meadow practices by introducing some pollen rich perennial flowers to the mix. You can watch below how to create a meadow which is far less maintenance of any lawn type.
https://youtu.be/YDBXSsKXMGg
Why has my lawn now got bumps?
Your lawn may now have bumps because wildlife and even earth worms have started to fully use the ground beneath the lawn. Without all the mowing the turf is a much safer habitat for them, you also maybe finding more vigorous grass types overtaking the more thin ornamental types. Causing tussocks to appear.
It maybe worth while reading my how to lay a lawn guide for more guidance.
Hopefully that helps though?
Lee
Hi @sudogardener
Firstly, you're not going insane, and I can see why the different advice has you confused and exhausted!
There are two main approaches to lawn care.
1 - Those who cut regularly to keep the grass uniform and neat
2- The lazy mow or no mow group, who leave grass to grow to its full height and then cut twice or three times a year only.
Mowing weekly or twice a month advice:
If you want your grass green, well-kept and neat the cutting it once a week or twice a month is the way to go. Mowing lawn is actually pruning the grass. It keeps it tidy and vibrant, as light can get to the entire stalk. The only drawback is that it's pretty useless for wildlife or any insects that try to live there, as you're cutting it, disturbing them, and removing their protective habitat. That said, formal or ornamental lawns and turf were never designed as a habitat for wildlife.
However, if you do this and don't mulch the clippings back into your lawn, you will have to feed your lawn at intervals, usually at least once a year, to replenish all the nutrients you're removing with each cut.
No Mow Lawn Advice:
If you leave your lawn and only cut it periodically in early spring and then autumn, the grass or lawn is far more suitable for wildlife. The taller grass provides a habitat and allows other native flowers to potentially emerge (I say potentially, as most new build gardens won't have any present in the turf. They have to be introduced).
No mow strips or tall grass strips are a good idea to give wildlife a helping hand. But rather than just leaving your ornamental grass to grow long and leggy, it's better to follow wildflower meadow practices by introducing some pollen rich perennial flowers to the mix. You can watch below how to create a meadow which is far less maintenance of any lawn type.
Why has my lawn now got bumps?
Your lawn may now have bumps because wildlife and even earth worms have started to fully use the ground beneath the lawn. Without all the mowing the turf is a much safer habitat for them, you also maybe finding more vigorous grass types overtaking the more thin ornamental types. Causing tussocks to appear.
It maybe worth while reading my how to lay a lawn guide for more guidance.
Hopefully that helps though?
Lee
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