Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Guys: I know that this does not have anything to do with bananas but I need some advice. I live in south Louisiana and have a very very thick st. augustine lawn. In fact, it is so thick that my self-propel lawnmower has now become a push mower. Do any of you have any experiences using a reel mower. I have read several articles saying that the reel mower will work in very thick st. aug. lawns. I am open to any advice especially since I don't want to die cutting my grass. I have to cut my grass on the highest level that the mowers has and it still can't pull through the grass. Open to advice. Thanks and have a great day, Pete

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

I used to have a powered reel mower, loved it, but used it on a different grass and for different reason (dwarf tiff maybe, a very fine Bermuda type, and used it to make a putting green type surface for "killer croquet"). Never tried one in taller thicker grass like St Aug. The reel mowers may be designed more for low cutting. They do have good power pull tho.

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Some of the Husqvarna lawn tractors have locking differential. You might look into those. Have you tried the zero turn mowers? We use to live in Jacksonville. St. Augustine grass was hard to beat.

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

How much thread is on the tires? just a thought.. :^)

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Get a couple of dogs.

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

This is greatly tolerable post........you shook posting it......thanks a lot.......!!!

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Maybe your problem is thatch:

Thick thatch makes mowing very difficult.
As thatch builds up, mowing height actually increases
above the soil line, and the turf becomes very spongy,
allowing the mower to sink into the turf and scalp the
lawn. This results in an uneven appearance and often
a mottled brown and green surface

http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and...h-in-lawns.pdf

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

I wonder if this is an old thread

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Yup...... this is an old thread....
But we can have fun with it.

The only Grass I grow is .......Bluegrass.....


Kentucky Bluegrass.......:08:

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

nice catch.. maybe it will be useful to the next person

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

you could find a company to verticut it...its like a sod cutter, but the grass remains..it takes the layer below..wait till spring..

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

I'll benefit of your advices. They are very useful and I appreciate your knowledge. I greet you.

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Hire a commercial mower! Then keep it only a couple inches tall. Or hire a neighborhood teen to mow it for you. LOL! :ha:

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

I wanted to follow up on this. Actually, most turf experts recommend that Augustine grass be no more than 3-4 inches high, and not less that 2 to 3 inches. Shorter stresses the grass and is considered scalping. Too long and you will need a commercial mower to get through it. It is a tough lawn grass that looks great, but has shallow roots which spread across the yard and requires more water than some types like Bahia grass which has deep roots and doesn't have the runners that Augustine has..

I live in S Florida where Augustine grass is popular because it is so thick and looks good. If I lived in KY or MO, I would prefer a softer bluegrass.

Anyway, a thick... deep Augustine grass is hard to mow with a push or self-propelled mower if too tall. But, mowing it too short stresses it. My guess is to cut about 3 inches high and see if that works for you.

Dethatching Augustine can help depending on your soil type and if that grass is really thick, but in S Florida, soils are sandy and dethatching is not needed much. Problem is that Augustine grass criss-crosses creating a thick mat, and the runners are like wire and hard to cut.

I hope this update helps. :bananas_b

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

I would like to say "Congratulations" to everyone that has a thick, tall, St. Augustine lawn! This is the objective!

A thick St. Augustine lawn suppresses weeds and a tall lawn requires less water due to deeper roots and the shade effect of the tall grass blades.

A thick lawn can be produced by more frequent mowing. I mow my lawn about every five days at 4.25" setting on my mower. My OEM mower maximum height was 3.75" but I gave it a "lift kit" by changing out the front wheels with bigger wheels from Home Depot. Cost about $10 or so for the wheels. I only have 0.3 acre so I use is a push rotary mower and skip walking lunges in the gym!

Thatch buildup can develop and can be reduced as noted above by vertical mowing but can be risky due to potential damage and most people don't do it correctly. The shorter, more shade tolerant cultures of St. Augustine are more susceptible to thatch buildup. I have it in some parts of my lawn and am hesitant to vertically mow it. I will probably try aggressively raking it out with a leaf rake followed by a dirt/garden rake.

In regards to reel mowers my understanding it that these type of mowers are best for grasses with short mowing heights of say 2" or less or grasses with thin leaf blades. They are great mowers (higher quality cut) but more expensive than rotary mowers and require more maintenance (more blades to sharpen).

Make sure you keep your blade sharp to reduce disease especially in the
South where fungus is a big issue.

Re: Really really thick st. augustine lawn
 

Why is lawn so important when it does so little in return? Feed it, water it, cut it... or... throw down flattened cardboard, build raised beds, grow food! Unless your local agencies have laws against growing food in your yard,that is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqmoZhnzfBA