Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Mowing
Soundmowing is perhaps the single most important factor contributing to
the attractiveness and longevity of any turf-grass area. Cutting leaves off at
a uniform height produces smooth turf with an attractive appearance.
Cutting through stems (stolons, rhizomes and tillers) causes the turf-
grass plants to produce more stems, which grow roots of their own to
produce more individual plants, and therefore maintains or increases turf
density. Turf managers ordinarily use mechanical mowers powered by
internal-combustion or electrical engines, but occasionally, especially on
small areas, hand-pushedmowers are still used. Beforemodern times grass
was mowed by grazing animals, mostly sheep, which provided a rather
rough quality of cut. The first steam and push-type mowers were intro-
duced in the late 1800s (Fig. 6.1). Today, modern mowers provide a high-
quality cut, and those used on recreational or sport turfs can be adjusted
with great precision, often to within 1 mm of the desired mowing height.
Among the major benefits that result from frequent mowing are
improvements of turf-grass appearance and preservation of the plants'
health. Properly mowed turf is frequently denser, more resistant to
invasion by weeds, and more resistant to traffic damage, diseases, pests
and numerous other stresses.
Turf Responses to Mowing
Mowing is always stressful for turf-grasses. Cutting leaf tissue disrupts
physiological processes and creates open wounds in the tissue through