Ef fect of mowing height
on the appearance and persistence
of tall fescue turf
LEAFLET 98 WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON and RAY DICKENS'
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AUGUST 1979
f~eele cul be OX 11oil at mucjh lowc r
colttiogi. heights wXithout A fftctitig it', per-
sisteitct (2). Ali experimient \ Xs AX oll-
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Coe at tli, 'I'lllfglXX Researchl Atl at
Aoiiui ItiiiX ciXitX Aglicilltuiil I,\pcri-
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AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION/AUBURN UNIVERSITY
R. DENNIS ROUSE, Director AUBURN, ALABAMA
1977. The grass was mowed weekly at
0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 inches throughout the
growing season. Supplemental irrigation
was applied during periods of drought.
The plots were rated several times for
general appearance of the turf during
1976 and 1977. Characteristics consid-
ered in evaluating the overall appear-
ance of the turfgrass were (1) uniformity,
(2) density, and (3) color.
During both years the 1.5-inch mow-
ing height produced the best turfgrass
appearance, see table. Less desirable turf
appeared in plots mowed at 2.0, 1.0, or
0.5 inches. The superiority of a tall fes-
cue mowed at 1.5 inches was primarily
due to a more uniform appearance. The
2-inch cutting height gave a more irregu-
lar growth habit to the grass while the
lower mowing heights decreased the
density and caused a lighter color in the
coarse textured tall fescue. Appearance
at lower cutting heights probably would
have been even less desirable if the inva-
sion of crabgrass (Digitaria sp.) and cen-
tipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)
had been prevented.
Long-term persistence is a highly de-
sirable characteristic in a turfgrass. After
2 years of mowing treatments, the per-
centage of tall fescue remaining was es-
timated visually in September -of 1977.
Plots mowed at the greatest mowing
height showed the best tall fescue persis-
tence, and the amounts of tall fescue re-
maining in the plots was significantly
less at each successively lower mowing
height.
Results of this study indicate that
mowing heights below 2.0 inches should
be avoided in tall fescue grown for turf.
Although the 1.5-inch mowing height
may initially produce a more uniform
appearing turf, the subsequent loss of
stand density would soon result in an
inferior turf subject to invasion by weeds
or other grasses. Stands which have be-
come too thin for acceptable turf may be
reseeded in the fall to increase density.
LITERATURE CITED
(1) Beard, J. B. 1973. Turfgrass science
and culture. Prentice-Hall, Inc., En-
glewood Cliffs, N.J. p. 96-98.
(2) Bums, R. E. 1976. Tall fescue turf as
affected by mowing height. Agron. J.
68:274-276.
[2]
EFFECT OF MOWING HEIGHT ON THE APPEABANCE AND PERSISTENCE OF 'KENTUCKY 31' TALL FESCUE 
AT AUBURN, ALABAMA
Appearance' Stand
Mowing 1976 1977
height June July August Av'. March May 
August Av. Sept. 1977
In. 
Pct.
0.5 3.32 3.0 3.0 3.1 4.3 4.0 2.0 3.4 
30
1.0 5.0 3.7 4.0 4.2 4.7 5.0 3.0 
4.2 47
1.5 7.0 6.0 5.3 6.1 5.7 6.7 
4.7 5.7 60
2.0 6.3 4.3 6.0 5.5 4.7 6.0 4.3 5.0 
73
'Appearance rated 1 through 9; 9 = best.
2
Averages of 3 replications.
Information contained herein is available to all without regard to race, color, or national origin.