First Mow of the Fall Renovation: 3-Week KBG Success & The Pre-Emergent Carryover Discovery

Описание: Mowing My New Grass for the First Time

It's time for a renovation milestone: the first mow! Just three weeks after seeding Mazama Kentucky Bluegrass, the new grass is ready for its first cut. This year's progress is far ahead of last year's project, confirming a major discovery about renovation timing and herbicide carryover!

In this video, I guide you through the first mow process and share critical lessons:

Timing is Key: I show the progress after 3 weeks and confirm the university advice: mow new cool-season grass to 2 inches once it reaches 3 inches tall. This cut stimulates tillering and helps the lawn thicken up faster.

Mowing Technique: You don't need a reel mower! I use a rotary mower and explain why you should mow when the soil is dry and firm.

The Lift Hack: I demonstrate a trick using the catcher on my small electric mower to increase suction (lift), helping the new, leaning grass stand up for a clean cut.

The Big Discovery: I confirm my suspicion that pre-emergent herbicide carryover from my spring application last year significantly delayed my fall renovation. By skipping spring pre-emergent this year, my renovation is a full week ahead and has fewer thin spots!

Pest Control: I also show my (mostly working) water squirter setup for deterring squirrels and raccoons from digging up the new seed.

If you are planning a fall renovation, watch this to ensure your seed germinates and grows quickly without being stunted by old herbicides!

0:00 🗓️ Intro: October 7th - First Mow Time (Setting the date for the critical first cut)
0:14 🌱 3-Week Progress: Mazama Kentucky Bluegrass (Tracking the speed: seeded Sept 6, germinated Sept 13, ready to mow 3 weeks later—a week faster than last year)
0:37 🔍 Walk-Through & Taller Spots (Showing the uneven growth pattern typical of KBG, with some areas much taller)
0:47 💧 Animal Pest Control (Squirrels & Raccoons) (Quick look at the water squirter setup used to deter animals)
0:58 🌿 Quackgrass Survival (Pre-E-Fix in Spring) (Spotting the surviving Quackgrass rhizomes and confirming they will be treated in the spring)
1:16 🚀 Aerated Corner Success (Highlighting the back corner where prior aeration resulted in excellent, fast growth)
2:07 📏 The Mowing Rule: 3 Inches Tall, Cut to 2 Inches (Sharing the key university research advice: mow at 3 inches tall, cut to 2 inches to stimulate tillering/thickening)
2:37 🚜 First Mow Technique: Rotary Mower is Okay (Confirmation that starting the mow with a rotary mower is fine, even if the entire area isn't ready)
3:03 🌤️ Timing the Mow: Dry Soil is Key (Advising to mow just before the last watering of the day or early afternoon, when the soil is dry and firm)
3:39 🛍️ Mulch vs. Bagging (Lift Hack) (Explaining why you are bagging: the small electric mower's catcher increases lift/suction, helping lean-over grass stand up to be cut)
4:02 🔬 Lesson Learned: Pre-Emergent Carryover (The crucial finding: avoiding pre-emergent this spring confirmed suspicions that carryover herbicide may have hurt last year's fall renovation. This year's is a week ahead!)
4:23 🚫 Weed Control Without Pre-E (Confirmation that skipping pre-emergent didn't invite crabgrass, only required spot spraying for woodsorrel and thistle)