Green Industries Best Management Practices manual

MOWING BMPS• Adjust the cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance betweenthe ground and the blade.• Do not mow wet turf because it can promote disease and fungus, and clippings can clog the machine. Mow only when theturf is dry.• Sharpen the mower blade frequently enough to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.• Mow in a different direction every time the lawn is cut. This prevents wear patterns, reduces the grain (grass laying over inthe same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.• Use the highest acceptable mowing height for the grasses being grown.• Do not remove more than one-third of the foliage at one time.• Do not direct clippings into bodies of water or onto impervious surfaces. Remove any clippings that are blown onto sidewalks,driveways, and other impervious areas.• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute the clippings by re-mowing or by lightly raking. You can also use aleaf blower to distribute clippings.• Clean the mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.• Practice grass recycling and return nutrients to the soil.• If you must collect clippings, compost them. Use the compost as a soil modifier or mulch.• Avoid mechanical damage to trees and shrubs from string trimmers, mowers, and other equipment.horizontally can usually be mowed shorter than anupright-growing, bunching grass. Grasses with narrowblades can generally be mowed closer than grasses withwide blades. Bermudagrass is mowed at very low heightsbecause of its numerous narrow leaf blades and lowgrowth habit. On the other hand, bahiagrass needs to bemowed higher because of its open, upright growth habit.Turfgrass undergoes physiological stress with each mowing,particularly if too much leaf tissue is removed. Theeffects of this “scalping” can produce long-term damageto the turf and leave it susceptible to numerous otherstresses, such as insects, disease, drought, and sunscald.It is always important to leave as much leaf surface aspossible for photosynthesis to provide food for regrowth.For mowing safety, be sure to follow these tips:• Pick up all stones, sticks, and other debris before mowingto avoid damaging the mower or injuring someonewith flying objects.• Never fill a hot mower with gasoline.• Always wear heavy leather shoes when mowing thelawn.• Check your mower every time it is used. Follow themanufacturer’s recommendations for service andadjustments.PRUNING OF LANDSCAPE PLANTSPruning is another important landscape maintenancetask. Through the selective removal of shoots andbranches, pruning a plant can improve its health,reduce the risk of failure, control growth, and enhancefruiting, flowering or appearance. Pruning should bea part of routine maintenance and should not bedelayed until the landscape is overgrown. However,close attention should be paid to proper timing,depending on the needs of various plants. Proper plantselection can eliminate many pruning requirements,especially for shrubs.Trees should not be pruned without a clearly definedobjective. Objectives can include 1) reducing the risk offailure by improving structure and removing deadbranches, 2) raising or reducing the crown to provideclearance, and 3) thinning the crown to increase air andlight penetration. Removing the correct stems andbranches to accomplish the specified objectives is asimportant as making the correct pruning cuts. If thewrong branches, or too many branches, are removedeven with proper pruning cuts, nothing of merit hasbeen accomplished.For more information, see the following:IFAS Circular 853, Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs, athttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG087 or Pruning Shade Trees inthe Landscape, at http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning/.22FLORIDA FRIENDLY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries