NJ Lawns Community

Hey everyone, just bought my first house in Hackensack and I'm totally new to lawn care. I came from an apartment so this is my first time with an actual yard. Got a Honda HRX217 push mower (the manual shift, not self-propelled - wish I'd gotten the self-propel! Lesson learned). My lawn is a mix of tall fescue and some ryegrass (at least that's what the previous owner told me when I asked). It's about 4 acres in the back and maybe half that in front. My neighbor told me I should cut it at 3 inches but another guy at the hardware store said 2.5 inches. I've been mowing at 3 inches because seemed safer but honestly I have no idea what I'm doing. When should I be adjusting the height? Just Leave it for summer or change it up each season? Thanks for any help - really want to avoid killing my lawn before I even get started!

Welcome to lawn ownership! That's a solid mix you have - tall fescue and ryegrass is pretty common in this part of NJ. Honestly the previous owner did you a solid. For that combo, you're looking at 3 to 3.5 inches for most of the season. Here's my standard recommendation: - Spring (March-May): Start at 3.5 inches, drop to 3 as temps warm up - Summer (June-August): Keep it at 3 to 3.5 inches - taller grass = deeper roots = better drought tolerance - Fall (Sept-Nov): Back down to 2.5-3 inches for the last few cuts The one-third rule is key - never cut more than 1/3 of the blade at once. If your grass is 4.5 inches tall, don't chop it down to 2 inches. Set your height to 3 inches and let it recover. For yourHonda, those deck height settings are in quarter-inch increments. I'd start at 3 inches and see how it looks after a week or two.

+1 to what SoilScientist said about the height. I run the same setup in Ridgewood and that's basically what I do. Here's my tip though - get yourself a rain gauge and track your precipitation. We're supposed to get about 1 inch per week during growing season. If you're not getting that from mother nature, water deeply once a week rather than running sprinklers every day. Your fescue will thank you. Also, not sure if you know this but keep your blades sharp. I sharpen mine at the beginning of the season and then again around July 4th. You can get it done at JCE in Hackensack or most of the hardware stores in Paramus will do it for cheap.

I gotta respectfully disagree with some of the advice given here - 3.5 inches seems way too high for a bermuda and rye mix, especially in Hackensack where you're going to get a lot more heat islands effect. You're not in the mountains up in Sussex County. I run 2.5 to 3 inches max on my lawn here in Englewood and it's doing great. The key is more frequent mowing - twice a week during the spring growth spurt. Keeps the clippings small so they mulch into the soil. Also, if your soil compaction is bad (which it probably is if this was a new build in the last 10 years), you're wasting your time worrying about height. Get a soil test first. The Rutgers cooperative extension does them for cheap. That's where I'd start if I were you, OP.

Nice mower choice! The HRX217 is a solid machine. Kudos for going with the premium deck - the Composite deck won't rust out on you like the cheaper models. A few things nobody mentioned - check your anti-scalp wheels. Those little wheels on the corners of the deck prevent you from gouging the lawn on uneven ground. Adjust them to match your cutting height or slightly below. Also, contrary to what some people say, mulching is definitely better than bagging with that mower. The Versamow system on the Honda is legit. Just make sure your blades aren't clogged with old wet grass after you mow - that will wreck your cut quality fast. For height - honestly I'd stick with 3 inches year round and call it a day. Less to think about means you'll actually stick to a routine. Consistency beats perfection in lawn care any day.

Wow thanks everyone! This is so helpful. I had no idea there was so much to think about with cutting grass height. Quick follow-up: should I be collecting the clippings or leaving them? My neighbor across the street bags everything but someone else told me the clippings add nitrogen back into the soil. Pretty confused on this one. Also @GrassGuru - what do you mean about soil compaction? My yard was a rental for 10 years before I bought it, so who knows what's going on underneath. How do I even tell if the soil is compacted?

@HackensackHomes - leave those clippings! Seriously, the only time you want to bag is if you're dealing with a disease outbreak or the grass is insanely long. The clippings break down quick and return nitrogen to the soil. It's like free fertilizer. Just make sure your mower can handle it - the Honda mulches like a champ so you should be good. For compaction - do the screwdriver test. Take a flathead screwdriver and try to push it into your soil. If it won't go in past the handle without using your foot, you've got compaction issues. Happens everywhere in this county because of all the construction over the years. If it is compacted, rent a core aerator from the rental place on Route 46 in Little Ferry. Do it once in spring and once in fall. Your grass will breathe again.