Keeping Turf Healthy

Throughout the summer, Southview Design’s maintenance crew members manage commercial properties throughout the Twin Cities metro area.

They use a range of commercial-grade mowers, including walk-behind and riding mowers. Mowers are selected based on each site’s turf square footage, terrain, and potential obstacles.

These mowers have safety features worth noting:

• Rollover protection systems
• Chute covers – prevent from debris being thrown.
• Mowing at approximately 4MPH – promotes clean turf cuts while the crew member maintains control of the mower.

Crews follow specific safety protocols by wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), disengaging mower blades when near cars or people, and avoiding areas where turf or site damage can occur.

Weekly maintenance services include:

• Each site is mowed based on its specific qualifications. Our crews never cut turf lower than 2.75 inches of turf blade at a time. In Spring, the typical turf blade length is 3.25 inches. During the summer, the typical turf blade length is 3.75 to 4 inches.
• Turf cutting, patting, or striping will be alternated each maintenance visit.
• All turf clippings are recycled into the turf. This promotes a healthy thatch layer and returns nutrients to the soil.
• We use the best management practice of trimming only when necessary. Typical trimming areas – obstacles, hard-to-reach areas, overly wet areas, landscape bed edges, and curb lines.