Effective mowing operations require coordination with seasonal cycles, as well as with other roadside maintenance activities.

In late summer and early fall, grasses produce seed-heads. Seed-heads develop very rapidly and, if cut, will regenerate in eight to 12 days. Mowing operations during seed-head production result in wasted time and money.

After seed-heads mature in October and November, grasses will become dormant. Mowing after this period will result in a clean right of way until spring.

NOTE: Where Little Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, Indian Grass, Switchgrass, Green Sprangletop, Sand Bluestem, Western Wheatgrass, or Plains Bristlegrass are the predominant grass, they should be mowed in the late fall.

NOTE: Remember to cut grass no less than seven inches high to provide residual material to protect next year’s early ground-nesting wildlife and ensure healthy grass regeneration. Panhandle roadsides, for example, provide much needed protective cover for pheasants with proper management of key backslopes. (The backslope is the area of right of way beyond the drainage ditch that slopes away – either up or down – from the plane of the roadway.)