Mow Reference

Genesis Mowing Specs & Field Reference

Everything a Genesis mow / maintenance crew needs on-site. Height-of-cut, work order, sanitation, and safety. Printable. Cut quality is audited — this is the standard.

Height of Cut

Turf Type	Blade Height Setting	Effective Cut Height
St. Augustinemost common FL turf — keep tall	4.5 – 5"	~3.5 – 4.5"
Zoysia	4"	~3"
Bermuda	4"	~3"
Bahia	4"	~3"

Mowing isn't about cutting grass short. It's about holding it at the height where the plant photosynthesizes best, roots deepest, and shades weeds out on its own. Train every lawn to its target height and hold that setting every visit. Cutting below spec weakens the crown, thins the canopy, and opens bare soil to crabgrass and nutsedge. Never scalp to “make the next visit easier.” In Florida, the target doesn't change with the seasons: there's no cool-season exception, and the blade does not drop in winter. If the mower can't hit spec, the problem is almost always the machine. The deck is out of level (check the deck washers), or tire pressure is uneven. Fix that before you touch the lawn.

Work Order — Every Site

1
Mow
Correct height of cut, no scalping, overlap passes slightly.
2
Edge
Alternate weekly: concrete one week, beds the next.
3
Weed eat
Restring every morning before the first site.
4
Blow
Clean turf, beds, walks, driveway, and pool deck.

Edging rotation: concrete one week, beds the next. Alternate weekly. Edger blade: change after every half day of use. Weed eater: restring every morning before the first site.

The 1/3 Rule

Try not to remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in a single cut. If turf has grown past that point, raise the deck and bring it down over multiple visits — do not scalp it back in one pass. The more frequently you mow, the easier this is to maintain.

Blade Maintenance

Sharpen blades a minimum of 3 times per week at a 45-degree angle.

Do not over-sharpen — an over-sharpened blade has a thin, fragile edge that dulls faster and chips easily.

The Magna-Matic Blade Angle & Thickness Gauge must be used after every sharpening to confirm the 45°. If the gauge doesn't sit flush, regrind before putting the blade back on the mower.

A dull blade tears the leaf instead of cutting it. Torn tips turn brown within 24–48 hours and create entry points for disease. Cut quality is subject to audit by Genesis.

Equipment Sanitation — Between Every Site

Mowing equipment transfers fungal spores and disease between properties. Complete at every site transition.

1
Blow off
Leaf blower clears clippings + debris from deck, blade housing, wheels, and wheel wells.
2
Spray down
Pump sprayer with quaternary ammonium (e.g. Physan 20) on blades, deck underside, wheels, wheel wells.
3
Let it ride
Solution air-dries in transit. No rinse required.

Recommended Sanitation & Field Equipment

Item	Purpose
Magna-Matic Blade Angle & Thickness Gauge	Verify 45° edge after every sharpening — regrind if gauge doesn't sit flush.
Pump Sprayer (1–2 gallon)	Apply disinfectant between sites.
Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectant (e.g. Physan 20)	Dilute per label — kills fungal spores and disease organisms on contact.
Sharp spare blades	Swap mid-day if blade strikes rebar, rock, irrigation head, or pine cone.
Fire extinguisher + first aid kit	DOT-required on any trailer over 10,000 lb.

Standards

Mowing heights may not be altered.
Blade height is not to be lowered for cool season or any other reason.
The sanitation protocol applies at every site transition — no shortcuts.
Cut quality is subject to audit by Genesis.

Genesis Sprinklers & Water Management · Mowing Spec Sheet v20 · Printable reference