TALL GRASS TO SHORT GRASS - How I Made The Change

The short cut lawn is not something everyone has tried, and it's not for everyone, either. But it is an ever-increasing trend, and I wanted to look back on my experience and share the steps I took to make it happen in my front yard.
Ideal grass types that tolerate a shorter cut:
Cool season - Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, bent grass
Warm season - Bermuda, zoysia
Here's the full playlist of the process:
• Cutting the Lawn Shorter
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#CherishEachMowment

[@ryswe]

I've hit the point in my life that every man has, I watch mowing videos instead of video game videos.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Welcome to the club

[@ryanwhite7969]

Lmao so true. I'm the same.

[@lv2h8me8]

I still do both. Lol

[@chesswithNaguib]

I'm only 20 and I hit that point already😂

[@naiboz]

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry

[@Craig-ib7gk]

I did similar. I leveled mine. Do yourself a huge favor and core aerate first. The process I used for my front patch (which is only about 800sqft) is below. I live in the PacNW btw). 1. Took it to just before Fall (weekend after Labor day last year). 2. Over two weeks got it down to just under 2in. Looked meh. 3. De-thatched using a sunjoe. highly recommended, btw. 4. Core-aerated and sand leveled on the same day after collecting the cores (I added the cores and thatch to my compost bin, btw). 5. Over-seeded with the cultivar I already have (fescue), spread peat moss, and rolled it. Watered lightly twice a day for the next week (when it didn't rain) in total about a 1/4 inch. 6. A week later I sprayed it with liquid starter fertilizer. 7. A week after that I had amazingly good germination and growth, so I trimmed to 1-1/2 inches. 8. Switched to a push reel and began trimming every other day for the next two weeks until it was down to 3/4in, which is where I am now. 9. Now I hit it with a push-reel every 2-3 days. It's good exercise and psychologically therapeutic. In all, it took about six weeks from start to awesome. After winter, come mid-spring I had repeated steps 4-7 again, then followed it up with a 10-0-8 granular fertilize at half the recommended dose. I can honestly say people literally stop while walking my neighborhood to look at my lawn; they can't believe it is real (and sometimes neither can I). I'm 55 years old with an iffy back. If I can do it, anyone can. My wife thought I was nuts. After the core aeration and sanding she was sure I had destroyed our front yard and was worried about nasty-grams from the HOA gestapo. Four weeks later it was a work of art. Trouble is, now she wants me to do it to our back yard (2500sqft), and I just don't think I wanna swallow that big a pill unless I get a motorized reel. They can run anywhere from around $1k used all the way up toe $5k+. The one used in this video looks like a Toro Greenmaster 1600, and they *start* at around $6500 *used* . You gotta really love your mowing to drop that kinda cheddar on a piece of yard equipment you can't even ride.

[@femia.9298]

SO HELPFUL. Thanks for sharing. What kind of push reel do you use?

[@lxiong1077]

I remember your transition from tall to short. I started around the same time and there's no doubt reel mowing and reel low grass is my favorite too. Nice video on the how to!!

[@1975oldschool]

Anyone feel this had a Ryan Knorr edit feel?!? Good editing my man!

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Quite the compliment. Thank you.

[@DaddingAllDay]

Yup.

[@keithsecrist]

Yes I did. Enjoyed you sharing your journey, Jimmy. Thanks you.

[@DaddingAllDay]

It has been quite the transformation. The lawn responded well with your process. The patience you exhibited is noteworthy because taking your time helped the grass maintain color. Well done!

[@sdotagain312]

"a very enjoyable mow-ment" I caught that!

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Great catch!

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Very nice!! I’m doing the same to my backyard, from 2 1/4” down to 1” now. It is 3,400 sq. ft. of Bermuda and after going as low as the Honda rotary would go, I started at the highest setting on my California Trimmer and started dropping a notch with each mow. Now, I’m a bit stuck at 1” as it needs to thicken up. Amazing the imperfections and thinness you can see when it gets short. But it is much nicer and, as you say, really fun to walk on!

[@MurTEL]

Great video. I am working towards a short cut and I have a reel mower on order. This video gives me reassurance that I am on the right path. This video is what everyone who wants to cut short needs to see.

[@tigerjr38]

This just makes me want to go golfing. looks like a perfect fairway

[@johnhamilton9229]

Short and sweet. Nice quicky Jimmy.

[@David-sg4se]

OMG that screams golf course turf! BEAUTIFUL LAWN!

[@trailheadmedia5578]

Great video man! Answered all the questions I have making the change from rotary to reel! Thank you for making this video…

[@lifeturnaround8265]

I’d do the same but 4 acres of pasture grass, planted 80 years ago, leaves me to just enjoy this guys passion for a nice and small front lawn. Job well done 😎

[@supporterofeverythingyouli6255]

Hey it would only cost 100 million to make 4 acres look like that.... come on

[@UrbanDadLawnAndGarden]

i'm still in the manual reel mower phase, but i've loved the experience of going lower the past year...next year i'll probably upgrade to something powered...never going back to "long" grass

[@BUTTERCUPJones]

I hit a point in my life as a 34 year old woman. no more video game youtube videos and now all I get are mowing videos and car wash videos.

[@rong648]

What a view, the mountains in your backyard.

[@hometurfco]

Currently manual reel mowing my front at 1 inch. It is heavily shaded but will see how it goes this summer!

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

After seeing your lawn in person last year I completely get why you like it that way. It looks great on film and even better in person. Makes me want to consider reel mowing at some point.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Wanting to reel mow is a temptation that never goes away.

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

@@JimmyLewisMows it's frequently on my mind. 😁

[@pstrzel]

I'm down to 2", but still using rotary and the lawn needs to be leveled for any progress. Planning on a long Labor Day of lawn leveling and overseeding weekend this year. Nice view of the Silicon Slopes. ;-)

[@graceortiz9494]

Nice throw back. Enjoyed watching how you brought it down do low.

[@matthewlewis8738]

Great video!!! Fun to see the transformation!!

[@MPMoella]

Nice. Love the effort and results!

[@rickwalker1962]

Fantastic video very well-made thank you so much I'm transitioning my yard to look like yours that's my goal thank you again

[@Kim-ek7xy]

That took a lot of effort, and it looks gorgeous! I have St. Augustine and keep it 3" due to our heat, 103 yesterday here in Central Texas. Your background is beautiful, the snow-capped mountains. I really enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing!

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thanks very much!

[@michaelkohut7601]

Thanks for convincing me to at least do a manual dethatching-great work!

[@alittel07]

Of course you chose the front over the back --- the neighbors must acknowledge the domination. Yard looks great, dood. Bonus points for flashing the Stars & Stripes on the outro.

[@rodsapyta7059]

DUDE, First class Video. Thank you for posting. God Bless.

[@FullContactDrummer]

You're in Utah as am I. I'm excited to see this video. I run my lawn pretty long to help with the heat in the summer.

[@TickyTack23]

I went ahead and scalped my lawn. It was a freshly seeded lawn. I was able to squeeze in an early seed this year in March! But it's been raining all week... I want to work on leveling it, but being on an incline, I have to time the weather, or my work will wash away.

[@Faisal-sf1gh]

The work does wash away on incline.

[@reallybadaim118]

Looks great man!!

[@mickeyhughes7244]

Enjoyed that, thanks. Mickey from England UK 🇬🇧

[@edwardralph5365]

"rub dirt on it" hahahah nice bro!

[@DonaldAJr]

My Gravely 42 inch Zero Turn goes like 1 or 1.5 inches and I love it. It dulls my blades faster but that's a different subject.

[@PlayYourSongz]

This looks great, thanks for the great video.

[@NeillWylie]

You've put some serious work into that beautiful lawn. Props to you my man.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@b286guy]

Stunning lawn 😍

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@carlosrenteria2443]

Man. I wish I had that Toro in my Trailer ! Wow.

[@phukyew14]

Dang Jimmy! Such a well thought out video and great editing! I wanna live where you live, it's beautiful there! 🗻

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@woodsoncircle]

At 3:30, kid double checking dad's work :) Your yard looks fantastic!

[@steves9600]

Looks great 👍

[@deebadubbie]

Fantastic! Lovely place you live at with mountains in the background. That the fuzz kept an eye on you the whole time was a bit unsettling though.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you. We love it here. It's comforting to have a police officer as a neighbor.

[@greenmurci5026]

Dude your lawn looks incredible. I have lawn envy. I gotta level mine but that is the dream!

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@therevestor]

Nice to see a local Utahn on the tube. When your talking at the end you can hear your neighbor mowing trying to keep up with the Jones’s

[@sonofabishop4449]

That is the Utah way, lol.

[@kennethnevins]

That looks amazing! I miss those Utah mountains.

[@ErikJosefsson_]

Looks great ⛳️🇺🇸

[@chichili5ways]

Your front yard looks like a damn fairway. Nice work.

[@flch95]

Cool!! Love the look of low cut grass. And I miss reel mowing from when I lived up north. Warm season grass doesn’t even come close to cool season grass for look and feel.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

I agree. If I lived down south I think I would lean toward reel low bermuda.

[@phreshone1]

Go Bermuda.... Keep cutting short and it will train to creep sideways instead of growing up ... Shoot for 1/2-5/8".... You got to watch out for roots... Roll the lawn to get it smooth

[@Juanandradethegardener]

Such a beautiful Lawn!! 👍

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

The short cut is so much more pro level; you know the neighbors are jeleous!

[@Jim1971a]

Looks great

[@GotrekGurninsson]

Your son was like man just come play ball with me F your grass obsession. Joking aside I love my lawn long I love that prairie grass swaying in the wind look. Birds perch on it it’s amazing.

[@kookrew1]

Love your vids man, I can't wait to reel mow! Just gotta get my lawn healthy and get rid of all the weeds first 😞. So jealous of your grass.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you that’s very nice.

[@alceja3522]

Short thick grass just looks so freaking nice!! Not sure if I can pull this off with Fescue in CA. I mow my fescue at 1.5 inch and my neighbors think it’s turf lol

[@JimmyLewisMows]

I love it. Yeah fescue doesn’t take a super short cut unfortunately.

[@gregchapman9923]

Looked like a Utah home. Travel there every year for family in Provo. Not sure I can pull this off in Missouri!!! looks great.

[@Probablyshouldnthave]

your neighbors must love the constant mowing

[@obilawnkenobi7230]

Reel mowing and Baseballism love the video!

[@kevinb5075]

I did the exact opposite of what you did. I went taller. And I love it even more than I thought!

[@brodygoalie]

Most grasses should be at 3 inches or higher. Alot of stress on a lawn during the summer if you keep it short. Golf course superintendents have a tough job but they spend a lot of time and $$ on keeping the grass short. Very hard to do for the average homeowner

[@dangolfishin]

Yeah I cut mine at 3 1/2 right now. I go down to 2 1/2 when its cool or rainy

[@thedrewwitt]

I did the same journey on my zoysia. Went from rotary, to a fiskars, and then a trucut. Keep mine at 3/4” and people ask if it’s fake. Great video.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

People asking if it’s fake is the best compliment.

[@thedrewwitt]

@@JimmyLewisMows agreed! It happens twice a week! I’ve got a video clip on my channel (not this account) if you want to see it. Go to 13:58 on this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXjdl2iiqN-tqcU

[@ldssggrdssgds6119]

Fairway quality...good job!

[@edwinarroyo5104]

Look very good 👍 nice job

[@bucky5063]

Looks amazing

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@1212holden]

I saw the angels hat and smashed the subscribed button as fast as I could, Go halos!

[@JimmyLewisMows]

My guy! Thanks!

[@marktarry4281]

I'm a similar, I never let my lawn get longer than 3/4 of a meter.😀

[@siggi5395]

Nice grass, top green 😁

[@DsLawnLandscape]

Just came across your channel and Holly crap I have so work to do haha! My channel is so amateur 😂😂 great content brother!

[@Ali-pr5dk]

His lawn is the best

[@shion_lwn]

I have been looking for someone on youtube who explains how they transitioned from high to low cut!! Thank you for this video! I am new to reel low. I think I am making mistakes. I started cutting low this month. I was cutting gradually lower but the interval was too short. My lawn is bumpy and still mixed with multiple grass types like tall fescue is still mixed in random spots. I've been overseeding KBG&PRG mix but I think I will need to do a reno at some point. Anyways, 1 1/4" HOC sculpted big part of my lawn. Manual reel mowers kept getting stuck at 1 5/8" highest setting, so I had to go with an electric reel mower. I have been cutting at 1 1/2" every day since this week. my lawn is so stressed. so I will change to every other day. I applied liquid fertilizer last Sunday, but I don't see any recovery much. Should I continue to cut at 1 1/2", or cut even lower to teach grass ? Also, how high do you leave for the winter ? Thank you for your advice.. !

[@saiiiiiii1]

You figured it out? Cause my lawn also looks stressed as hell and doesn't really seem to recover.

[@shion_lwn]

@saiiiiiii1 whoa, this comment I posyed is like a year ago. I did full lawn reno with 100% KBG last Spring to level my lawn. not perfect, but better than it used to. I ve been mowing between 1/2~1" now. I had learned that KBG&PRG mix I used to have were not really meant for short cut, so I changed varieties that have more tolerance to low mow.

[@jaredreeder6271]

Excellent video. ,

[@twocanoetom]

Big hat and sunglasses, coming back at ya folks

[@alos18]

Looks great.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you

[@TheBermudaRectangle]

Looks good

[@Sgten01]

In New Zealand we are quite fortunate that no matter what you do to the grass it just won't die, if it looses green colour u get it back within a few weeks without doing anything. I keep my lawn at a very similar height, having it long is almost viewed as lazy over here.

[@dchapero6929]

I love a different kind of grass.

[@m3rdpwr]

I keep mine high now, because it hides some of the bald spots. I do quite the display on Halloween and Christmas, and it tends to kill the grass in those areas.

[@alchemi8085]

4 inch crew checking in :)

[@hhhAmbientElectronic]

I'm curious what grass is in your lawn. It's beautiful. With regard to experimenting, I'm right there with you. In fact, I'm putting it all on the table this year. I live in North Texas. Last year, we had a particularly brutal Summer. Virtually no rain for four months and record 100+ degree temps. I didn't mow all Summer... because there was literally nothing to mow. I decided to let it all go (it was 80% weeds anyway). In November, I did a full renovation. Scalped, scarified, removed the debris, spread 8 yards of high quality topsoil, leveled and planted a proprietary blend of turf type tall fescue (Defiance XRE), which claims great drought, heat and traffic tolerance. Six months later, I have one of the prettiest lawns on my street, but we've also been blessed with cool temps and one of the wettest Springs on record. Now that Summer is approaching and the Gates Of Hell begin creaking open, the test is upon us. By November, I will know if my experiment was successful or a huge waste of time, money and sweat. I'm currently mowing at the lowest setting my mower will go, at 1.5 inches. Pretty short for Fescue, I know, but so far, so good. Best of luck in your endeavors. You have an awesome lawn. One of the best on KZbin in my opinion and I watch a LOT of lawn porn.

[@paycheckvomitthorax]

Wow.... I'm going to follow your lead.... thank you.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

I'm at 2"+ zoysia (new sod) and this is the long term plan. Maybe by the end of the year. I'm in Florida so no dormant season for me.

[@SalisburySnake]

I like lawn mowers more than I like actually taking care of grass. Several years ago at my old house I decided I needed a powered reel mower. I had a decent St Augustine lawn, and had read that a reel mower would work for that. But I didn't know about the need for transitioning slowly. I was probably cutting it at like 3", plus the light weight rotary mower would glide over the spongy grass. The reel mower was much heavier and I think the max height was like 1.25". The first time it hit the lawn, it pressed down the spongy grass and cut it practically to the soil. It was like those fail videos where someone forgets to put the guard on the clippers when they cut their hair. I sold it a while later, but I wish I had it back. Now I have 10 acres and want to build a golfing area.

[@jimmyv2000]

You left out the most important part. What are the nutrients you feed your lawn to keep it green at that height.

[@wackyduck3]

Massive water consumption too

[@RionPhotography]

Anyone the opposite? I mow my KBG as tall as it lets me and still look good. Something about striping a tall lawn is 🔥🔥🔥 I like the look of the short lawns don’t get me wrong, but for me I just love the look of a lush forest of evenly mowed and striped grass

[@choppa5300]

Transitioning my St Augustine to reel mow 😊

[@vinnypinatelli221]

I am considering it! I want to so bad but dont have the equipment or start up money!!!

[@andrewgrady1]

Nice job man.

[@JimmyLewisMows]

Thank you.

[@NotTheFakejdiederich03]

Love your channel! How much work had to be done with leveling to get to a place where reel mowing worked well?

[@emcanimations8442]

His front yard is basically a fairway. Good job looks good

[@SynysterGoose]

If I had the time I'd definitely do it

[@KRay-fb2vf]

On the video your lawn looks great. What about burn during the hot summer months. Do you live in an area of restricted watering days? What do you feed the lawn to make it survive weeds and heat?

[@akielb]

Process took so long the officer across the street got a vehicle upgrade!

[@PearlLover]

I love my thick, soft Bermuda!

[@steve318k]

I've gone the other way... Time to mow when the wildflowers and tassels start to show !

[@kkevinj1]

My zero turn will go 1 inch, Im going to try it with Bermuda next year, hope its good enough

[@christopherortiz8713]

Just subscribe.. Lawn looks awesome. Love the low cut as well and do have a push reel mower. Lawn is not level probably need to do some leveling. any suggestions what best to use on Bermuda grass and best time to do it in Texas heat.

[@mmon1984]

Did you level your lawn? Mine is pretty bumpy. I think I need to sand level then go short. How long should I wait after leveling with sand?

[@northoflawn]

Wow ! love it #reellow

[@scottm2398]

that looks 👍

[@billytherealtor7745]

It’s cool to see a local UT lawn on KZbin. I live in Davis County. Now I’m curious who your cop neighbor is because I work for the same dept haha

[@EliteTraderInsights]

I will love to do the same thing.

[@chuck7240]

Awesome

[@Striperman]

I pretty much did the same thing. I thought I would never go low and after watching Connor, Ryan and Ben do it I gave it some thought. After I saw Brett doing it I said that's it I am going low lol :) and never turned back

[@JimmyLewisMows]

If Brett can do it, anyone can do it 😉

[@Striperman]

@@JimmyLewisMows Exactly hahahaha