Updated: 6/21/2019How to Properly Mow a Lawn? Best Practices.Before mowing your lawn, you need to know the type of grass you will be mowing and whether it is the growing season (Spring or Fall) or the dry season (Summer or Winter). Generally, you should avoid cutting off more than 1/3rd of the total grass height. Cutting more than 1/3 creates burn marks common to overgrown and neglected lawns. Under trees or shaded areas, we recommend to keep the turf height at a minimum of 3" because there is added competition for water and nutrients. It is normally better to let the weedeater do the work around these areas as it will be able to blend the grass height in such a way that a mower can't. We also recommend maintaining the turf height to at least 2.5" high for purposes of weed prevention and control. Mowing too low may encourage crabgrass and dandelions to germinate. Furthermore, only bag clippings when there is weed presence. This helps lessen weed infestation. Once you have the weeds under control, mulch the grass clippings back to the lawn is highly recommended. Nutrients from the grass blade clippings will be reabsorbed by the lawn which helps deepen root growth. If leaves are present, blow them back to the lawn and run them over with a mower. This will mulch the leaves, helping the lawn to reabsorb the nutrients much easier. For equipment, make sure to sharpen your mower blades before every use. Dull blades make rugged cuts which makes the lawn much weaker. Imagine having multiple bruises instead of just one. It increases the chance of diseases and pests aside from making the overall look of your lawn... well... below average. INDUSTRY SECRET:Ask if your lawn care provider would sub-contract the work. If so, this is a strong red flag. Sub-contractors are more likely to skimp on maintenance. They acquire contracts by bidding very low. If your lawn care provider has a mowing crew, ask how often they maintain their equipment. Everyday is optimal. Once every week is about average. Once every season is poor.
When mowing the lawn, the best practice is to survey the area first by clearing debris that may be on the way of your lawn mower. Doing this lessens down time and costs for repairing broken or bent blades. A replacement OEM blade for a 21" mower may cost you up to $40. After the clean up, mow around the perimeter to get a good look of the entire area. Identify where to cut high, short, or not at all. This also serves as a check to your initial clean up. You may have missed a couple of toys, rocks, tree branches, etc. After the perimeter cut, you may cut horizontally, diagonally, or vertically. You may even create imaginary squares or rectangles for larger lawns. Try to stick to one approach from beginning to end. This way you can vary the direction of mowing to lessen compaction and increase flatness. We recommend maintaining a slight overlap when mowing to achieve uniformed results. No matter what direction you choose to cut, you will need to mow on a straight path. To mow as straight as possible, avoid looking at the turf you are currently mowing. Instead, look straight ahead and lock your eyes on a targeted object far away, usually by the fence line or garden bed, and then mow towards it. After the pass, repeat the procedures on the next turn until you finish the entire yard. INDUSTRY TIP:When mowing using a zero-turn mower, avoid turning without both wheels slightly moving. A 360-degree turn will almost always create rot and scalp marks. If for some reason this happened to you, re-lay the grass, add compost, water the area, and re-flatten flatten. This helps repair the damage much faster. CONCLUSIONMowing is a highly repetitive task that requires some technical skill in small engine and blade maintenance, and a significant time to learn the skills needed. While there is no shortcut to good old hard work, the trick to success is to be as consistent as possible. Keep our recommendations in mind, have a keen attention to detail, and you are on your way to a great looking lawn. We hope our article has helped you better understand how to properly mow a lawn. If you need professional lawn care assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at 844-50K-LAWN (844-505-5296). RELATED: The Ultimate Free Organic Best Practices Lawn Care Service Guide
22 Comments
5/12/2022 11:17:12 am
It really stood out to me when you talked about how mowing is a task that requires technical skill in engine maintenance. If you have grass and don't want to purchase a mower, it could be a good idea to hire a lawn care company. This could help you save money because you won't be spending money on engine maintenance. 5/31/2022 09:03:41 am
It truly stood apart to me when you discussed how cutting is an errand that requires specialized expertise in motor support. 7/25/2022 11:35:13 am
My brother moved into another house last week, and it came with a large front yard. It's good to know about lawn care providers and how often they must provide maintenance to their machines, so I'll call my brother later and tell him about your hiring tips. Thanks for the information on keeping your lawn well-maintained. 7/27/2022 12:56:05 am
If I were to enhance my property's curb appeal, I will make sure to have my lawn area mowed. Aside from this, I also agree with you that it's wiser to invest in good quality mulch. Thank you for sharing the importance of choosing the right type of grass too. 7/27/2022 03:29:08 pm
It helped when you said to clear debris before mowing the lawn. My husband and I are planning on moving into our very first home in a couple of weeks, and my husband wants to make sure that he knows how to take care of the lawn properly. I'll pass these tips along to him once he gets a lawn mower for our yard. 8/24/2022 03:37:03 am
Thanks for the great tips! Following these best practices for mowing your lawn will ensure a healthy and beautiful yard that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Be sure to mow in the early morning or evening when it is cooler, and always use a sharp blade for a clean cut. These tips will have your lawn looking its best in no time! 9/2/2022 07:26:17 am
I want to make sure that I take good care of my lawn. It makes sense that doing things environmentally friendly would be beneficial! I'll be sure to hold on to the grass clippings so that try mulching them. 9/12/2022 05:26:25 pm
I like what you said about making sure you have sharpened blades so they don't make rugged cuts. I need to get a completely new mower. I'll have to make sure that its a riding mower. 9/14/2022 12:03:37 am
I appreciate that you explained the importance of knowing the type of grass to ensure proper mowing. My friend told me that he was planning to have their lawnmower as their current lawn has discoloration, and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. I like this instructive article, I'll be sure to tell him that it will be much better if we consult trusted lawn mower services as they can answer all her inquiries. 9/23/2022 11:47:08 am
Thanks for the tips on how to properly mow a lawn. My dad has bad allergies and hates doing any yardwork because of it. He's been looking into hiring some people to help him maintain the lawn and my mom's garden. 11/13/2022 07:42:33 pm
Thank you for mentioning that the ideal method for cutting the lawn is to assess the area first by removing any obstructions that may exist for your lawn mower. My husband claimed that the pests are drawn to our grass. I'll locate a lawnmower to assist my husband in surveying the terrain and clearing the debris before mowing. 1/24/2023 08:27:51 am
Thanks for sharing this post, it is very helpful article. 2/24/2023 05:57:02 am
Thank you for letting me know that mower blades must be sharpened before every use. My mother wants our lawn to be more inviting. I should tell her to turn to an expert in providing effective lawn solutions. 3/13/2023 07:09:47 pm
Thank you for mentioning that the ideal method for cutting the grass is to assess the area first by removing any obstructions that may exist for your lawn mower. My sister claims that the grass in her landscape garden is long and littered. I'll advise her to hire a lawn care company to remove the waste. 3/17/2023 05:52:42 pm
I like the tip you gave that a proper process of mowing is to remove all the debris for a smooth process. My mother mentioned last night that she was planning to have their lawn serviced to elevate the look and function of their lawn. She asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to resolve it. Thanks to this informative article, I'll tell her it will be much better if she consults trusted lawn mowing services as they can provide more information about the process. It got me when you said that the lawn can become weak when the mower's blades are dull. I should ask about that before hiring lawn care services to ensure that they have the proper equipment for the job I need for this weekend. And I think having the assurance that the task is done right will also be for the health of the grass and my plants, so they will not end up damaged. 6/6/2023 08:54:18 am
Wow, amazing tips on how to properly mow a lawn! Your tips will surely help those who are not aware of lawn mowing. A big thanks to help people keep on the way to have a beautiful and well-maintained yard! 7/9/2023 09:08:36 pm
Great article! I found the tips on how to properly mow a lawn really informative. The step-by-step guide provided a clear understanding of the best practices to maintain a healthy and lush lawn. I especially appreciated the emphasis on the importance of mowing at the right height and frequency to promote strong root growth and prevent weed invasion. The article has inspired me to make some adjustments in my lawn care routine, and I'm looking forward to implementing these techniques for a greener yard. Thanks for sharing this valuable information! 8/23/2023 06:44:17 am
Your lawn mowing guide is incredibly informative! You've covered everything from grass height to equipment care and even shared an industry secret. I appreciate your tips on maintaining mower blades and the importance of proper mowing direction. Your advice about focusing on distant objects for straight mowing is a gem. Thanks for sharing these expert insights to help us achieve a healthier, more vibrant lawn! 9/27/2023 11:43:56 pm
Thanks for helping me understand that the area has to be surveyed first before you moan the lawn so that the debris would be cleared first because it might be an obstacle in the more. It seems that professionals in lawn treatments would be able to identify those obstacles for us which is why I have decided to hire experts instead. And it would probably be safer to let them do the job, especially when it comes to handling the equipment, because it might be dangerous if you are not trained for it. 10/13/2023 11:02:57 pm
Maintaining your lawn in winter is essential for a beautiful and valuable home exterior. Prepare early by adjusting irrigation, mowing at a higher level, and fertilizing at the end of autumn. Keep an eye on weeds, as they thrive in winter, and use herbicides when necessary. To combat color fading, consider turf pigments for a vibrant lawn. Seek advice from professionals for the best product for your specific turf supplies in Sydney. Leave a Reply. |
