Mowing Tips for a Healthy Lawn

If you want to have a lush green lawn, maintaining your grass through proper mowing is the key to your success. Here are some tips to help you out:

First and foremost, it’s important to understand how to mow your lawn properly. Make sure you always use a higher setting, especially during the hot summer months. Never mow too low because this can cause scalping, which is the number one reason why lawns grow unevenly.

Never take too much grass off when cutting – this is another big mistake many people make. Never mow more than a third of the length of the grass blades. However, if you think your lawn is growing quickly and cutting 1/3 of the blade doesn’t seem to have the desired effect, you can wait a few days and then mow again. Sometimes it’s necessary to mow two times a week to keep your lawn looking beautiful.

It’s also important to keep your mowing blades very sharp. If you mow your lawn with a dull blade, it will tear the ends of the grass instead of cut them. This creates raggedy edges that have a tendency to turn brown and make your lawn look dried out. You may also cause problems with fungus and lawn diseases if you cut with a dull blade.

Always mow in different directions. For instance, one week mow diagonally, the next week mow horizontally, and the week after that mow in a vertical pattern. Changing the direction in which you mow is an effective method of mowing because it prevents the leaning of grass blades on your lawn.

Never make sharp turns when mowing your lawn. If you avoid turning your mower sharply, you’ll achieve better results. The easiest way to make a smooth turn is to use a walkway, patio, or driveway to turn the mower. Another option is to make header strips that turn the mower at the end of each row as you reach the header. If you do this you will get a nice even cut – faster turns always end up creating an uneven appearance.

Don’t mow your lawn when it is still wet. If it has rained outside or the lawn is damp from morning dew, wait until the lawn has dried fully and then cut it. Never mow early in the morning or after rainfall. And of course, never mow after you have just watered the lawn. This will only cause uneven cuts and encourage the growth of fungus.

When mowing a new lawn, you’ll have to be a little more careful. Wait until the blades have grown to about 1/3 taller then the height that has been recommended for mowing the type of grass you have planted. Mowing before the blades have reached a certain height will only cause the grass stress. Use a light mower until the grass becomes stronger. Use very sharp blades, not only to ensure a good cut, but because with young grass a dull blade will pull the blades out at the root.