How to Mow Your Lawn The Right Way
Why do we mow?
Grass is like any other plant; you cut off the growing points and the plant becomes stronger and denser. The more often you mow, the thicker your grass will be which is exactly what you want. Plus, it prevents weeds from springing up and pests from multiplying.
Mowing Pattern
There is a lot of debate on which is the best pattern for mowing but in truth, you shouldn’t stick to just one. Grass tends to lean in the direction that it has been cut in so if you always mow the same way it won’t stand up-right. It may not be a huge deal but if you want to ensure you have nice straight grass, you should change it up.
Grass Length
As you probably know, there are many different types of grasses and they all have their own recommended heights. For the best lawn possible, find out which grass you have and find out the best height for you. They are typically between 1 and 3 inches.
At the same time, never remove more than 1/3 of the grass length at a time. This can result in the soil being compacted and weeds and pests increasing instead of decreasing.
It can also be a good idea to leave the grass a little higher in shaded areas where there is less water and nutrients available.
Lawn mower maintenance
- Make sure your blades are kept sharp and balanced or your lawn will be uneven after mowing.
- Keep your mower in a shed or garage to avoid rusting.
- Always keep an eye on petrol and top up when needed with the same petrol every time.
These are just some general tips; always read your operating manual on specific instructions for your mower. Also, it will save you a lot of effort if you buy a good lawn mower at the first place.
How often should you mow?
The correct answer to this question is every time it grows enough to mow back to its perfect height so it depends on your grass and the climate. In hotter seasons, mow more often and in colder ones, mow less. It’s all about keeping your grass at a good length.
Safety Tips
- Wear appropriate clothing, sunscreen, eye goggles or sunglasses and footwear. The spinning blades on mowers often fling small rocks and sticks around that can injure you. The most common injuries are to feet and eyes.
- Always keep extremities away from hot or moving parts.
- Mow across slopes rather than up and down so you don’t slip.
- Keep hydrated.
- Never pull your push mower.
- Confirm the mower is off before manually clearing the blockage.
- Keep children and animals out of the yard while mowing.
- Remove any toys, branches or large rocks before you begin mowing to make it easier.
- The best time of day to mow is in the morning on dry grass.
General Tips
Finally, try to enjoy the process of mowing. Don’t think of it as a chore, but as a means to a beautiful lawn and a chance to get some fresh air and exercise. It has to be done anyway so you may as well enjoy it knowing that the better care you take of your lawn, the better your yard will look.
