Mowing your lawn is a chore you will have to complete several times in the spring and summer. Mowing correctly can help you have a healthy, vibrant lawn, but doing it the wrong way can weaken the grass and invite weeds and disease. Here are some tips to help you mow your lawn properly and keep it healthy.
If you are interested in buying a new lawn mower, you can try a battery-powered one to eliminate gas and fumes. Most battery-powered mowers have enough power for an average-sized yard. Look for one with a rechargeable battery or buy an extra battery.
To get the best results, keep your lawn mower blade sharp so the grass is cut cleanly. You should sharpen your lawn mower blade a few times during the mowing season. You might want to buy an extra blade.
A dull blade will tear the grass and create ragged edges. This can allow diseases and pests to get into the grass blades. If you cut your grass with a dull blade, it can develop a whitish or brown color where the tips of the blades die.
Adjust the height of your lawn mower depending on the season. Let the grass grow longer in the summer to shade the soil, prevent weeds from growing, and slow the rate of water evaporation from the soil. Longer grass also has deeper roots and can withstand drought better. Lower the cutting deck in late fall the last time you mow your grass to prevent snow mold.
The best time to mow grass is when it is dry. Mowing when the grass is wet won’t hurt it, but it can clog your mower. The wet grass may also fall over and clump together and make the grass be cut unevenly. Remove clumps of wet grass from the lawn to avoid killing your lawn. Do not mow in wet soil because it could create wheel ruts and tear up the grass. If you have to mow the grass when it is wet, put oil or silicone spray on the bottom of the mower so grass will not stick to it and make sure the blade is sharp.
It is better to mow your lawn when it is in shade. Mowing in a cool part of the day causes the grass to lose less water and recover faster than mowing when it is sunny. If your lawn is in a shady area, let the grass grow longer. It will have a greater surface area for photosynthesis, which will help it remain healthy.
You should never cut off more than a third of the length of the grass at one time. Cutting too much, or scalping, can weaken the grass. Scalping can make your lawn vulnerable to diseases and weeds because the soil will be more exposed and sunlight will reach weeds. Cutting grass too short also weakens the root system and can make it more likely to become damaged by drought or heat.
Mow with a wheel on the edging along your driveway or walkway. If you do this, you will not have to string trim edges.
You should not mow in the same pattern every time because that can compact the soil and create ruts. This can make the grass less healthy and lead to weeds.
Be careful when mowing on a slope. Never do this when the grass is wet because you can slip and get hurt. Push the mower across the slope, not up and down. You can use a string trimmer on a small or short slope.
Grasscycling is leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. This saves time and can fertilize your lawn, which can save you money. You can buy a mulching blade for your mower to cut the grass into small pieces that will decompose faster. You can also buy an adapter kit with a plug to fill the hole where clippings leave the mower deck. Grasscycling is most effective if the grass is cut frequently. If the grass clippings are longer, you will need to rake them or collect them in a bag.
Frequent watering is necessary to keep your lawn green and healthy. After you mow your lawn, make sure the grass gets plenty of water. Sprinkler System Store has a complete selection of sprinklers and timers to make the job easier. Order one today to make sure your lawn always gets enough water.
