Mowing the lawn is one of the gardening activities that many people need to do in their backyard. This gardening activity is quite time-consuming and challenging, especially if you have a large area of lawn. To be able to achieve a beautiful lawn, the whole lawn mowing process must be considered, starting from preparing tools for lawn mowing activity until fulfilling your goal of having tall and beautiful grass.

What is lawn mowing?

Lawn mowing is a gardening activity that aims to cut or prune the grass in an organized manner. There are several types of lawnmowers, ranging from manual, semi-automatic, and automatic. Those who rarely carry out lawn mowing activities usually hire services from landscaping companies.

What are the benefits of lawn care?

There are many benefits if you can do regular maintenance, including: 

• Lawn mowing is a very important part of having a well-kept lawn. In fact, if you don’t keep your lawn mowed on a regular basis, it could lead to a lawn that is thick with weeds, and this will begin to look unkempt and unappealing. Trimming the grass makes your lawn look green and always neat.
• Lawn mowing is also important for the overall health of your lawn. By regularly mowing your lawn, you are removing the excess height of the grass, which will help to prevent diseases and pests from taking hold.
• Another important benefit is for health reasons, since children often play outdoors in the yard with their pets, having a clean yard will reduce various allergies.
• Lawn mowing is also a form of exercise, so it’s a good way to get some fresh air and outdoor activity.

When should you mow your lawn?

Ideally, you should mow your lawn when the grass is about two inches high. If it’s taller than that, you might end up scalping your lawn and damaging the blades of grass. And if it’s shorter than that, your lawn won’t look as nice. So try to time your mowing so that the grass is at the perfect height.

How often you should mow your lawn also depends on how quickly it grows. Lawns that are well-maintained and have healthy soil will grow slower than lawns that are neglected. So if you’re not sure how often to mow your lawn, just check the length of the grass every week or so and mow it when it’s about two inches high.

Tips for mowing your lawn

If you’re going to do the lawn mowing job yourself, then there are several important tips that you need to remember, which include:

Make sure the mower is in the right setting

If you have a mulching mower, make sure that it’s set to mulch and not bag or discharge. Mulching allows the grass clippings to stay on the lawn, where they will decompose and provide nutrients to the soil. Bagging or discharging means that you’ll have to deal with all those grass clippings yourself. If you’re using a riding mower, make sure it’s set to the right height so it doesn’t scalp your yard.

Sharpen the blade on your mower

You should always start by sharpening your mower blade. The blade of your mower is one of the most important parts because it does all the hard work for you. Keeping it at the proper sharpness level is an integral part of lawn care. If the blade on your mower is dull, it can damage your grass and make it harder to cut through wet or dense foliage. Lawnmowers work best when they have a sharp blade that cuts cleanly through the blades of grass.

When choosing a sharpening option, you should always choose a professional-grade option over a cheap brand. You might be able to save a few bucks on the front end, but in the long run, you will end up spending more money replacing dull blades more frequently.

Start with the areas that are most visible.

When you begin to cut your grass, start by going along the perimeter of your lawn and then move on to cutting back and forth across the lawn in straight, parallel lines. This is an efficient way of covering a large area quickly.

Mulch your lawn clippings

Lawnmowers are designed to cut the grass short, not tall. If you try to take off more than one-third of the height at once, it can stress out your lawn and cause damage to the roots if they’re exposed for too long. Lawns that are mowed frequently will have healthier root systems because they have less time between each mowing session.

Mow in a different direction each time

If you always mow your lawn in the same direction, it will make it look unsightly and can even cause damage to the grass if there is heavy foot traffic or if you’re not careful with how you push your mower. Lawns that are mowed in different directions will look neater and more uniform.

Mow in the morning or evening.

The best time to mow your lawn is in the morning or evening when it’s cooler and there isn’t as much direct sunlight. Lawns that are mowed during these hours will look neat and uniform, which helps them maintain a healthy appearance.

Set your mower to the proper height

A mower that is set too low or high can cause damage to the grass and make it harder for your lawnmower to cut through wet foliage. Lawns that are mowed at an appropriate height will look neat and uniform, which helps them maintain a healthy appearance. Lawns with taller grass tend to appear fuller in appearance, while shorter grasses tend to look thinner and wispier.

Keep children and pets away from where you’re mowing

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re mowing your lawn and there are children or pets running around, they could get hurt if they accidentally run into the path of the mower. It’s best to keep them away from where you’re working until you’re finished.

Don’t cut more than one-third of the grass height at once.

Lawnmowers are designed to cut the grass short, not tall. If you try to take off more than one-third of the height at once, it can stress out your lawn and cause damage to the roots if they’re exposed for too long. Lawns that are mowed frequently will have healthier root systems because they have less time between each mowing session.

Always start from the edges of the yard and move toward the center.

The best way to mow a lawn is by starting from the edges of your yard and then moving towards the center. Lawns that are mowed this way will look neater and more uniform, which helps them maintain a healthy appearance.

Only mow when the grass is dry

Don’t try to mow your lawn when it’s wet or damp. Lawnmowers can get stuck in the mud and cause damage to the blades of grass if they’re not careful with how much pressure they apply while pushing down on them. Lawns that are mowed frequently will have healthier root systems because they have less time between each mowing session.

Make sure you always use the right kind of blade for your lawnmower

Different types of lawnmowers require different kinds of blades. If you’re using a rotary blade, make sure the height is set to cut the grass evenly. And if you’re using a reel mower, make sure the reels are set at an appropriate level for the type of grass in your yard.

Try not to go over any areas more than once

Going over an area repeatedly can damage the grass and make it difficult for new growth.  So, you need to be careful not to go over the same spot more than once.

Lawn Mower Safety Tips

• Ensure that your lawnmower has enough gas in it before you start.
• Don’t start the mower until you are ready to use it.
• Switch off your mower when you’re done.
• Always use eye and ear protection when cutting grass.
• Be careful when going over hills and around obstacles.
• Start in one corner of the lawn and work your way around, overlapping each swath by half the width of the blade on your mower.
• Always push the Lawnmower in front of you and never pull it from behind.
• Wear closed shoes when using a lawnmower, as open shoes can be dangerous if small stones or pebbles get inside them.
• If something gets stuck under the lawnmower, do not try and clear it before switching off the lawnmower.
• When starting your lawnmower, always ensure you are away from any other people.
• Change the oil and sharpen the blade when needed.
• Change the air filter before mowing (if applicable).
• Never use lawnmowers without guards in place as they may cause serious injury if contact is made with the blades.
• Always wear safety gear such as gloves and goggles while mowing the lawn.
• Make sure that your tires are inflated.
• Wear eye protection if you are in a high-risk area for flying objects or projectiles like rocks, stones, or screws.

Conclusion

Lawns are appreciated by many people as a great aesthetic addition to their homes, but it’s important to avoid the headache and expense of keeping them in good shape. If you truly want to get the most out of your lawnmower and mow with ease and confidence, use the tips from this article. They can help you mow faster, easier, and more efficiently. Times are changing, so go green today.