How Do I Mow My Lawn Like A Pro?

Oct 29

Mowing your lawn seems easy. It's easy to start the mower and pull the cord. Then, you can walk or ride around your yard for a while. Our expert landscapers near Lynnwood wa can tell you, there is more to it than that. Your lawn's performance is affected by how you mow it when you mow it, and what you do about the clippings. The most important aspect of lawn care is the one that's often overlooked.

It all begins with grass height

The most common mistake homeowners make when mowing their lawn is cutting the grass too short.

This idea is bad for many reasons:

The grass attempts to recover from near-total destruction by increasing its moisture and nutrient needs.
This reduces the amount of chlorophyll that grassroots have to make energy. Longer blades mean that there is more chlorophyll per grass plant, which results in more vigorous grass. )
This allows the soil to dry faster, which can increase the negative effects associated with drought.
If taller grass blades don't shade them, weeds germinate faster and more efficiently.

A mown lawn looks good if it is even cut. A 3-inch-tall, evenly-cut lawn is just as popular as one that is 1-inch tall. It doesn't seem to hold that shortening the length of cuts will make it more difficult to cut again. As it attempts to restore its genetic norm, grass grows faster when it is cut short.

For most turfgrasses, the ideal in-season height is 2 1/2 to 3.0 inches. This setting is usually the highest on mowers. It is a good idea to cut the grass a bit shorter towards the end of the season so that the grass blades dry quicker over winter. This can prevent snow mold and other fungal problems in the spring.

Don't wait too long between mows

The second issue to consider is how often you mow. It is a good rule of thumb to mow your lawn frequently enough that you don't remove more than one-third of the blade length. You can hire our professional lawn care services Lynnwood for mowing your lawn. Mowing is also called pruning. This is a form of injury to grass plants. Severe cuts are more damaging to grass than those with lighter cuts, and take more energy to heal.

Mid-spring grass grows fastest so it may be necessary to mow twice a week, or every four to five days. It is better to cut the grass as often as possible than wait to do so and then end up with a 6-inch stand that needs 3 inches of trimming. This is not only a shock for the grass, but also creates unusually large amounts of clippings.

How to dispose of grass clippings?

Clippings that are large and heavy can be thrown away. They will mat the grass blades and block the sun's rays. This can cause yellowing and promote diseases. You should pick up any clippings visible even in small heaps and compost them or use them as mulch on your garden beds.

Clippings can provide one-third of your lawn's Nitrogen needs. Clippings will not be an issue if you mow regularly. The clippings will be small enough to fall into the lawn. Instead of bagging them, it's better to let the clippings fall onto the lawn. Why?

They provide valuable nutrients for the lawn soil as they decompose. Penn State University turfgrass researchers found that allowing clippings to decompose in place can provide about one-third of the lawn's nitrogen needs for the season.
Decomposing clippings adds organic matter to the soil.
Organic "waste" is kept out of the trash stream.

Mulching mowers are great at cutting clippings into small pieces. Even regular side-discharge mowers can disperse clippings enough to allow them to lie if you mow at regular intervals. You can catch up if you get behind.

Do not cut the grass if it is wet. If the grass is wet, it is more likely that the clippings will mat together. You won't get an even cut because the mower wheels will flatten the grass blades.

Don't mow grass that is browning and dormant due to drought conditions. In drought conditions, grass crowns can become fragile and brittle. If you hit them with your mower wheels and feet, they won't recover once the rains come back. Dead crowns equal dead grass.

Types and blades Lawnmowers

People swear by reel mowers, the old-fashioned bladed drums that shave grass blades like scissors. These rotary mowers work well, but they can be damaged easily. It doesn't matter what type of mower you use, the most important thing to do is keep your blades clean. A clean cut is possible with sharp lawn mower blades. Dull blades can cause ragged edges and rip grass blades.

Rough and ragged cuts have larger openings, which turn browner and stand out more than those made with sharp cuts. Even worse, larger openings can cause the grass to lose more water, increasing drought stress in hot conditions. Larger openings make grass blades more susceptible to disease spores.

It is not enough to sharpen your lawn mower blades only once in a few years. It is better to sharpen your lawn mower blades twice or three times per growing season. Two lawn mower blades are common among homeowners so that one can be used for cutting and the other can be used for trimming.

Mowing patterns

The final issue is the choice of which path you take when you mow. Many homeowners choose the same route each time they know because it is convenient, familiar, and avoids the neighborhood. While there is no horticultural issue with this, altering the route could make a cosmetic change.

If you look closely, you will notice that the grass' color changes depending on how the mower was used. This is because the mower's blades push the grass blades around as it cuts them. The grass will look lighter or darker depending on how it is laid. This is why you see so many designs on fields. Many home-lawn enthusiasts do the same thing, and there are special mower blades that can create patterns.

Changing your route can affect the level of the cut. This is because certain areas are not pushed down and others are cut off. Although lawn mowing is not rocket science, it's not impossible. These are the key rules to mastering your mower. Mow high and often. Don't let those clips go. Keep those lawn mower blades razor-sharp!