General Mowing Tips and Advice
Mowing the lawn is healthy and can be largely beneficial for your grass. You are trimming the oldest section of grass since it grows from the bottom up. Cutting higher – typically the top third – shades roots and promotes a root system that is deeper. Deep roots can reach water that is deeper in the soil, giving grass reserve power that enables it to get through dry spells.
Different kinds of grass require different trimming heights. Typically, cool-season grass ought to be trimmed at three and one-half inches. Warm-season grasses should be trimmed at a height of two inches.
Mowing Safety Tips
When using a lawn mower, carefully read the operator’s manual. Take note of all warning labels. See Lawn Doctor’s Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips for more grass cutting tips and recommendations.
Wear the right clothing when cutting your grass, including long pants, closed-toed shoes with good traction and a tucked-in shirt. Take off or secure any jewelry or loose clothing so nothing catches on the mowing equipment.
Before you mow, walk through the mowing and remove any objects such as tools or toys.
Before starting the lawn mower, make sure that all shields and safety guards are in place.
Keep kids inside and supervised while you mow the lawn. Never give kids “rides” on a riding mower. You do not want children running up behind you in hopes of another ride when you won’t be able to hear or see them.
When you walk backward while using a walk-behind mower, you should be careful to avoid running over your toes.
When the weather is hot, be sure to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks while mowing your lawn.
Mowing Blade Clogs
Mowing blades move really fast – around 200 miles per hour. NEVER stick your hand inside a lawn mower to fix a clog. Turn the mower off and investigate clogs and jams with a tool or stick.
For any problem greater than a minor clog, bring your mower to a dealer so it can be fixed.
Techniques of Lawn Mowing
When you are mowing hills, keep stability by using riding mowers to mow up and then down, while using walk-behind mowers to travel across the hills. If a hillside is especially dangerous, think about planting ground cover. Consider putting in landscaping as an alternative.
Use the higher speeds on a lawn mower only for transporting to the area to be mowed. Use medium mower speeds when mowing in an area that is wide open so as to keep control. Use low speeds when you are trimming borders and turning corners.
Every time you mow your lawn, change the direction so as to control coarse grasses and create a surface that is even.
More Lawn Mowing Tips: Mulching or Grass-cycling
Grass-cycling may be done at the same time as the lawn is mowed. This process is important because it puts nutrients back in the soil while disposing of lawn debris.
A lawn mower that mulches will cut and recut grass trimmings into small pieces. Since grass trimmings are 85% water, they quickly decompose, releasing nitrogen and additional nutrients that nourish the lawn.
Grass-cycling is like doing an additional fertilizing each year and also plays a major role in preventing thatch. University tests have proved that mulched trimmings in a thin layer will promote microbial activity and fight the development of fungal disease.
For Additional Lawn Mowing Tips, contact Lawn Doctor of Madison.
