Lawn Mowing Tips

Cutting grass correctly is one key to maintaining a healthy, attractive lawn. Follow these mowing tips to help keep your lawn looking its best all season long.

Cutting grass correctly is one key to maintaining a healthy, attractive lawn. Follow these mowing tips to help keep your lawn looking its best all season long:

Height. Mow grass to a height of 3 inches, but never cut more than one-third of the grass height. “Cutting a lawn too short can damage the grass,” says Scott Bierman, general manager of Green Turf, a lawn care company in Champaign, Ill. “A longer length helps keep weeds, disease and insect problems under control.”

Frequency. Mowing once a week is generally recommended, but during rapid growth periods, it may be necessary to mow more often. Mow the grass when it’s dry. Wet grass is more difficult to cut, and can clog underneath the lawnmower.

Direction. Mow your lawn in a different direction each time. This helps keep grass blades erect, avoids developing a set pattern of growth in the lawn and allows for a cleaner, sharper cut. Clippings. Instead of collecting grass clippings, leave them on the lawn. This adds nutrients to the soil, which is good for the lawn. If the clippings are too thick, spread them evenly across the lawn by raking lightly.

Mower maintenance. Sharpen the blades of rotary lawnmowers several times each mowing season. “I find it useful to keep an extra blade around, so I always have a sharp one on hand,” says Scott Hartness, 37, of Newnan, Ga. Reel-type mowers may require sharpening only once a year. It also is beneficial to change the oil in your lawnmower once each mowing season. H

Story by Barb Webb of Salt Lick, Ky.

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