Although not difficult, following a few lawn mowing tips really can make a difference in the way your lawn looks
Most lawns usually require lawn mowing weekly during the growing season and can often go three weeks or more without it during the dormant period.
Some warm season grasses like
Centipede Grass
rarely require mowing at any time.
Unless you have a putting green in your front yard, your lawn should never be cut lower than 2 inches tall.
In fact, cutting your grass shorter than 2 inches exposes the crown of the plant that lies near the soil.
This in turn, can be easily scorched by the sun and dried out faster.
A short mowed lawn will usually stand out because it is also brown or yellow rather than green.
Keep your lawn closer to 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches in height especially during the slower growth times.
It will keep the crown and roots shaded and cooled and help prevent water evaporation and that means less sprinkling!
In times of drought or when the grass goes into a period of dormancy and turns brownish, lawn mowing should be halted.
Brown, dormant grass is not growing because it is conserving energy.
Mowing it at this time will artificially stimulate it to grow and that takes away the energy it needs to help it survive the period of drought or stress.
Some people like to alternate the direction they mow in from week to week.
Although it doesn't make that much difference, weekly mowing in the same pattern could eventually compact the soil where the wheels of the mower repeatedly roll and impede the growth of the grass. Ruts are on the way!
Lawn mowers can be mulching or non-mulching.
The main difference is that a mulching mower does not have a discharge chute but chops the blades of grass up and redeposits them from underneath the mower.
That being said, assuming you are doing your lawn mowing by removing no more than 1/3 of the blade each time (remember to keep it between 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches long) a non-mulching mower can be used without a bag.
The clippings will decompose and help fertilize your lawn just as effectively as a mulching mower.
Fix your own lawn mower problems by reading this.
Did you know that a gas powered lawn mower can put as much pollution into the air as 40 cars idling?
Not only that, but the noise they emit can be ...well, deafening! Do you wear hearing protection when you cut the grass? Me neither.
As we all begin thinking more of how we can be living greener lives, consider the reel mower.
Since there is no motor, an older child can use it safely and all you will hear is the pleasant whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the blades spinning.
For city lots and a good majority of suburban yards, a reel mower is a real possibility.
Larger lawns can really give you more of a workout than you'd like to have.
If you want to try one but aren't sure if it's right for you, ask about the return policy. Most places will take them back after a 30 day trial period.
Electric mowers have been around for a long time.
The cord can be an annoyance but you can easily get a technique down that will work for you.
To have the ease of an electric mower but without the cord issue, try a battery powered mower. They can now hold a charge long enough to get the entire lawn mowed.
