As I am always being told that I am not mowing the lawn the right way by J-Mom, I really started wondering recently whether there is truly a "right" way to mow the lawn. In the past I typically go around the exterior and then work my way into the center. Recently I have tried Diagonal cuts across the lawn and like how it makes the lawn look at the end of the cutting (so maybe I will continue this).
Seeing that I am definitely not an expert on this I decided to do some research on the topic to see if there truly was a right answer to the question or not.
First I started at http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-1840.html for a look at what they thought. In a nutshell they break down proper mowing technique into:
- proper height for grass types - I did not know that you needed to have your blade at a certain height based on whether you had Fescue or Bluegrass, etc...Did you??? Not that I even know what type of grass I actually have...
- Safety in mowing
Second, I visited http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/how-to-mow-your-lawn.php and found out a few other tidbits of wisdom:
- Proper balancing of the wheels of the mower is important
- Make sure to empty your bag frequently
- Proper maintenance of your mower will assist in overall running of the mower.
Finally, off to http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-mow-your-lawn2.htm which provided even further interesting information:
- Mow in overlapping horizontal or vertical lines to get the most out of your mowing time, never in circles or spirals. (DANG IT...I am mowing the incorrect way...Don't tell J-Mom that she was right...though she will probably read it here)
- Most experts also advise changing directions every couple of mowings. If you've mowed in horizontal lines for a few weeks, change it up and mow in a vertical pattern.
- Mow across hills -- never up and down.
- Never pull a push mower, as this also adds to the risk of slipping under the blades.
So this definitely was an interesting venture into the unknown. So my question for you is how do you mow? What practices have you found to be best in your household?
12 comments:
I definitely agree with mowing the lawn diagonally one week, and then mowing the opposite way the next week.
But if you really want to impress, mow your daughter's name in the lawn.
So much stuff to remember when cutting the grass. I do the alternating directions thing, but much of this is new to me. Mowing the grass has always been one of those things you ...just do. Nobody ever really teaches you to do it, you just kind of know. It is one of my more enjoyable chores, though.
We have a neighbor who cuts his grass similar to a mowhawk one month, then a reverse mowhawk the next.
We have often wondered a few things about this madness:
1. Is he drunk?
2. Did he forget what he was doing and go back inside?
3. How does the HOA complain about our weeds and they allow that to go on for years now?
My vote is on #2 because sometimes he actually leaves the mower, mid-mow until the next month.
I think as long as you steer clear of this method, you are good to go.
Nice blog, and I have added you to my blog roll.
Keep on writing,
Angie
www.moresugarthanspice.com
I have a neighbor that is very methodic about the way that he mows his lawn as well...he is also in his mid 80's and doesn't always remember when he mows the day before...so it is sometimes humorous to see him out there daily...but I do have to say that his lawn is probably the best on the street, so I guess there is something to being methodical...not that I have time for it.
Mowing my girls' names in the lawn...never thought of that one... might have to try it when they get a little older and can appreciate it more...well my eldest might appreciate it now...
@John - Can't say mowing is one of my favorite chores, but it is a necessity and makes our home look nice... I have been able to find some ways though of getting the job done quicker...which for me is fine.
nice post. all kinds of stuff I didn't know. I always figured just mowing before the kids could get lost in it was good enough.
I mow a few acres with a neighboring house on one side and some woods on the other. I typically feather the lawn so all my clippings end up in the woods. I really prefer not to rake.
He he! Mowing your daughters name in the grass?! That's hysterical!
Did you know you are never supposed to bag your clippings? Over the course of one summer season, letting the clippings fall back to the ground equates to one (free!) round of fertilizer. We got that info from Tru Green. They've also harped on us about our lawn length when we fall behind on mowing regularly (should be kept at 3 inches) and they've also told us about the importance of mowing in different directions.
There's an official proper way to mow a lawn? Who knew!
Hmm...there's one thing I'd disagree with. The tip about changing the bag--don't bag your grass clippings! Mulch them and leave them. They are great for your lawn.
Also, mow with the blade set higher--about 2-3". Longer grass = less weeds (for most home lawns, the difference between grass types is not a big deal, especially since most of us have a mix of bluegrasses, fescues, etc).
This is a great post. I disagree on the mulching thing; I think you should let it go sometimes, but not always (like when the lawn is too long because you've waited too long; if you leave the clippings, you have to mow it twice to make it look decent.) As for patterns, four of us are cutting it, so we probably have that covered :)
Ah, Chris, you had to know that this would bring me (and Steve, really) out to comment!
About mulching: yes, of course, if you've let your grass grow to 6 inches or something, it's not going to work. However, ask ayour local turf pathologist, and you'll get similar advice to this:
John Stier, University of Wisconsin-Extension turfgrass specialist, says some simple steps taken in early spring can lead to a healthy, thick, green lawn by summer.
-- Clean up. Clear away tree leaves, sticks and the litter that accumulates in snowdrifts over the winter. Rake away dead grass.
-- Get a soil test. Lawn experts recommend testing the soil about every three years to determine how much and what kind of fertilizer your grass needs.
-- Re-seed or re-sod. You may find that winter weather has killed grass in some places. To patch a bare spot with seed, mix soil and seed together in a pail, spread the mixture on bare spot and step lightly on it. Spring is not the best time to establish an entirely new lawn because seedlings will have to compete with weeds, but you do want to stop erosion of any bare spots.
-- Wait to fertilize. Many homeowners rush to apply fertilizer early, expecting to give their grass a head start. But if you applied fertilizer last fall, you don?t need more in spring. And late fall fertilization is better for the lawn than a spring application because it encourages root growth.
-- Wait until Memorial Day to fertilize, unless the lawn has several bare areas and is thin. Too much fertilizer in the spring will cause the plants to produce leaves instead of roots and without good roots the lawn suffers more from summer drought. However, if the lawn is very thin, a dose of fertilizer will help it fill in and crowd out weeds.
-- Mow. When the grass is about three inches high, you can begin mowing. Leave the clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients ? it?s the equivalent of one free fertilizer application after two years. Never mow your lawn shorter than 2.5 inches. Higher lawns mean deeper roots, and longer grass blades shade the soil and discourage weeds.
-- Avoid weed-killers. If you have a lot of weeds in the lawn, there?s something wrong with the way you are growing your lawn. Shade, poor drainage, lack of nutrients and compacted soils create weak lawns and healthy weeds. Rather than use chemicals, fix the real problem.
Source: http://www.uwex.edu/news/2001/4/get-your-lawn-off-to-a-healthy-start-this-spring
Great ideas by all... Thanks to all of you for your thoughts. I have learned more in this post than many of my previous ones... who knoew I was supposed to wait until after Labor Day to fertilize...but I usually do anyway as Wisconsin Winters up here are definitely ones that seem to last forever...and you can't put fertilizer down with snow on the ground!
My favorite way to mow the yard is to have the Diva or her sister do it. That's not always practical, however. So:
Here's an important tip - be sure your blades are sharp! Don't go more than 4-6 weeks between sharpenings (depending on the size of your yard). You can really tell the difference a fresh edge makes!
I learned a few years ago to mow higher - say at 4", this allows the grass to put more energy into building the root system rather than growing taller to keep the sunlight and photosynthesis boogie going. Stronger, tighter roots mean less weeds.
Thank you very mulch. Your yard will love it.
Oh - and no beer until the job is done!
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