Mowing grass sounds simple, and it is, but you have to practice a few rules in order to mow properly and expect good positive results for your lawn, as well as for your equipment. Here’s our list of rules.
Rule Number 1
Don’t mow too low. Lots of people mow grass way too low. Mowing low makes you think that you’re cutting it back so you won’t have to move again as soon, but the reality is, whether you cut it short or long, the grass blades are going to continue growing at the same rate. Sure, if you have a vacation home that you don’t visit as often, you can maybe cut it shorter than you do at your main home but the grass is still going to grow at the same rate. Cutting grass too low causes a number of issues. One issue is the grass doesn’t help shade itself and can’t hold up to the heat as well when we have heat and less rain in the hotter months. It also helps weeds form since the grass is not long enough to block out the weed growth.
Rule Number 2
Keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades waste fuel, and also introduces disease to your grass since the blades are sheared off with a dull blade as opposed to sharp blades making a nice clean cut. One tell-tale sign that someone has dull blades on their mower is the grass will look white on top a day or two after mowing since the dull blades shear the blade and leaves a rough edge which then dies and turns white on the end. Sharp blades cut the grass and doesn’t leave split ends that turn white.
Rule Number 3
Keep your mower tire pressure even in all tires. Having tire pressure low in one tire can make your mower deck not level which lends itself to having uneven mowing lines in your yard. Even tire pressure is important.
Rule Number 4
Don’t mow wet grass. Mowing wet grass, while bad for your mower in a number of ways like clogging up and rusting the deck due to holding moisture against the metal is bad. Wet grass also dulls mower blades faster, and sometimes can introduce disease to grass. Mowing wet grass also takes more effort for the mower which means greater fuel consumption. Then too, there’s the danger of slipping under the mower or sliding down a hill on your mower so we really recommend that you don’t mow wet grass. Be patient, wait for it to dry out completely before mowing.
Rule Number 5
Check your mower and lawn before each time you mow grass. Check the motor oil, air filter, tire pressure, blades to see if they are sharp or need sharpening, and take time to walk around your yard to make sure there’s no large sticks, or pet toys laying the grass. A couple of minutes spent checking your mower and walking your lawn can save time and money in repairs or injuries.
Rule Number 6
Don’t mow too fast. Mowing fast is dangerous, plus it doesn’t give the mower time to properly mow and eject the grass, which means you usually end up with a few uncut blades of grass here and there. Remember to be patient.
Rule Number 7
Don’t bag your grass. Yes, bagging makes your lawn look great, but the truth is, if you use a commercial mower that has a very high blade speed, you end up with very little grass clippings. The grass clippings, if left on your lawn to decompose, can take care of approximately 30% of your lawns fertilizer needs.
Rule Number 8
Ask kids to remain indoors, or mow when there’s nobody home or near. Reason for this is, mowers can throw things like rocks and golf balls, and all sorts of things that can really hurt or possibly kill someone. It surprises me whenever I see someone mowing their grass and the kids are playing in the yard either on the swing set or in the sandbox. Even using your mowers safely with the flap down, it can still throw something very hard at a high speed. I accidentally hit a golf ball once while mowing and it was an old Snapper mower when I was a kid helping mow my parents grass and the golf ball went sailing way out and curved a hook like it was hit by a pro golfer. It surprised me at how fast it was sent across our lawn and way into the field beside our house.
Rule Number 9
Use common sense. It seems common sense isn’t all too common anymore does it? Common sense while mowing is very important. Don’t blow grass into your mulch or plant beds. Do stop when you see a car coming or a person walking or riding a bike if you’re blowing grass in their direction when they pass. It’s common sense so that the mower doesn’t throw a rock. If you think it won’t happen, think again. Use common sense at all times when running a lawn mower.
Rule Number 10
Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your lawn and invite friends and family outside to enjoy what you have created and maintain. A lawn can be part of your home believe it or not. It can be a place for recreation, gatherings, entertainment, and exercise as well as a place for making memories.