Mowing season is definitely in full swing here in Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver, Washington. Proper mowing is an artform and can mean the difference between the life and the death of a lawn. As with many tasks, there is a right way and a wrong way to mow your lawn. Here we will discuss a few tips that will ensure you (or your landscape company) are mowing properly.
Sharpen Mower Blades
Before the mower even touches the lawn, you should ensure that your mower blades are sharpened. You wouldn’t use a dull knife to prepare food nor a dull razor to shave, and mowing your lawn is no different. Blades that are dull do not cut your lawn effectively and, essentially, tear grass up instead of cutting. Furthermore, repeated use of dull mower blades will actually weaken your lawn, making it more open to disease and other various stressors. Sharpening your mower blades before each season is the best practice.
Adjust Mower Height
This tip will vary depending on your grass type, so some research will be in order there. However, generally speaking, your mower should be set to a height that will remove only the top 1/3rd of the grass blades. This may result in more frequent mowing, but it will also result in a happier and healthier lawn. Root growth is dependent upon the length of grass blades; longer grass blades result in deeper root growth. Deeper root growth results in access to more nutrients in the ground. If your grass is constantly being scalped (cut too short) your lawn is always focused on regrowing those grass blades and neglecting it’s root system. Allowing your grass to be a little taller will ensure a healthier root system.
Alter Mowing Patterns
Vary the pattern in which you mow your lawn as often as possible. Not only can mowing your lawn in the same pattern become repetitive and boring, but it can also be harmful to your lawn. Following the same pattern can create ruts in your lawn, which are unsightly and can be costly to repair. Furthermore, ensuring you switch up the pattern will offer a better mow as it varies the way in which your grass leans which will result in a more even cut.
Leave Grass Clippings
Though this tip may sound counterintuitive (and if your grass has been neglected for extended periods of time, it isn’t advisable) when mowing on a regular basis, it is actually better to leave the grass clipping on the lawn. Grass clipping add valuable nutrients to your lawn, and, as long as you are mowing on a regular basis, they will break down quickly. Furthermore, as long as you have followed the previous tip of properly adjusting the mower blade height, there should never be a problem with too many clippings being left behind. If you can’t stand the idea of leaving the clippings behind (and as long as you don’t use chemicals on your lawn) dump the mower bag into a compost to add to your garden!
If you follow these few tips, you can help to ensure your lawn is happy and healthy throughout the year. If you would rather not worry about any of this, Urban Eden Landscaping has all the tools and know-how to care for your landscaping needs. Contact us today or fill out our FREE estimate request now.