Set Your Mower High
Don’t cut the lawn too short. Certain grasses, like fescue, have a tough time springing back from an overly close mow. To prevent scalping your lawn and damaging the grass, set your mower at the highest preferred setting for your grass type and only cut the top 1/3 of the grass blades at any one time. Longer grass blades can grow and support more roots and develop a deeper root system that is better able to find water and nutrients in the soil. Scalping the lawn forces grass plants to focus their energy on regrowing their blades, not deepening their roots, plus it makes it more likely that weeds can muscle in. Taller grass blades shade the soil and keep it cooler, helping prevent weed seeds from sprouting.
Don’t Mow a Wet Lawn
In the early evening, temperatures are lower, the lawn is usually dry and the sun is less intense—which means your grass will have plenty of time to recover before the next afternoon’s heat arrives. Cutting wet grass can result in an uneven trim, so you’ve have to wait until it’s dry. Wet clippings can also clog your mower and cause it to dump clumps of grass on your lawn; if they aren’t raked up, they can smother the growing grass and result in brown spots. Avoid this by waiting until later in the day or gauging whether or not your outdoor space needs drying off. You’ll be glad you did.”
Don’t Always Mow in the Same Direction
Mow in a different direction each time you mow. This will prevent the grass from leaning in the direction you mow and promote better strength. Mowing the lawn helps keep your grass healthy and looking great, but it can also be a bit of a bore. So, when you do get out there, toss in a little variety. For example, don’t always mow in the same direction. Vary it up each time to mix things up and keep your grass healthier and standing up tall. By changing the direction you mow your lawn each time, you’ll see a thick, even lawn as well as a reduction in ruts and bare spots.
No Need To Mow on a Schedule
You shouldn’t mow your lawn on a schedule. It needs to be mowed when it’s ready to be mown, which varies by weather conditions and grass type. Mow your lawn as often as need for your grass type, growing condition and seasons. When grass is actively growing in the spring, for example, you’ll need to mow more frequently but when growth slows during the heat of summer or at the end of the growing season, you can spread it out. Just don’t let your lawn get too short or set your blade too low.
Don’t Mow If Your Grass is Too New
Avoid mowing new grass seedlings until they reach the recommended mowing height for your specific lawn. Cutting a yard too short can shock and stress new grass plants, slowing down the growth of your new lawn. Grass seedlings can be cut for the first time when they’ve reached mowing height, which varies by grass type. Limit yourself to cutting just the top ⅓ of the grass blades (or less), as a dramatic cutting can shock and stress new grass plants.
Lawn Clippings Can Benefit Your Lawn
In the past, grass clippings were considered a nuisance to be bagged after each mowing. It’s now known that leaving the clippings on the lawn is not only good for your grass, but also environmentally friendly. The clippings break down quickly and return beneficial nutrients to the soil. Shaving off too much of the grass blade shocks the grass and leaves piles of long clippings on the lawn that don’t break down quickly and can smother growing grass. If you do end up bagging your clippings, do the earth a favor and toss them in the garden as mulch or compost them—but only if you haven’t used any lawn weed control products.
Make Sure Your Lawn Mower Blades Are Sharp
Want your grass to look great? Sharpen your mower blades at least once a season. Dull blades tear up grass, causing ragged, brown edges. That’s not the worst of it, though. Using a dull mower blade over and over can also cause your grass to weaken over time, making it more susceptible to disease, insect damage, and other stresses (like heat and drought). A mower tune-up and blade sharpening once a year is a win-win-win: Your mower will start easier, make cleaner cuts and slice clippings without bogging down. Remember to wash your mower after each use, to help prevent any blockages within the machine itself.