Avoid these 12 Lawn Mowing Mistakes
There is a popular saying that “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence” and while this statement does not necessarily mean grass in terms of our lawn this can be applied to just that.
Can you imagine your neighbor’s lawn growing so healthy with a beautiful green while your lawn from its appearance is saying that it’s in desperate need of some TLC (tender loving care)?
Many homeowners are frustrated with not getting the results they want because of a lawn that’s performing poorly and while I understand their pain and frustration there are some simple yet effective ways to have the perfect or should I say the almost perfect lawn that will WOW those who sees it.
While hiring a professional company can solve this problem this help will come at a price that may not be in your budget. The good news is that all is not lost as we will be showing you how the professional does it so you can (DIY ) do it your self getting the same results while $aving.
Doing it Right to get Results
Here are 12 Don’ts to avoid to grow and maintain a healthy lawn
- A broken lawnmower
- Mowing with a dull blade
- Mowing at the wrong height
- Infrequent mowing
- Not taking the time to do the job right
- Avoid mowing in the seeming direction
- Attempting to cut a lawn that’s wet
- Leaving clumps on your lawn after cutting
- Not cleaning the lawnmower blade after use
- Avoid using a bag
- Avoid wide rows
- Adjust the blade if you must
12 Lawn Mowing Mistakes
1. A broken lawnmower
A lawnmower that’s not working properly can affect the appearance of your lawn. If it is operating at half the speed along with dripping oil what you will have is a lawn that will be uneven along with spots dying out because of the oil drip. Ensure that your lawnmower is in good repair before attempting to mow.
2. Mowing with a dull blade
A lawnmower’s blade that’s dull won’t give that sharp clean-cut but instead, will rip or tear the grass blades causing the grass to become weakened. When this happens your lawn will be susceptible to weeds, insect pests, and disease. It is a good idea to have your mower blade sharpen every 3-6 months to retain its sharpness.
3. Mowing at the wrong height
Every grass type has its mowing height to perform its best, mowing too low will weaken your lawn encouraging weeds, insect pests along with diseases.
There are some homeowners who believe that by cutting their lawn low they won’t have to mow as often but what they don’t realize is that by doing this they will be doing themselves and their lawn an injustice.
If you cut your lawn lower than the recommended height what you will actually be doing is removing more of the top growth making it hard for your lawn to produce its food along with encouraging an environment for weeds to take over. So get to know the proper cutting height and always cut at this level for a beautiful healthy looking lawn.
4. Infrequent mowing
Infrequent mowing will not only cause your lawn to look unattractive because of overgrowth but an overgrown lawn will encourage pests and other critters that may be hiding for protection. Allowing your lawn to grow too high will make it hard to cut putting a strain not only on you but the lawnmower as well.
5. Not taking the time to do the job right
Sure you may have a hectic schedule and may need the lawn to cut or maybe it may be very hot and all you want to do is give your lawn some grooming because it’s in urgent need of some tender loving care but cutting too quickly will not only have you exhausted but can cause uneven spots because of the quick passes you’re making so take your time to cut your lawn on a day when you’re not so busy. If the sun is an issue then why not consider getting up a bit earlier and heading out into your yard.
6. Avoid mowing in the seeming direction
You may be saying what’s the big deal as long as the lawn gets cut but mowing the lawn in the same direction can actually work against you. Mowing in one direction and then the next will cause your lawn to grow straighter along with being healthier.
7. Attempting to cut a lawn that’s wet
A former co-worker had a freak accident, he slipped on the lawn one day as he was making his rounds and broke his leg. Mowing wet grass is a NO NO because besides putting yourself at risk of being injured you will also be injuring your lawn.
Attempting to mow a lawn that’s wet will cause uneven cuts, making it harder by clogging the machine, grass clippings that are wet will cover other grass blades that need to be cut causing an uneven pattern and there is also the case of encouraging fungal disease.
8. Leaving clumps on your lawn after cutting
Large clumps of grass are usually left after the grass is cut as a sign of overgrowth which is not good. These clumps should be removed because clumps do not only look unattractive but if left can cause those parts of the lawn to die which is another eyesore along with encouraging disease and pests.
As long as your lawn is healthy these grass clippings or clumps can be raked up and used as mulch around your garden area which has so many benefits.
9. Not cleaning the lawnmower blade after use
Many beautiful lawns have suffered because of reusing a lawnmower that has blades and housing that’s not clean. Blades and housing that are not clean before mowing practices can lead to the spread of disease along with weed seeds that may be trapped. Both the blade and the housing should be cleaned after each use.
To clean the mower lay it on its side or better yet prop up the front with a firm stick to avoid oil and fuel spillage, with a garden hose that has good pressure begin to clean the housing and the blade. As a safety measure disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting the cleaning process. A stiff-bristled brush will also offer much help when cleaning the blade and the housing. If you prefer WD-40 can be applied to the blade and the screw as a lubricant to avoid rust once the blad and the housing are dried.
10. Avoid using a bag
To bag or not to bag is the question, Even though there are mixed feelings about this one the matter is while the use of a bag is great when mowing your lawn you will be robbing your lawn of the nitrogen it needs that comes from the recycling of clippings.
If the lawn is too high and clippings must be collected in the mowers bag then do that. The clippings that are collected can be used as mulch in other parts of the garden even your compost bin as long as the lawn is healthy and not overtaken with weeds. Some of the clipping however can be left on the lawn to be recycled for the health of your lawn.
11. Avoid wide rows
To get an even cut make overlaps of about three inches apart when making your pass to avoid missing any of the grass blades.
12. Adjust the blade if you must
Some lawns are uneven which means that the blade must be adjusted to cut areas that are low as you make your passes, areas that were not cut during those passe can be cut by lowering your mower and adjusting it to cut only those areas to get an even cut. A great way to build up those uneven areas is by adding sand that’s free of salt.
The final word on lawn mowing mistakes
Having a beautiful lawn does not have to cause you to break the piggy bank. It’s all a matter of getting the know-how as we have discussed and you will be on your way to having a beautiful lawn that’s growing healthy.
Why should the grass be greener on the other side of the fence when your grass can look just as beautiful or even better. Growing a healthy lawn will not only look beautiful but will add to the value of your home so take the time and invest in your lawn by following these simple yet effective steps. You will be so happy that you did as your neighbor looks across the fence admiring your lawn saying to himself the grass is sure greener on the other side of the fence.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I can totally relate to these Lawn moving mistakes. My Lawn is a nature Lawn and not flat so everytime I have to adjust the blade because some parts of the lawn is full of moss and weeds.I normally use the bag on my lawn mower.I did nt know of the nitrogen. That was new to me. I will absolutely remember this next time. Could this help to prevent more weed? I must admit that I do not clean my lawnmower between every time I use it. Now that I know that it can prevent disease to clean it I will definitely do that. What is the best way to clean the lawn mower? Many useful advices here.
Having a well-maintained lawn can be so amazing, as long as we have the know-how our lawns can remain beautiful year-round. Lawns need nitrogen to help it to maintain its green along with growing healthy. A healthy lawn will help in suppressing weeds.
Lay the lawnmower on its side and with a garden hose that has pressure wash the blade and the housing. A stiff-bristled brush will also be helpful in giving a thorough cleaning. I hope this helps, all the best to you.
Wow, I never knew that mowing wet grass is a big mistake when it comes to proper lawn growing. This was a habit of mine that I kept doing for quite some time, and I might need to rethink how I grow my lawn from now on. I’ll have a landscaping service stop by and help me get these mistakes corrected right away so we can have a luscious lawn in the future.