Have you ever really stopped and thought about how you should be cutting the grass in your lawn? If you answered no, you’re not alone. Many people just strap on their old sneakers and get it done. If you truly want to cut your lawn the right way, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. Sure, it’s not rocket science, but cutting your grass the right way may be uncharted territory. Here’s how to get it done right – one small step for grass, one giant leap for lawn-kind.
Step 1: Set Your Mower to the Correct Height
This is a very important first step because if your mower is set too low you will damage your grass. You want to make sure you’re never cutting off more than 1/3 of the height of your grass at one time. If you can keep it high, then you will encourage a healthy root system that improves the health of your lawn overall. Cutting too much off will scalp your lawn, forcing the blades of grass to re-grow their blades instead of directly the energy to a deep and healthy root system.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Lawn is Dry
Cutting wet grass is a recipe for an uneven cut, and the wet grass can clog up your mower and lay in clumps on your grass, smothering all the healthy grass. Wait and make sure your lawn is completely dry before you mow it.
Step 3: Mix Up Your Mowing
Variety is the spice of life for you and for your lawn! Try to mow your lawn in a different direction every time you cut it. This will help you to avoid compacting the soil and the grass will stand tall and proud since it tends to lean in the direction is mowed.
Step 4: Only Mow as You Need
Many things can influence how often you should be mowing your lawn. In order to mow as you need to, you need to know what type of grass you have and its growth pattern. Your lawn may need more mowing during different times of the year too, such as spring, while summer may only require it every other week. Don’t mow too much, and don’t mow too little – it needs to be just right.
Step 5: Leave the Clippings
Many people think it looks nicer to get rid of the clippings once you’ve mowed, but that’s a mistake. If you’re mowing your lawn when it’s at the appropriate height and taking enough off, then the clippings will break down quickly and be absorbed back into the soil, contributing important nutrients for healthy roots.
If you do bag your clippings, use them for compost or mulch! But only if you’ve not used any herbicides on your lawn for at least a year.
Step 6: Keep the Mower Blade Sharp
Between mowings, make sure the blade on your lawn mower is sharp. This will provide a clean cut and keep your grass healthy. If your blade is too dull, then it will tear up the delicate blades of grass and cause your lawn to brown. No one likes a brown lawn.
That about sums it up! You’re just upped your lawn mowing games by leaps and bounds – maybe a few lightyears!
