If your lawn has overgrown and turned your once manicured paradise into a landscaping nightmare, then here are step-by-step instructions on how to cut long grass that every homeowner should know.
Getting from your driveway to your front door shouldn’t feel like you’re blazing a trail through the amazon jungle. Read along to find out how to cut tall grass to increase your curb appeal.
How to cut long grass
Cutting tall grass isn’t as simple as just pulling out your mower and getting started. You’ll need to take careful steps to prepare beforehand so that you don’t risk damaging your equipment.
1. Prepare your equipment
You will need to check your equipment and ensure it’s working. Make sure your mower has a sharp blade and enough gas and oil.
Cutting with dull blades isn’t just inefficient, it’s dangerous. You want your blades sharp enough to cleanly slice grass but not sharp enough to cut your hand. You can sharpen the mower blade yourself or you can take it to a pro. If you see any rust, chips or dents, you’ll want to have the blade replaced.
Also, you should wear the proper clothing before you begin. Cutting taller grass is not a shorts-and-T-shirt kind of job.
You will need:
- Safety goggles or a face shield
- Ear protection
- Long sleeved clothing
- Work boots
- Gloves
There’s plenty of things lurking in the tall grass, from trash to critters. Make sure you’re protected!
2. Check the grass for obstacles
If your lawn has been neglected for a while, you will need to check the lawn for debris like rocks and tree stumps before you use your mower. Large objects can damage your mower, so clear away any potential hazards before you start.
Take the debris you find to a designated dumping zone away from where you are working. A wheelbarrow or truck bed works best so you can cart it away easily.
Nex, check the grass to make sure it’s dry.
Mowing wet grass can be frustrating and messy. It can end up clogging your mower engine and leaving large clumps of grass clippings in the lawn. The mower may pull wet grass up from the roots instead of cutting the blades across the top. Also, you run the risk of leaving ruts in the lawn if the ground is muddy.
3. Trim the top layer of grass with a string trimmer
Your mower will struggle if the grass is too long. It’s much easier to mow your grass to an ideal height if you take off the top few centimeters beforehand.
Grass trimmers – also known as string trimmers, weed eaters, weed whackers, and whipper snippers – are great for removing the top layer of grass. Grass trimmers are also perfect for cleaning your edges or cutting grass around obstacles.
If you have shears or a scythe, you can use those instead of a string trimmer. Some homeowners have even used small (20-inch) chainsaws for very thick, overgrown weeds and small bushes. These days, chainsaws have advanced cutting technology for cutting grass without getting jammed.
Once you have trimmed a few centimeters off your grass, you should water your lawn and leave it alone for two to four days to repair and recover so as not to over-stress the grass.
After this time has passed, take the grass trimmer and repeat the process, reducing the grass to 6 inches tall on the second cut. Again, allow your lawn a couple of days to recuperate before you start the mowing process.
4. Mow the lawn
After you’ve used the string trimmer, it is time to mow. If you don’t think your push mower is up for the job, you can always go to your nearest large equipment rental store and rent a brush cutter, riding mower, or commercial mower.
Adjust your mower height so that it will reduce the grass by one-third. Go slowly for the first mow. Once you have finished, your grass should be around 4 inches tall.
Each type of grass has different required mowing heights, so whether you have fescue or Zoysia, you should see what length is best for the overall health of your grass.
After you mow, wait four to five days before you mow again. Doing multiple mowing sessions to shorten the lawn little by little to your desired grass height will encourage a healthy lawn going forward. Cut in a different direction each time to help encourage straight blades of grass.
Mowing over the area also will mulch up the clippings as much as possible. Whether or not you bag the clippings is up to you. As a general rule, grass clippings an inch or shorter in length can be left on your lawn since they will decompose quickly.
5. Edge the lawn and blow off hardscapes
If you haven’t already trimmed and edged the sidewalks and along the driveway, do that. Then, blow off the hard surfaces like sidewalks and driveways with a leafblower. You’ll want to blow the yard and even out any large clumps of grass so they are more evenly distributed.
This will give your lawn and landscaping a clean, tidy look so that there aren’t any straggly patches of grass sticking out like a sore thumb next to your superb mowing job. Not only that, but evening out clumps of grass will keep your lawn from being suffocated or contracting lawn diseases.
6. Clean your lawn equipment
Take good care of your lawn equipment, and it will take good care of you.
After you mow an overgrown lawn, you may need to sharpen your mower blades and clean your mower. When you cut long, thick grass, it often clumps under the mower deck. If enough grass accumulates under the mower deck, then it won’t be able to make a clean cut and will damage your lawn instead.
You can clean your mower deck with a hose, but only after you’ve removed the gas from the tank or run the mower dry. You also will want to remove the spark plug beforehand.
Put the mower on its side with the air filter and carburetor pointing up. If there’s stubborn debris you can use a brush to scrape it away. Once you’re done pressure washing, make sure your mower is dry so it doesn’t rust.
FAQ about cutting long grass
What type of mower should I use?
Using the tools you already own saves you time and money, but if you think you need an upgrade, here’s a few suggestions:
Mowers with larger engines have more torque and are less likely to stall. Heavy-duty battery-powered lawnmowers are also great at shearing overgrown grass in lawns and fields.
Corded electric lawn mowers are not the best choice, since having to manage a cord through dense brush is not ideal.
When is the best time of year to mow my lawn?
Most experts agree that the best time to cut your overgrown lawn is during a season of active growth. Cool-season lawns go dormant during the hottest part of the summer, and it is not advisable to cut either cool-season grass or warm-season grass during the winter.
If you mow during an active growth phase, the lawn will have a better, quicker recovery.
When is the best time of day to mow my lawn?
Early in the morning, between 8-10 a.m., is the best time to mow. This not only keeps you from overheating, but it helps prevent your motor from overheating, as well. It also gives your grass time to recover before the hottest time of the day.
Hire a pro to mow your overgrown lawn
If your backyard is too much for you to handle, hire a local lawn care pro. A professional company not only has professional-level mowing equipment, but they have heavy-duty string trimmers and blowers, as well. Get professional and affordable service in just a few clicks!
Main Photo Credit: Andres Siimon | Unsplash
