How to Mow A Lawn In Efficient Way

As a homeowner, mowing your lawn is one of the many tasks done to maintain your property. Although it may seem like a simple concept, there are various ways you can mow your lawn for the ultimate result. 

However, if done incorrectly, such as cutting too low, you could cause issues such as sun damage. In this article, we will go over the many different ways to cut your lawn to keep your grass looking great.

Why Mow Your Lawn?

Although it may be counterintuitive, mowing your lawn increases its growth rate and overall health. Grass, like many other types of plants, participates in the process known as photosynthesis. Hence, cutting the top off a grass blade leads to larger intake of carbon from the air, promoting healthy growth.

Due to photosynthesis, cutting your lawn allows it to grow back thicker and greener than before. Grass clippings can also offer nutrients to your landscape, helping aid growth.

When to Mow Your Lawn

We recommend that you break out the lawn mower weekly during the warm months. If not, at least, bi-weekly. However, this could vary greatly due to your specific climate. If you live in a dry area, the grass will not grow as quickly, and you should not mow frequently. Let’s check out the different types of grass and which period throughout the year it experiences the most frequent growth.

Warm-season grass like St. Augustinegrass and Bermudagrass, which is present in the south, usually grows the most between April and July. It then begins to taper off afterward. Therefore, in late Spring and mid-summer, you will likely have to mow once weekly.

Cool-season grass, commonly seen in the northern United States, such as Kentucky Bluegrass often grows rapidly between March and April, before its growth stunts in the summer. It then begins growing again when it becomes cooler, such as in September and October.

In short, when the grass does not grow, lawn mowing isn’t required, as too much mowing could cause your grass to burn up and become brown. As previously stated, your mowing pattern will depend on your climate and overall air temperature. 

Grass Height

It is important not to cut your grass too low, as this could result in burnt grass that will turn brown over time. However, this ultimately depends on which type of grass you have. 

Lawn care professionals have implemented the ⅓ rule to determine the height of your grass. This means that you should not cut more than 1/3 off the top. 

This is applicable even with taller grass, as you should not cut it all at once. Instead, make multiple passes to adhere to the ⅓ rule. It is important to learn how to use the height adjustment feature on your mower. 

With the right mowing height setting on your push mower, you can ensure you are cutting at the correct height and not risking brown patches. Or, you might opt for a cylinder mower for a closer, more cleanly groomed cut.  

Best Time to Mow Your Lawn

Often, the best time to mow your lawn is either in the early morning or around dusk. These are the two points throughout the day when the sun is at its lowest peak, and you have a reduced chance of damaging your lawn and causing avoidable brown patches throughout. 

However, if mowing the lawn in the morning, try to avoid morning dew as this could cause stress to your machine and the mower blade. Of course, if you opt for a reel mower, wet grass may not be an issue. 

In either case, however, it’s essential to avoid a dull blade. You’ll need a sharp blade no matter the mower type. And dry grass is preferable overall because it’s less likely to clog the discharge chute of your mower.

Final Thoughts

Your lawn is one of the first aspects people notice about your property. That lawn striping offers significant curb appeal. It is important to take great care with your lawn mowing habits so that you can maintain a healthy lawn. The good news is that you don’t need a riding mower or lawn tractor to achieve a great result. You just need elbow grease and a game plan.