Mowing your Lawn – Advice and Tips

The purpose of mowing your lawn is not to just keep down unsightly growth.  If the process is carried out correctly, it begins to build up a vigorous fine quality grass sward that looks great and feels great.

Mowing your lawn takes more time than any other garden duty however it is the most beneficial job, as studies have shown that it has a very controlling influence on the make-up of the turf.

The number one rule is to mow often but not too close, this prevents excess leaf-growth, reduces weeds, worms and coarse grasses, and prevents any loss of fertilizer.  It is this routine that makes grass much thicker in the summer.

If you mow very closely and irregularly, the good quality lawn will destruct as the desirable grasses are rapidly weakened. This creates a lawn of thin open turf which soon becomes invaded with moss, weeds, meadow grass and pearlwort.

When To Cut Your Lawn

Between the months of March and October is when you want to start regularly mowing your lawn.

How often you should mow your lawn really depends on your lawn type, the weather, soil fertility, grass vigour and the time of year.

The height of your grass is the best guide to follow as during cutting season the grass should really be no more than ½” above the recommended height.

A rough guide to follow is to mow the lawn twice a week in the summer when the grass is growing vigorously. Then cut once a week in spring, autumn, and any dry spells throughout the summer.

If you cut less than once per week during the growing season it results in the sudden loss of a large quantity of leaf, which shocks the grass and reduces its vigour.

Mowing Preparation

Before you mow your lawn there is a series of steps that you should follow to ensure you get the best results.

Firstly, you must make sure you set the blades to the correct height. You must check the user manual of your lawn mower to find out which height is best and how to change your mower settings. It is important to check that you have adjusted both sides of the mower to the same height, as a sloping cut can look very unsightly.

Secondly, you must always choose a time when the grass is dry, because mowing wet turf will produce a very ragged effect and can clog your machine. Also, if you are using an electric mower and the grass is wet then this can become a serious hazard.

Thirdly, make sure to clear your lawn first. Remove any thing which shouldn’t be there such as sticks, stones, pet droppings, bones, wire, toys, and anything else which could damage the mower or cause risk of hazard.

Fourthly, brush your surface after clearing up the mess. This is a very useful technique especially if the the surface is slightly wet with dew or raindrops. Worm casts are then spread about and both grass leaves and weeds are raised to meet the height of the blades.

Fifthly, plan your direction of mowing correctly. The direction you mow at should be at right angles to the previous cut. For example, if the work has been carried out in a north-south line, then the next cutting should be made in an east-west direction. This will keep the coarse grasses under control and also prevents any wash-boarding.

Sixthly, you must get to know your lawn mower, especially if you have only recently bought it. We can’t stress enough how important it is to read the user manual before you begin any mowing. Make sure you know how to stop your machine quickly in case of any unexpected emergency’s.

Last but not least, you must never mow your lawn when a cold strong wind is blowing, especially during late autumn or early winter. This will result in the grass tips becoming scorched and remaining so throughout the whole of winter.

During Mowing

Garden stripes are an increasingly popular choice throughout British lawns. Those alternate light and dark stripes are seen as a sign of quality, however they are nothing of the sort. This is merely the result of the lawn being cut in parallel stripes with a roller machine. This is a very attractive technique which helps to hide any minor imperfections and discolouration within the grass. However if this technique is not performed accurately and neatly then it can end up looking very messy.

Remember that a lawn mower is not a vacuum cleaner designed to go back and forth. This push-pull technique is time wasting with a cylinder mower, risky with a rotary mower and dangerous with a hover mower. The correct procedure involves moving in a constant forward direction at a steady walking pace. The only exception to this is when you have to manoeuvre around awkward corners and obstacles.

Never leave the machine unattended when the engine is running and the cutter blades are dis-engaged. Always switch the machine off completely if you plan on moving away from it.

If you are using an electric mower then always make sure that the cable is well away from the mower when it is in use, and keep people and pets off the lawn whilst the electric mower is in use.

Always wear sensible clothing! If the are is slightly slippery then walking boots or shoes are a good idea. Never mow with no shoes on at all.

When you are using a rotary mower with a grass box, occasionally clean the grass box slots to ensure that the suction system is up to standard.

Never make any adjustments to the machine whilst it is switched on. However minor the problem and experienced you are, always turn the machine off before you approach the problem.

After Mowing 

It is very important to clean your mower properly after use, and check carefully for any faults after you have used it. There is nothing more annoying than having to spend a couple of hours repairing or cleaning the machine before you mow your lawn.

The first thing to do is to move the machine on to some concrete or other hard surface, and disconnect the power supply. For an electric mower switch off and pull out the plug, for a petrol mower shut off the fuel supply and then allow the engine to cut out with the drive disconnected.

Grab an old rag and a stiff brush and remove all the clippings and caked earth. The vital areas that need to be cleaned are the blades, rollers, cylinders, grass box, and the canopy under the mower on a rotary or hover machine. After you have cleaned them, dry the parts and wipe over with an oily rag.

A battery lawn mower should be re-charged immediately after use, and every fortnight you should check water levels in the battery cells. Top up with distilled water as necessary if they are running low. It is a good idea to occasionally wire brush the battery terminals and cover them in petroleum jelly.

Always check your lawn mower blades to see if they are loose or damaged. The mower can be dangerous if blades are loose and you use the mower again before repairing it. If you have a rotary mower check that the bolt holding the cutter bar is tight. If the cutter bar is blunt it can be easily sharpened, however if the damage is due to excessive wear and cannot be fixed, invest in a new cutter blade from your local dealer.

Carry out regular routine maintenance such as oiling the rollers and cylinder bearings. Always apply grease (not oil) to the chains and clean the air filters. This will service your mower and keep it running smoothly.

Other maintenance tasks depend on the source of power for your mower. Petrol lawn mowers need their oil level checking and topped up if necessary. It is also important to check for leaks as oil and petrol dripping onto your lawn can lead to scorching the grass. If you own an electric lawn mower then you must always check the wires and plugs to see if they are in good condition and firmly held.

When you store your lawn mower, make sure that it is under-cover at all times and away from any rain or dripping water. A hover mower can be easily stored by hanging it on a wall.

If you’re uncertain about anything, or would like further details, then call our highly experienced sales team now on 01263 820202 for helpful, friendly advice.