{"id":9011,"date":"2026-06-15T11:11:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9011"},"modified":"2026-10-21T15:06:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T14:06:52","slug":"stripes-of-success-how-to-get-a-professional-finish-on-any-lawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/stripes-of-success-how-to-get-a-professional-finish-on-any-lawn\/","title":{"rendered":"Stripes of Success: How to Get a Professional Finish on Any Lawn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is nothing quite as satisfying as a perfectly striped lawn. It is the hallmark of the classic British garden, and while it looks like the work of a professional groundsman, it is surprisingly easy to achieve with the right equipment and technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By June, your grass is in its prime growing phase, making it the perfect time to master the &#8220;art of the stripe.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. It is All in the Roller<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get stripes, you need a mower with a rear roller. As the mower passes over the grass, the roller flattens the blades in the direction you are moving. The &#8220;stripe&#8221; is actually an optical illusion caused by light reflecting off the grass: grass bent towards you looks dark, while grass bent away looks light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/mountfield-sp160r-self-propelled-rear-roller-petrol-lawn-mower.html\"><strong>Mountfield SP160R Self-Propelled Rear Roller Petrol Lawn Mower<\/strong><\/a> is a fantastic choice for achieving this look. Powered by a reliable engine, this petrol mower features a full-width rear roller that not only produces crisp, defined stripes but also allows you to mow right up to the edge of flower borders without the mower tipping into the soil. Because it is <strong>self-propelled<\/strong>, it takes the effort out of pushing, ensuring a consistent pace and a uniform finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/mountfield-sp160r-self-propelled-rear-roller-petrol-lawn-mower.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" data-attachment-id=\"9012\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/stripes-of-success-how-to-get-a-professional-finish-on-any-lawn\/image-39\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34.png\" data-orig-size=\"800,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34.png\" src=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9012\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34.png 800w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-34-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. The Technique: Straight Lines and Overlaps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The secret to professional stripes is all in the first line. Pick a straight edge\u2014like a fence, a driveway, or a patio &#8211; and follow it exactly. For the next row, turn the mower 180 degrees and align the edge of your mower deck slightly over the previous stripe. This ensures there are no &#8220;gaps&#8221; of unrolled grass between your lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those with larger lawns who want premium features and effortless starting, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/cobra-rm513spbi-self-propelled-rear-roller-petrol-lawn-mower.html\"><strong>Cobra RM513SPBI Self-Propelled Rear Roller Petrol Lawn Mower<\/strong><\/a> is a standout option. It features a wide 51cm cutting deck and a powerful<strong> Briggs &amp; Stratton engine with InStart\u00ae technology<\/strong>, allowing you to start the mower with just the push of a button. Its <strong>heavy-duty rear roller<\/strong> provides the weight necessary to leave deep, high-contrast stripes even on thicker or more established turf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/cobra-rm513spbi-self-propelled-rear-roller-petrol-lawn-mower.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" data-attachment-id=\"9013\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/stripes-of-success-how-to-get-a-professional-finish-on-any-lawn\/image-40\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35.png\" data-orig-size=\"800,800\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35.png\" src=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35.png 800w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-35-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Height of Cut and Maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, the grass is growing fast, but it can also be stressed by heat. To maintain your stripes without damaging the lawn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t cut too low<\/strong>: Keep the height around <strong>30mm to 40mm<\/strong>. Longer grass holds a stripe much better than a &#8220;scalped&#8221; lawn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empty the bag regularly<\/strong>: A heavy, full grass box can cause the mower to sit unevenly, which will make your stripes look wobbly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sharp Blades<\/strong>: Ensure your blades are sharp. A clean cut reflects light better than a ragged, torn leaf tip.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Choose a Roller Mower?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the aesthetics, a rear roller provides stability. It allows you to maintain a level cut even over slightly uneven ground and prevents the &#8220;scalping&#8221; that can occur with four-wheeled mowers on lawn edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ready to turn your garden into a masterpiece? Browse our full range of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/roller-lawn-mowers.html?srsltid=AfmBOor1gXInvW-0vihXot6sCTcFj_XtlQZwpV5fhgvz3WY0q0-VHdZF\"><strong>Rear Roller Lawnmowers<\/strong><\/a> and find the perfect model to start your striping journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is nothing quite as satisfying as a perfectly striped lawn. It is the hallmark of the classic British garden, and while it looks like the work of a professional groundsman, it is surprisingly easy to achieve with the right&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[63],"tags":[206,102,9],"class_list":["post-9011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-garden-machinery","tag-just-lawnmowers","tag-lawnmowers-2"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1833,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/roller-lawnmower-lawnflite-range\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":0},"title":"Looking for a new roller lawnmower? Consider the Lawnflite range","author":"Alex Evans","date":"18th June 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Lawnflite are not a company everybody in the world has heard about but if you are involved in the garden machinery industry, as we are, it is a name we all have huge respect for. This is due to the fact that we recognise their passion for building quality machines\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Lawn Mowers&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Lawn Mowers","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/buying-guides\/lawnmowers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"lawnflite logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/lawnflite-logo.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8911,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/what-type-of-lawnmowers-are-there-guide\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":1},"title":"What Type of Lawnmowers Are There? A Complete Buyer\u2019s Guide","author":"Alex Evans","date":"7th January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Choosing a new lawnmower used to be a simple choice between a manual push mower or a basic petrol machine. However, the world of garden machinery has evolved rapidly. As an online specialist here at Just Lawnmowers, we see thousands of models every year, and the sheer variety of technology\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Buying Guides &amp; Comparisons&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Buying Guides &amp; Comparisons","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/buying-guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lawnmower-types.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lawnmower-types.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lawnmower-types.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lawnmower-types.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8951,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/spring-awakening-preparing-your-garden-and-machinery-for-the-first-mow\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":2},"title":"Spring Awakening: Preparing Your Garden and Machinery for the First Mow","author":"Alex Evans","date":"11th March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"As the days lengthen and the first signs of spring appear, the familiar scent of freshly cut grass is just around the corner. However, before you pull your mower out of the shed and head straight for the lawn, a bit of preparation is essential. March can be a tricky\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Maintenance &amp; How-To&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Maintenance &amp; How-To","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/advice-tips\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772532877_tmp_104341_keyvisual-summer-campaign-consumer-2024.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3801,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/introducing-cobra-petrol-roller-mowers\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":3},"title":"Introducing the Cobra Petrol Roller Mowers","author":"Alex Evans","date":"1st April 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"We have now launched the Cobra petrol roller lawn mowers. With 9 different roller mowers to choose between there is something for everyone! Whether you're after self propulsion, a Honda engine, a large cutting width, Cobra will have accommodated for you!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brilliant Garden Ideas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brilliant Garden Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/advice-tips\/brilliant-garden-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cobra RM46C Lawn Mower","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/RM46C.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3608,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/routine-lawn-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":4},"title":"Routine Lawn Care &#8211; Mowing Tips","author":"Alex Evans","date":"1st July 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"A lawn mowing routine to keep your grass healthy and well maintained. We provide how to's when creating a striped effect and provide advise for when it comes to different types of grass and lawns. If this routine is followed then your garden will be kept in great condition all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brilliant Garden Ideas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brilliant Garden Ideas","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/advice-tips\/brilliant-garden-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"using a mower","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/using-a-mower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":292,"url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/honda-lawnmowers-buyers-guide\/","url_meta":{"origin":9011,"position":5},"title":"Honda Lawnmowers: A Buyers Guide","author":"Alex Evans","date":"16th August 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Honda lawnmowers are well known for their quality and reliability. Our buyers guide features information on buying Honda lawn mowers.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Buying Guides &amp; Comparisons&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Buying Guides &amp; Comparisons","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/category\/buying-guides\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Honda Authorised Dealer logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AuthDealer4colhighres_1-125x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772552093_tmp_rmclose-life6-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9011"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9023,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9011\/revisions\/9023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}