There’s something about a well-manicured yard that enhances your home’s curb appeal. Sometimes, it’s a term of your contract when you have a landlord or an HOA. To ensure your yard looks good and even to save yourself some time and hassle, it helps to understand some basic tips on how to mow the grass.

Buy the Right Lawnmower for Your Yard

First and foremost, you need the right lawnmower for your size yard. For instance, somebody with a smaller yard will want a push mower that’s easier to control in tight spaces.

If you have a hilly yard, it’s often easier and safer to use a stand-on mower as opposed to a rider. Stand-on mowers also benefit those who need to take tighter turns or have small-to-medium-sized yards.

Choose the Right Time of Day

While it may seem practical to mow whenever you have the energy and ambition, mid-morning is the best time to get out there. Between 8 am and 10 am, the morning dew evaporates, and the grass has ample time to recover from the stress of yesterday’s sun. However, if you have a north-facing house, you may want to wait a little longer so the sun has enough time to dry the dew.

If that’s not feasible for you, between 4 pm and 6 pm also creates ideal mowing conditions, as the grass won’t be under a great deal of heat stress.

Select the Right Schedule

Ideally, mowing the grass every seven to 10 days is the rule of thumb. This schedule means the grass has enough time to grow and ensures it remains thick and even.

Whenever you’re mowing frequently, you prevent weed growth because these nuisances don’t have time to spread. When you allow weeds to grow out of control, they can outgrow the grass until much, if not all, your yard becomes undesirable plants rather than grass.

You’ll also provide your lawn with natural fertilizer regularly. The remaining grass clippings on the lawn will break down and return to the soil to supply nutrients.

Select the Right Blade Height

The lowest setting isn’t always the most suitable, so before you begin mowing away, identify what type of grass you have. Generally, warm-season grasses like Bermuda and zoysia thrive well when you cut them down to one to two inches. Cool-season grasses, i.e., Kentucky bluegrass should remain 2.5 to 3.5 inches tall. Some exceptions to this rule exist, such as St. Augustine grass (warm-season grass), which should remain 2.5 to four inches high. Therefore, always research before you decide what setting to use.

Alternate Your Pattern

While you may develop a routine of always cutting one way, this can lead to ruts in your yard, compact soil, and thatch build-up. You prevent all of this when you alter how you cut each mow. Ultimately, you’ll have healthier and more resilient grass when you mow in different directions each time.

Cutting grass, when done right, can turn your green space into a lush, beautiful landscape ideal for fun and relaxation throughout the spring, summer, and fall. These tips can help ensure your grass looks as good as it is healthy.

Published By: Aize Perez