Mowing The Lawn Properly

When cutting the lawn for the first time for the year, it is recommended that you do not bag the grass clippings. The clippings do not need bagged from then on so that the clippings can add nutrients and moisture to the soil. After a while if there ends up being too many clippings, try alternating the bagging.

Do not cut the lawn in the heat of the day or if the lawn is wet. This will cause damage to the grass. Try cutting the lawn in different patterns to avoid soil compacting. Change the direction and pattern each cutting. Avoid turning the mower in the grass and try turning on the driveway if possible. The lawn should be mowed weekly. Keep the blade on the mower sharpened every six weeks.

No more than a third of the tip of the grass should ever be cut. Scalping the grass takes away the energy of growth for new grass and it promotes the growth of weeds. If you allow the lawn to get too long, you may need to raise the blade on the mower to continue the one-third rule and gradually lower the blade every couple of days to get the lawn back to the proper height.

Tall grass is safer to mow because the blade is higher and will not cut into the ground or hit any debris in the lawn. Secondly, long grass is better for the lawn during a drought season, requiring less water and higher grass has deeper roots. When there is a rainy season, shorter grass will allow the rain to reach the roots easier.