How to Mow Your Lawn Properly

Lawn mowing can be hazardous, so think safety first, especially with a power mower. Wear heavy shoes and long pants, and consider using protective ear plugs. Check the lawn first for any sticks or rocks that can get flung out by the mower blades. Don't use a mower around children or pets.

The mower blades should be set high for most types of grass, at least 2-1/2 to 3 inches. Conventional wisdom is that no more than 1/3 of a blade of grass should be removed at one time. Taller grass is better able to make food for the roots and it shades the soil better. This conserves moisture and makes it more difficult for weeds to sprout. Grass should be mowed about once a week to maintain optimal height.

It's easier to start a mower on a hard surface. Start at the edge of the lawn and work your way inward in a pattern that varies from week to week; horizontally, vertically or diagonally. This prevents ruts from forming in the soil from the mower's wheels.

There's no need to bag the clippings. Unless you've let the lawn grow too high, the clippings will filter down between the blades and settle to the ground. In a lawn that isn't chemically treated, this encourages earthworms, which aerate the soil, remove thatch and leave their castings behind to feed the grass roots. As the clippings decompose, they provide free fertilizer to the lawn; about half of its annual nitrogen requirements. Alternately, bagged clippings can be used as an organic mulch in your flower beds or added to your compost pile as green manure. Don't add them to your vegetable garden unless your lawn is untreated with chemicals.