How to Flatten Grass

Adjust the deck on your lawn mower to cut at a height of 3 inches. Keeping your grass tall will ensure that it remains healthy and holds a pattern.

Mow once around the perimeter of the lawn.

Mow vertical passes across the lawn. For example, start down one side of the lawn until you reach the end. Once you do, pivot the mower to turn it around and mow back to the opposite side of the lawn adjacent to your previous cut. Continue mowing back and forth until you have cut the entire lawn.

Use the lawn roller to press over the passes you made with the mower. Be sure that you roll the grass in the same direction as it was mowed. For example, if you made a pass with the mower that was west to east, you must also roll that section of grass from west to east. The roller will flatten the grass and the alternating sections will give the lawn a striped look.

Walk the roller around the perimeter of the lawn in the same direction as you made when you were cutting. This will give a clean border to the grass.