Professional Lawn Mowing Tips

Height

• Grasses have different height requirements. These vary according to type; cut warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass to 1½ inches, for example, and cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass to 2 to 2½ inches. A good rule of thumb when cutting grass, regardless of the type, is to never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at one time, according to the Weekend Gardener website. Mowing grass lower than the ideal height can adversely affect its root system, making it vulnerable to disease and pest problems.

Tools

• What you use to cut grass is just as important as how you do it. Rotary mowers commonly are used and offer the most consistent cut. It is also easy to adjust the height of rotary mowers. Reel mowers offer a more uniform cut but are more difficult to adjust. Whether you choose a rotary or reel mower, keep the blade sharpened and cleaned, according to Ohio State University Extension. Use a file and grinding wheel to sharpen a rotary blade, or have it professionally sharpened at the beginning of each cutting season. After each cutting, spray the underside of the mower with a stream of water.

Timing

• Much like cutting height, a cutting schedule varies from one type of grass to another. Other factors that affect when to cut grass include the season and how much water and fertilizer the grass receives. Bear in mind that warm-season grasses require more mowing in the summer and cool-season grasses need more frequent mowing in the spring and fall. Avoid watering grass when it is wet, as wet turfs invite fungal problems that can be difficult to resolve. Cutting wet grass also leaves uneven blades.

Pattern

• When mowing, alternate the cutting pattern every one to two cuttings, advises Ohio State University Extension. An altered cut pattern prevents grass blades from consistently going in one direction. Always cutting in the same direction causes the soil to become impacted, according to the Weekend Gardener. An alternate cutting pattern helps grass blades to grow more upright.