Why Isn't My Mower Cutting Bits of Grass?

Lawn Mower Types

• Rotary mowers are more commonly seen in residential applications than the larger, more expensive cylinder mowers used by many landscape maintenance companies. The spinning blade of a rotary mower moves parallel to the grass surface, and may be effectively used on longer grass with a simple repositioning of the mower deck using levers located at the wheels. Forward-motion cylinder mower blades can give you a more finished look, but they are not very effective when your grass gets overly long.

Blade Sharpening

• All lawn mowers require sharp blades to produce a clean, even cut. Blades should be sharpened annually for best results. Rotary blades may be removed and taken to a sharpening professional, or sharpened at home according to manufacturer's specifications. Cylinder lawn mower blades must be sharpened in place and on the machine using specialized equipment. Cylinder lawn mowers should therefore be taken to a professional mower dealer for yearly blade sharpening.

Terrain Considerations

• If the area you intend to mow has steep hills or uneven terrain, a rotary push mower equipped with a two-stroke engine is best. In these machines, the gas and oil are mixed together before the tank is filled. This configuration allows for engine lubrication in spite of hilly terrain. Since push mowers do not typically have oil pumps, a four-stroke engine that runs on gas alone tends to cut out on hills because motor oil is not reaching the pistons.

Other Considerations

• Mowing your lawn should not be treated as a race. Moving at a slower, even pace will allow your mower's blades to do their work more efficiently. Cutting grass while it is wet is hard on your mower and can produce clumping and uneven swaths in your lawn. Vary cutting direction with each mowing session to keep your grass from lying in one direction. Try to remove no more than one-third of the length of your grass blades to avoid stressing your lawn.