How to Measure the Cutting Height for a Lawn Mower

Mowing your lawn is both a daunting and gratifying process. While few people enjoy the actual process of cutting the lawn, most people feel a sense of pride, or at least satisfaction, when their lawn looks crisp and freshly cut. How short or tall you should cut your grass depends on the type of grass you have and the time of the year. Determining or changing the height of the blades in your lawn mower isn't necessarily a difficult task, and you won't need any special tools.

Ruler

Instructions

- 1
  Set your lawn mower on a flat surface. Hold a ruler up next to the blade housing. Measure where the bottom of the housing hits the ruler, keeping in mind that the blades won't cut below the housing. For example, if the bottom of the housing measures at 2 inches, your lawn mower will likely cut the grass between 2-1/4 and 2-1/2 inches high.
- 2
  Adjust the height of the mower until you get the approximate height needed for your particular grass type.
- 3
  Mow a sample patch of grass in an inconspicuous area, such as the back corner of your yard.
- 4
  Place the ruler in the grass until it hits the soil. Measure how tall the blades go up the ruler, and compare it to uncut grass.
- 5
  Adjust the height of the lawn mower until you get the desired cutting height.

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