Lawn Mowing Tips

Love it or loathe it, lawn mowing is a chore that can evoke strong emotions and memories. The sense of accomplishment and the sight of a well-manicured space are our rewards for mowing, but for our lawns - mowing is essential for good health. Routine lawn mowing plays a significant role in the promotion of growth, discouragement of weeds and pests, and the protection of soil from drying out. And it is an obvious sign that you care about your lawn.

“How often should I mow?” is almost like asking: “how long is a piece of string?” because the frequency of mowing is soley dependent on how quickly your lawn grows. We would be loathe to recommend you mow every Saturday morning or twice a week, for example, because only you will know for sure. The rule of thumb is to mow when the grass is about a third too long. For example, if you like to cut your lawn to 3cm then you will need to mow once it hits 4cm long and cut 1/3 off.

Mowing too short has disadvantages such as weakening the grass, potential to scalp it causing bare patches, and risking weed invasion. Conversely, letting your lawn grow too long before mowing is just as detrimental to your lawn by risking sunburn to the newly mown blades, shocking the roots or having the clippings smothering the grass.

If you have had some significant rain the day before give yourself and your lawn the day off. Not only can it be dangerous for you to handle the mower on slippery ground, you can risk compacting the soil by rolling machinery over it. We recommend mornings or evening, in the daylight, as the best times for mowing (but not too early in the morning if you want a Christmas card from your neighbours).

There is a common misconception that leaving grass clippings on your lawn can cause thatch build-up. This is not the case. During the summer, if you are mowing just 1/3 off the top of your grass, as recommended, and the grass isn’t too wet when you mow, it is perfectly fine to leave the clippings where they lay. This can help keep in some moisture during dry summer months and can feed nutrients back into the lawn. During autumn when you have leaves on your lawn it is recommended to use your mower catcher or bag up the clippings. Similarly, during the winter you are best to take the clippings away as your lawn is likely getting enough moisture from mother nature.

The technique for mowing on slopes differs depending on what type of mower you are using. If you are using a ride-on mower, manufacturers recommend mowing directly up or down the slope where as a walk-behind mower should be used across the slope. Avoid sudden stops or turns and mow slowly – for your safety. Avoid mowing slopes when the grass is even a little bit wet as it can make it slippery and dangerous. 

Finishing touches can make all the difference! Clean edges on your lawn whether by horizontal trimming or vertical edging are a purely aesthetic addition to your lawn maintenance routine. Edging around paths or trimming around hard-to-get-to edges are best done with specialised tools and don’t need doing every time you mow.